MLB

Serby’s Q&A with Brian McCann

Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with new Yankees catcher Brian McCann for some Q&A.

Q: What would you say to those who say your contract was too long and for too much?

A: Everybody wants to pick out something wrong with you. When guys get to see me play 162 games, after that, then you say whatever you want to say.

Q: You’re going to be the Yankees catcher for the closer who replaces Mariano Rivera.

A: No one’s going to replace Mariano Rivera. Nobody. Just like you’re not going to replace Chipper Jones. You show up and you compete against hitters and you go from there. When you start trying to replace people, that’s when you get in trouble.

Q: How did you get to know Derek Jeter?

A: He’s really good friends with Chipper. I got a chance to go out to dinner with them my first full season. He’s an icon. The way he treats people is second to none — it doesn’t matter if you’re a superstar or the 25th man or a rookie. For a superstar of his caliber, I think it’s unmatched.

Q: What was that dinner like for you?

A: I didn’t say a whole lot. I just enjoyed being there and just sitting down with those guys.

Q: Was the dinner in Atlanta?

A: New York.

Q: When was the first time you saw Yankee Stadium?

A: The thing that struck me about that place, once you step on the field, you get that feeling of all the history that’s been made in that uniform, in that stadium.

Q: What did you think of the monuments?

A: You’re talking about 10 or 12 of the greatest players of all time. You can say a lot of those guys were the best at their position of all time.

Q: What do you think of Yogi Berra?

A: I know he’s a winner, that’s for sure.

Q: Have you met him yet?

A: I’ve got a signed jersey by him I got for Christmas. I’m really looking forward to meeting him, just to shake his hand.

Q: What would you ask him?

A: I’d probably just listen to him, let him do the talking.

Q: Thurman Munson?

A: Oh man. This guy was a leader. Both sides, hitting and catching. He was the best of his era. He won all the time.

Q: Jorge Posada?

A: The guy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He won five championships, right? He’s got almost 300 home runs hitting in the middle of the order in that lineup for 15-plus years.

Q: Matt Harvey?

A: He’s as good as it gets. He’s an elite pitcher in this league. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit the last year-and-a-half. This guy’s mindset is exactly what you want in a starting pitcher.

Q: How would you describe that mindset?

A: He’s a bulldog. He expects to be great with his stuff and his demeanor.

Q: He’s got to overcome Tommy John surgery.

A: He will.

Q: Tom Glavine?

A: He is a better person than he is ballplayer, and the guy’s a Hall of Famer.

Q: Chipper?

A: First off, he’s got the purist left-handed swing. He turned himself into an unbelievable right-handed hitter. His ability to talk hitting … it’s one thing to talk hitting, another thing if you can translate it. He was able to teach hitting to guys that weren’t on his level. I learned more about hitting from that guy than anybody else. I truly don’t think I would have had the career I’ve had if I didn’t cross paths with him.

Q: How would you describe your longtime friend Jeff Francoeur?

A: He’s hyper (chuckle). We got a chance to come up together through the Braves system, to go through the same things together, get to the big leagues together the same year.

Q: Single best baseball moment?

A: It happened my first season in the big leagues. I was 21. I hit a home run off Roger Clemens in Game 2 of the NLDS.

Q: What was that moment like?

A: All my buddies were juniors in college, they went to the University of Georgia 45 minutes away. They all came to the game. It just kinda put things in perspective. That, to me, is at the top of things I’ve been able to do.

Q: What was your first All-Star Game appearance like?

A: Oh my goodness. The first person I saw was Albert Pujols. I was starstuck. … Being 22 years old, totally unexpected to be there, I’m sharing a locker with Albert Pujols to my right, Lance Berkman to my left … Tom Glavine …

Q: Did you get any autographs?

A: I got a jersey with everybody’s name on it and a ball signed by everybody.

Q: Your cheering section in Atlanta your first year was called McCann’s Cans.

A: I thought it was great. Five or six college guys, they came quite a bit.

Q: What do you think of Yankees fans?

A: They’re very passionate. They expect to win. When you put that uniform on, there’s a sense of pride, a sense of urgency. You’re here to win championships.

