There Is No Can't In McCann

Baseball is filled with luck, momentum and superstitions. Braves catcher Brian McCann may have found his “lucky charm” in a new pair of prescription glasses.

Recently, McCann grew more agitated and irritated about the fact that he couldn’t find a remedy to cure the blurred vision and dry sensation he was experiencing in his left eye.

McCann was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs May 9 against the Phillies. Being able to see the ball clearly with his new glasses has definitely worked out for McCann who has returned from his two-week hiatus in fine style, scoring two runs and knocking in four in seven at-bats.

In Tuesday’s game against the Mets, the catcher was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. McCann’s average is up to .279 since returning from the DL.

McCann’s vision problems started on Opening Day and was batting just .195 through the 41 at-bats he’d compiled before going on the disabled list.

“I felt like the first 40 at-bats I had this year, I was going up there not swinging the bat, I was just trying to see the ball,” McCann told MLB.com. “It makes all the difference being able to go up there and stick to your game plan and not worry about anything else but hitting.”

McCann’s blurred vision was a result of the fact that his vision has changed since he underwent Lasik surgery after the 2007 season. The slight change primarily proved to be a problem when he was batting and attempting to track pitches without knowing what type of pitch was thrown.

McCann’s luck has definitely rubbed off on his teammates as well.

The Braves just finished taking two of three from the Mets and before that the Braves took two of three from the Phillies. The Braves (17-17) have won six of their last 10 games and are only 1.5 games out of first place behind the Mets.

Martin Prado’s 12^th inning homer off Ken Takahashi provided the Braves their fourth lead of the day, and with the help of Braves closer Mike Gonzalez who pitched around a lead off double by shortstop Jose Reyes in the bottom of the inning.

“It’s a huge win for us, after last night’s game being such a downer, losing that one,” Chipper Jones told MLB.com. “The guys showed me a lot. They played hard and competed. Guys who didn’t have success yesterday came back and had success.”

After Reyes was moved to third with a sacrifice bunt, Gonzalez struck out both Beltran and Gary Sheffield and it proved to be one of the most crucial saves of the left-handed closer this year.