Brian McCann Named to Fourth Straight All-Star Game

Atlanta catcher Brian McCann will be the only member of the Braves representing the team in St. Louis for the 2009 All Star game on July 14.

Despite a solid season from their starting pitchers, who rank third in the National League with a 3.75 ERA, not one was selected to join the National League’s pitching staff when rosters were announced today.

Jair Jurrjens and Javier Vazquez both made strong bids to be All-Stars but ultimately fell short of making the team, due to poor offensive support from an often lackluster Braves offense.

Jurrjens is fifth in the National League with a 2.73 ERA, but only stands at 6-6 on the season.

Vazquez ranks in the NL’s top ten in strikeouts (130), innings pitched (112), ERA (3.05) and opponents’ batting average (.232), but only has a 5-7 record to show for his efforts.

As for McCann, making the All-Star game has become a yearly tradition for the Braves catcher.

He was named to his fourth consecutive All-Star game, the first catcher to do so since Mike Piazza.

B-Mac was voted in as a reserve by his peers on the player’s ballot after hometown favorite Yadier Molina of the Cardinals beat him out to start. Despite missing 13 of the Braves’ first 28 games with blurred vision and dryness in his left eye, McCann still led Molina in every major offensive category this season.

This year’s selection to the All-Star game has to be the sweetest for McCann, who was able to return from the disabled list on May 8 with new glasses and has hit .329 with six home runs and 21 RBIs since.