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McCann had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday after going on the disabled list for the second time this season http://www.officialcoyotes.com/authentic-adidas-clayton-keller-jersey , and the third time in less than a year, because of knee discomfort.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told MLB.com and the Houston Chronicle during a 5-3 win at Texas that the team was optimistic that the surgery would resolve the issue that kept recurring. While not specific about the procedure or a timetable, the GM said he’d expect McCann back in September to get ready for October.
Manager A.J. Hinch said before the Astros’ 5-3 win at Texas that he and McCann had a long conversation about the knee problems when the team played in Tampa last weekend.
”It’s just continually the same issue over and over with his right knee,” Hinch said. ”One of the options is surgery, and he went back to Houston to take care of it.”
Catcher Tim Federowicz, who made two starts earlier this season when McCann was on the DL, was promoted from Triple-A Fresno.
Max Stassi was the Astros’ starting catcher Tuesday night against the Rangers. Hinch said Stassi would get the bulk of the catching during McCann’s absence.
But Stassi never got behind the plate against the Rangers. He was hit by a pitch on his right (throwing) wrist while batting in the first inning. He stayed in the game to run, but Federowicz went to catch when the Astros took the field.
X-rays were negative, but Stassi has a bruised wrist and was considered day to day.
Shortstop Carlos Correa, who has been out since June 26 because of lower back soreness, also was back in Houston. He is eligible to come off the DL as early as Friday, though Hinch wasn’t sure if Correa would be ready to play then.
”He’s been reporting to Minute Maid (Park) every day and working with our people there,” Hinch said. ”The good news is that everything has been a step forward. The uncertainty is still we haven’t done any baseball activities yet Authentic Connor Brickley Jersey , so we don’t know how that’s going to impact his timeline until we get home.”
McCann missed nine games during his first DL stint this season before being activated June 8, the last time Houston played at the Rangers.
He was also on the DL for 11 days last August because of right knee soreness before the Astros went on to win their first World Series title. McCann played in all seven World Series games.
His latest DL move was retroactive to Monday, a day off for Houston.
McCann has hit .206 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 50 games this season. He was in a 1-for-26 slump before going on the DL for the first time this season on May 29. He hit .171 (7-of-41) with one homer and three RBIs in his 13 games in June after returning from the DL.
Stassi has hit .255 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 49 games for the Astros. Federowicz hit .328 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 38 games at Fresno.
”I have a lot of confidence in Stassi and Fed, both with major league time,” Hinch said. ”They’re comfortable, they know our pitchers, they know our program, our preparation, all things that make me feel really good about going into each particular game.”
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Damon Harrison isn’t a big fan of change, so it might be a little surprising the massive defensive tackle is enjoying playing in the New York Giants‘ new 3-4 scheme.
Harrison is having fun playing in the middle of the line flanked by second-year pro Dalvin Tomlinson and third-round draft pick B.J. Hill.
While there are fewer linemen in the formation, players say the defense is much more aggressive than the old 4-3 scheme. The linemen have gone from playing a two-gap responsibility to attacking one-gap.
”It just takes me back to my first years in the league,” the 29-year-old Harrison said Wednesday before practice. ”It’s kind of like a Rex Ryan-type defense. It’s a lot of attacking, it’s not sitting around waiting Anthony Beauvillier Jersey , trying to read and see the other guys on the offense are doing – it’s playing defense with an offensive mentality.”
In the formation, Harrison tends to shade on either side of the center, while Tomlinson and Hill pick a gap between the guard and tackle.
What also makes James Bettcher’s defense interesting is the linemen also can rotate, so are not going up against the same opponent each play.
When the linebackers and defensive backs join the rush, it adds to the confusion.
While the Giants (3-13) struggled last season, Harrison was again outstanding. He has started every game for five straights seasons, including the last two with the Giants. He finished with 76 tackles, second on the team, and he is clearly one of the leaders on defense, even though he shies away from calling himself a leader.
Besides learning a new defense, Harrison said he is learning about a new coaching staff and a lot of new players, led by linebackers Kareem Martin, Alec Ogletree and Connor Barwin along with Hill and veteran tackle A.J. Francis.
”It’s a few holdovers Brayden Schenn Jersey , but other than that, it’s new faces,” said Harrison, who is entering his seventh season after starting with the Jets. ”Everybody’s trying to learn everybody, to figure out what makes that person tick, what makes them go. It’s kind of refreshing. I told you in the past, I’m not a guy who likes change, so it’s a real difficult time for me.”
Tomlinson, who also started every game last season, said he and Harrison talk about the new defense constantly. They don’t hesitate to point out mistakes to each other.
”It’s different, but it is pretty similar for the most part,” Tomlinson said of the schemes. ”For the interior guys, we pretty much have the same job. Stop the run and be aggressive.”
Tomlinson said the linemen can flip-flop positions on any play Authentic Benoit Pouliot Jersey , depending on what the offense shows and the defensive alignment.
”We try to disguise everything to almost look the same,” Tomlinson said. ”When everything looks the same, you don’t know what you are getting from us and what to expect. We can bring someone from anywhere and surprise them every time.”
The new defense also has quick forced Harrison to change his style and his look a bit, a hint he might be dropping weight from his 355-pound frame.
”You go to change the body type to be able to do Coach Bettcher is asking of the defensive line, which is to get up the field and attack, and anybody who knows me and likes me, that’s not something that’s been a strong point in my game,” Harrison said. ”I can do it. I like to kind of use it as a change up every now.”
NOTES: The Giants returned to practice after having a day off. … S Landon Collins intercepted Eli Manning’s pass that seemed to be tipped by linebacker B.J. Goodson in a two-minute drill. … Third-year pro Kalif Raymond, who had one catch in six games with the Giants last season, has been showing flashes in training camp, including a couple Wednesday.
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