CLEVELAND — Thanks to a few texts by the time Brian McCann wiped the sleep goo from his eyes Tuesday morning, he knew that Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton had said some not-so-flattering words about his pupil.
Pendleton, McCann’s hitting coach with the Braves who has known the catcher since he was 19, told The Post Monday that New York and McCann weren’t a good fit. Pendleton said McCann wouldn’t be comfortable playing there, the five-year, $85 million free-agent deal McCann signed would put too much pressure on him and he became too much of a pull hitter when teams began shifting more on the left-handed hitter.
“I disagree, I love it here,’’ McCann said prior to Tuesday night’s Yankees-Indians game at Progressive Field. “It’s a slow start but I love it here. It’s his opinion. I respect him a lot, I have been with him a long time.’’
Most of what Pendleton said rolled off McCann’s thick neck, but one assessment stuck with him.
“The only part, that I am not a New York guy, that’s the only thing I didn’t like,’’ McCann said. “I love it here, it’s been great here.’’
The timing of Pendleton’s words wasn’t good. Since getting rid of the tapping of his right foot before he goes into his swing was eliminated along with hitting coach Kevin Long getting McCann to avoid being so straight up, the catcher has started to hit. Entering Tuesday night’s game McCann had eight hits in his previous 21 at-bats (.381).
The only part, that I am not a New York guy, that’s the only thing I didn’t like. I love it here, it’s been great here.
- Brian McCann
After not playing Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis because of a sore left foot and being used as the designated hitter in Monday night’s 5-3 victory, McCann caught Masahiro Tanaka Tuesday night.
McCann said he hadn’t contacted Pendleton and didn’t sound like he felt that was necessary.
“Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I got off to a slow start. If I was hitting .300 this isn’t a story but I am not,’’ said McCann, who started Tuesday night’s action batting .230.
Asked if the difference between playing in Atlanta and New York factored in the slow start, McCann said: “That didn’t affect me at all. It’s all still baseball and you put forth your best effort.’’
After Long criticized the since-departed Robinson Cano in spring training for not running hard to first base as a Yankee, manager Joe Girardi didn’t want to address Pendleton criticizing a Yankee player.
“I really don’t get into it because when you do it goes back and forth,’’ Girardi said. “I know what we have in our player and I am happy.’’
Girardi also wasn’t peeved at Pendleton.
“I didn’t make too much of it, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Terry thought [McCann] was putting too much pressure on himself,’’ Girardi said. “We have talked about being in New York it takes time to adjust. People are looking at the average but I think his production [10 homers, 38 RBIs] has been decent and he has done a great job with our pitching staff. You put all those things together, and he is not hitting .280, but he is playing pretty well.’’