Detroit Tigers: Is James McCann still the long-term solution behind the plate?

2017 defense

Expect McCann hasn’t posted the same defensive metrics this year that helped him finish as a 2016 finalist for the Gold Glove at his position in the American League.

He showed defensive promise last year, and has flashed that same promise this season. However, the flashes have promise have come with less and less frequency.

Sure, he’s made some standout throws this season that have prompted the usage of the “McCannon” moniker, but his overall defensive metrics aren’t what they used to be.

McCann logged 7 rSB of seven and a 9 DRS en route to making it as a finalist for the Gold Glove in 2016.

The Detroit Tigers catcher led all Major League catchers with at least 800 innings that season with his 7 rSB, and finished only behind Buster Posey and Salvador Perez in terms of DRS (McCann had a +9 DRS).

This year, however, things are a bit different—and not in a good way.

Of catchers with at least 450 innings caught in 2017, only four players have a lower rSB number than McCann’s -1.

In terms of the same qualified catchers, only Jonathan Lucroy, Wellington Castillo, Tony Wolters, Brian McCann and Tyler Flowers have posted a lower DRS than McCann’s -3 stat this season.

Additionally, McCann’s caught stealing percentage is down significantly from 45% last year to only 30% this season.

The 2016 campaign saw opposing teams steal just 33 bases off Detroit’s starting backstop. This season, opposing teams have already racked up 30.