James McCann: 2024 DiSar?

[Three Run Homer]

Back in the early 2000s, Baseball Prospectus created a new award, the "DiSar", given each year to the player who went the longest in a season before drawing his first walk.  The "DiSar" was named after Gary DiSarcina, a futility infielder for the Angels in the 1990s who had notably low walk rates throughout his career.   

You might think that James McCann is just another mediocre backup catcher, but you'd be wrong...this year, he is a leading contender for the DiSar!  He has 72 AB wihout a walk, most in the majors.  But he is facing tough competition from Jordan Beck of Colorado, who has 71 AB without a walk.  We can expect a nip-and-tuck battle over the coming months as Beck and McCann do all they can to pull their teams' collective OBP to the bottom of the league.  

At one point, Craig Robinson of the 1973 Phillies held the all-time record for most at bats without a walk over an entire season, with 146.   But I found that nugget in an undated article on the SABR website, so it's possible that someone has passed Robinson in recent years.  

 

 

[Frobby]

His chase rate has gone from 35.6 to 37.8  to 41.6 to 44.6 the last 4 years. 

[interloper]

7 minutes ago, Frobby said:

His chase rate has gone from 35.6 to 37.8  to 41.6 to 44.6 the last 4 years. 

Good lord. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

So is there a "Caleb" award for the player who takes the longest to get his first RBI?

[drjohnnyfever1]

I had such high hopes for McCann this season.  Little did I know he was already killin' it!

[ShoelesJoe]

The irony is that in AAA Maverick Handley's primary offensive tool appears to be his knack for drawing walks. Don't know what his .250 / .377 / .426 would translate to at the big league level, but would he be worse than McCann? 

[Billy F-Face3]

Did people on this message board just wake up today and decide they suddenly want to declare this National McCann Whipping Boy Day?

The other thread was laying it on him thick and he hasn't even done that much differently warrent it. He's been better this season than he was last season. He's not a starting catcher but he's been adequately better than himself, Churino, and Bemboom in his limited playing time. Both defensively and getting timely hits. 

[Morgan423]

I remember the season about ten-ish years back when Adam Jones had walked twice by the All-Star Break, but still finished around his normal total by year's end.  Struck me as really weird, watching him do that in the first half and then walk all the time in the last. 

Edited May 23 by Morgan423

[sportsfan8703]

DiSar sounds like something that abstinence prevents. 

[Billy F-Face3]

6 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

DiSar sounds like something that abstinence prevents. 

Lmao

[OsBeavs]

I used to watch Gary DiSarcina in single A when I was a kid. He was a really nice guy and signed autographs for us. Also, could really hit for average. It is funny to see the legacy people have when you get older.

[luismatos4prez]

He walked. But Beck already walked last week so maybe McCann still wins?

[Three Run Homer]

Congratulations to James for walking tonight in a critical two-out situation, extending the inning to get Gunnar up to the plate.   

He still is the leader in the clubhouse for the 2024 DiSar, with 79 AB before his first walk.  It's possible that someone currently with fewer at bats (or even a midseason callup) will catch him.  Currently the leader in AB without a walk is Alan Trejo (utility infielder for Colorado), with 34.  

 

[DrungoHazewood]

On 5/23/2024 at 9:39 PM, OsBeavs said:

I used to watch Gary DiSarcina in single A when I was a kid. He was a really nice guy and signed autographs for us. Also, could really hit for average. It is funny to see the legacy people have when you get older.

DiSarcina was about as good a player as you can be when you hit .250, have little power, walk 20 times per full season, ground into 15 DPs a year, and go 7-for-14 stealing bases. Well, almost. He was more-or-less Mark Belanger except with B+/A- defense instead of A+++.

Edited May 30 by DrungoHazewood

[Frobby]

On 5/23/2024 at 7:38 PM, sportsfan8703 said:

DiSar sounds like something that abstinence prevents. 

Perhaps McCann should have abstained from swinging at pitches a foot out of the strike zone.