Brian McCann – Padre Killer

At the start of each series, we at Chicken Friars will zero in on an opposing player known to be a “Padre Killer.” No matter the day, time or place, this player is known to be a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to playing against the San Diego Padres.

In this column, I will analyze that player’s statistics against the Friars and try to offer some insight into how not to let that player beat our beloved team.

This three-game series will be Chipper Jones’ last visit to Petco Park as he is set to hang up his cleats at the end of the season. Jones, a veteran of 18 years, has killed the Padres throughout that time.

In the last Padres-Braves series that was played in mid-August, we highlighted all the damage Jones has done to the Friars.

In 129 games against the Padres, Jones has a .316 career batting average with 24 home runs and 74 RBI. With all this destruction it would be fair to say the Padres won’t miss Jones.

But a player whom the Padres will have to continue to deal with for now and many years to come is Braves catcher Brian McCann. Just like Jones, McCann is a Padre Killer. McCann knows how to get it done against the Padres.

Here is how McCann kills the Padres:

The All-Star catcher is not fazed by Petco Park being a hitter’s park because he  puts up Padre Killing type numbers there too.

In 20 games at the downtown San Diego ballpark, McCann owns a .358 average with four home runs and 21 RBI. McCann not only gets it done with the bat but he calls a great game behind the plate.

If I were the Padres, I would throw McCann everything but fastballs. I would purely stick with off-speed pitches inside and away from the plate. I know McCann is a good fastball hitter, so the Padres need to take away his strong suit.

STATISTICS COURTESY OF: Baseball Reference