Washington --- Brian McCann was fitted with a new contact for his left eye Tuesday morning when he visited an eye specialist in Washington, and he was back in the lineup Tuesday night.
McCann has been suffering from blurry vision in the eye since opening day and was facing the prospect that he might have to have additional Lasik surgery to correct it. But with this contact, he thinks he can put off corrective surgery, should it be needed, until the offseason. "My eye changed a little bit," the Braves catcher said. "It's a little bit more nearsighted now than I was when I got the Lasik done. ... Now it's just a matter of getting used to this contact."
McCann hasn't worn contacts since he had Lasik surgery the winter before the 2008 season.
He had already tried to wear a corrective contact but felt it move every time he blinked. This one fits his eye better, he said. He said his vision improved right away with it Tuesday morning.
"All it'll be is a couple days to get used to this thing and it might not even be that long," McCann said. "I'm seeing good, and I'm in there tonight."
He went 0-2 with two walks.
McCann said he had no regrets about having the surgery. He's had poor eyesight since the eighth grade and welcomed the improvement.
"Lasik surgery is the best thing I ever did," he said. "Last year, I saw as good as you can possibly see. We'll get back to that, and hopefully the contact will work out and we can move on."
McCann didn't think it'd even be an issue if he weren't playing Baseball.
"I think this kind of thing happens," McCann said. "It's not a lot, but it's enough to notice when you're on a Baseball field and you need perfect vision. If I didn't play Baseball, I don't think I would have gone and got it corrected."
Anderson still sits with quad injury
Garret Anderson missed his second consecutive start with a strained left quadriceps, which he injured running the bases Sunday. He's unsure when he might return.
Anderson also has missed four games with a strained right calf muscle. He's started only six of the Braves' first 14 games.
He said Tuesday the quad was better than the day before, but he's still taking it day by day.
"I want to be smart about it and not come back too soon and cause more problems," said Anderson, 36. Not that he's happy about missing so much time with his new team. "As you get older, days become more precious. I know how precious every game is. I'll do the best I can to get back out there."
Manager Bobby Cox said he wasn't sure when Anderson would be back and acknowledged it could come to a point where the Braves need to disable him.
"It's got to be in the back of your mind," Cox said. "I don't want to, but ... Quads don't heal that fast. I wish we could get him in there. He's some kind of good-looking hitter."
Etc.
Chipper Jones tried out a new guard on his bruised left thumb on Monday night in his final at-bat and really liked the feel of it.
He planned to wear it again Tuesday and hopes it will help him play through the pain he's had since jamming his thumb.
"The other guard was hard rubber, and it compressed right on the spot it's supposed to protect," Jones said. "This is softer material, and I still get a good feel for the bat, without as much pressure on the spot."
