Yankees News: Brian McCann Ready to Combat the Shift in 2015

Perhaps no man on the entire Yankees roster has been a bigger victim to defensive re-alignments and schematic shifts than catcher Brian McCann. As a matter of fact, McCann had the fifth-most at bats against defensive shifts in the entire MLB during the 2014 season. Such shifts have caused McCann’s batting average to plummit in recent years, as he recorded career lows in 2012 with a .230  avaerage and in 2014, his first season a New York Yankee, in which he batted .232.

Yes, he belted 23 home runs, which tied his second highest season total, but let’s be honest, a .232 batting average was far below his then-career average of .277.

Thankfully, it appears as if McCann has been devising a plan to combat defensive shifts, and plans to put it into full effect during the 2015 season.

According to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, McCann said he’s been working on push bunts towards the opposite side of the shift throughout spring training. He actually tried one in an exhibition game this spring, but admittidly said that it didnt go well, but he remains confident that he could pull one out of nowhere if the situation presents itself during the season.

When exactly would be a perfect time to drop down one of these push bunts?

“Maybe if we’re behind a little bit and I need to get something going,” McCann told Kuty. “Or to lead off an inning.”

He added, “You can’t be afraid to try something that’s going to get you on base. If they’re going to give it to you, you have to try to take it sometimes.”

Yankees skipper Joe Girardi said he wouldn’t be upset at all if his catcher or any other hitters in his lineup who face defensive re-alignments, namely Mark Teixeira and Stephen Drew, decide to drop a push bunt to beat a shift.

"“In games, you need base runners,” said Girardi. “And I don’t care where you’re hitting, if you’re down two runs in the ninth inning, your job is to get on base. So get on base.I think you look at the situation and you decide. If there’s a guy on second, you’re probably not going to do it. We’ll tell you to drive the run in. But if the situation calls for it, you do it.”"

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