Q: Describe the catcher as psychologist.

A: You need to be a listener as much as you need to be a talker. You need to know what makes these guys go. He needs to be convicted of every pitch he’s gonna throw. I learned that from John Smoltz early. He always told me, “I’d rather throw the wrong pitch and have conviction than throw the right pitch and second-guess myself.”

Q: What was Smoltz like?

A: He’s the ultimate competitor. This guy doesn’t want to lose at anything.

Q: Who are catchers you like watching now?

A: My favorite to watch is Yady [Molina]. It’s like he’s a shortstop playing catcher. He makes the position look so easy, and it’s so hard.

Q: Why do catchers, like Joe Torre and Joe Girardi, make good managers?

A: It’s because they’re in every play. You need to know the opposing lineup. You need to know your starting pitcher, what his stuff’s gonna do against that lineup. When you catch for 15-plus years, you’ve seen it all from the best seat in the house,

Q: Would managing appeal to you some day?

A: I would definitely never count it out.

Q: How do you think you are a leader?

A: I show up prepared and know what I’m trying to accomplish. I’m not a big rah-rah guy. When you get to this level, everybody understands you show up and play hard for yourself, and for your organization.

Q: What would prompt you to say something if you had to?

A: You want the young guys who first get into the league to understand what it takes to be successful on a daily basis. You come onto a team with Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, these guys have been successful for many years. You try to fall in line.

Q: What drives you?

A: I want to be the best player I can be. I don’t want to let one day, one game, go by I wasn’t prepared. If you’re lucky, you get to play 10, 15 years in this game.

Q: Describe your high school basketball coach, Joe Marelle.

A: Incredible person. He battled cancer when we were in high school and still he kept coaching. He just showed toughness. He continues to fight it every day. He’s an amazing human being.

Q: Describe your Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

A: [My wife Ashley and I] love kids. … Through [CEO] Dean Crowe, we got to meet some kids and we fell in love with them. We raised half a million dollars in one night two weeks ago.

Q: What was that day like when you were drafted by your hometown Braves in the second round?

A: It was incredible. Your dreams are kinda playing out in front of you. It’s a whole new chapter in your life. You’re going to live on your own. You become an adult at 18 years old.

Q: Why did you switch from second base to catcher as a freshman in high school?

A: My dad looked at me and he basically told me, “If you want to play at the highest level, you might want to switch to behind the plate.” He always told me that was the quickest way to the big leagues. It was the best decision I ever made. It came naturally, for sure. I loved it.

Q: Describe your father’s influence.

A: He just loved the game of baseball [assistant coach at Georgia, head coach at Marshall]. I just grew up around the field, around the game. As a kid, you want to be like your dad.

Q: Your older brother Brad.

A: He was an All-American at Clemson two years and then he was Player of the Year in the Marlins organization. He and my dad run an indoor batting facility down here in Atlanta.

Q: You were a big Tony Gwynn fan.

A: The way he handled the bat was second to none.

Q: Your daughter Colby is 2 months old. How are you at changing diapers?

A: I’m getting better. My wife, she nails it (chuckle).

Q: Your son Colt is 16 months. Does he have your personality?

A: He looks just like me. Personality, he’s got a little bit me and he’s got some of my wife.

Q: How is he like you?

A: He gets in everything … always messy … he’s fearless. He runs into things.

Q: Your wife Ashley.

A: She makes my life as easy as possible. She handles everything at home. She’s an unbelievable mom.

Q: Favorite NYC things.

A: The food! I enjoy the fans, how passionate they are. I like the fact you can get whatever you want at whatever time you want it. It’s like no other city there is in the world.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Jack Nicklaus.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Ace Ventura.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: John C. Reilly.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Steak.

Q: Superstitions?

A: No.

Q: Hobbies?

A: I love golf. Spending time with my family. Those are the only two.

Q: You’re a boring guy.

A: Yeah, very boring (chuckle).

Q: You said at your press conference that being introduced as a Yankee was one of the best days of your life. What would your two other best days be?

A: I’d say I got three — the day I got married, and the birth of my kids.