Baseball Nation - Buster Posey To Return To The Field On Friday

Buster Posey Scheduled To Catch Against Reds On Friday

2012-03-08T16:21:37Z

After a home-plate collision ruined his 2011 season, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey hoped to be ready by the start of spring training this year. While he didn't quite make the soft deadline, he'll still be catching the first part of a game in early March.

Buster Posey confirms that the plan is to catch two innings tomorrow. #SFGiants
— Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) March 8, 2012

Posey has been doing catching and hitting drills for most of the spring. The only thing that he's been especially cautious with so for is baserunning, as he tried to slide for the first time since his injury earlier this week.

The Giants weren't very active in the offseason, loudly proclaiming that the return of Posey was akin to a major free-agent acquisition. Counting on the seamless return of a player who missed the previous season is always a risky strategy, but everyone can agree that the more spring at-bats Posey gets the better.

Scott Cousins On Comeback Trail, Too

2012-02-27T23:32:41Z

You remember Scott Cousins. Looked like he'd get a good chance to play in the majors last spring, with the club short-handed in the outfield. He was looking to make a name for himself.

Which he did. Last May, he did this:

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That knocked Buster Posey out for the season, and Cousins didn't last much longer. From the Associated Press (via SI.com):

Cousins' season ended less than three weeks later because of a herniated disc unrelated to the collision. He's not eager to revisit a period that was painful in more ways than one.

"It's past," he said Monday. "That was last year. This is a new season for me and Buster."

Posey has recovered from the injury, which included a broken bone and three torn ankle ligaments. Giants fans vilified Cousins, who endured death threats and a bout of depression while expressing only remorse for what happened.

"He's a nicer guy than me," teammate Logan Morrison said. "It was difficult for me watching him go through it."

Cousins insists moving beyond the episode wasn't difficult, because he did nothing wrong. When Posey tried to block the plate, Cousins slammed into him and scored the winning run.

"I know in my heart what I did was the right play," Cousins said. "You can look yourself in the mirror for that."

However, while Posey has watched replays multiple times, Cousins said he has never seen the play. He apologized repeatedly for the outcome and tried to contact Posey, but they've had no communication.

There are two bits of "news" here:

One, Cousins endured "a bout of depression" ... I would like to read more about that. Wouldn't you? Not in a voyeuristic sort of way, but this seems like a big part of the story and it's mentioned just in passing? I admire Cousins for disclosing his bout; it's just that I'm left wanting more. Perhaps because of my own bout. Perhaps because most of the rest of this is just the usual baseball stuff.

Two, isn't it telling that Cousins and Posey haven't communicated? Does this suggest that Posey doesn't agree that what Cousins did was "the right play"? I don't believe it was the right play, though I blame MLB and the Players Association more than I blame Scott Cousins. He was merely doing what he's been trained to do.

About his comeback this spring ... I am surprised to learn that Scott Cousins has the grand total of 96 plate appearances in the major leagues. He's 27, and his minor-league numbers are decent but far from outstanding. He projects as a fourth outfielder, at best. Which means, like it or not, he'll probably spend the rest of his life being remembered for essentially one thing.

Which won't be easy, and I would not wish it on anyone.

Buster Posey Instructed By Giants To No Longer Block Plate

2012-02-20T20:29:39Z

After suffering through a grim collision, a grim injury, and a grim rehab, catcher Buster Posey is back in action with the San Francisco Giants. He's looking forward to a full season of activity, and for the Giants' part, they're not particularly interested in having Posey go through the same thing all over again later on. Here's one way they're trying to make sure Posey doesn't get slammed again, from Henry Schulman:

It is not a hint, or a suggestion, or a plea, but a direct order: Manager Bruce Bochy has told catcher Buster Posey not to block the plate this season.

"I'll take this out of Buster's hands," Bochy said after Giants pitchers and catchers, including Posey, finished their first formal workout of spring training Sunday.

Here's the funny part, where "funny" isn't really the right word at all - Posey wasn't actually blocking the plate when he got drilled by Scott Cousins. It's Posey's understanding that Cousins went out of his way for the hit. But even if blocking the plate isn't how Posey got hurt in the first place, there's no denying that not blocking the plate will help him remain healthy.

What's tricky is that blocking the plate can be instinctive for a catcher. Posey and the Giants are going to have to work hard to overcome that. But that's why we have spring training. That's not the only reason why we have spring training, but it's one of them.

Buster Posey Releases Statement After Brian Sabean's Comments

2011-06-04T19:18:56Z

Two days after Giants GM Brian Sabean caused a stir with his comments concerning Florida Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins, and a day after Logan Morrison ripped Buster Posey for not taking Cousins's phone call, Posey released a statement of his own:

I appreciate the continued support of Giants fans and others as I begin the process of working my way back. But in no way do I condone threats of any kind against Scott Cousins or his family.
As I said last week, I'm not out to vilify Scott. I appreciate that he made the effort to reach out to me on the night of the play, but I was in no physical condition to talk to anyone. I have not been back with the team since that night, so I haven't even been aware of any other messages he's left for me. We all need to move on, so it isn't necessary to have a conversation with him at this point.

My only focus right now is looking forward, getting healthy and returning to catching for the Giants.

Now that this statement, which basically translates to, "Look, I just don't want to talk to the guy," has been released, I'm sure that this is the last time we'll ever hear about this story.

Giants Apologize On Behalf Of Brian Sabean

2011-06-04T00:01:20Z

The San Francisco Giants released a statement on Friday regarding general manager Brian Sabean's comments regarding Scott Cousins:

This is a very emotional time for the Giants organization and our fans. We lost for the season one of our best players to a serious injury and we are doing everything we can to support Buster Posey through this very difficult time. We appreciate Scott Cousins’ outreach to Buster Posey and to the Giants organization.
Brian Sabean’s comments yesterday were said out of frustration and out of true concern for Buster and were not meant to vilify Scott Cousins. Brian has been in contact with Florida Marlins General Manager Larry Beinfest to clarify his comments and to assure him that there is no ill-will toward the player. He has also reached out to Scott Cousins directly.

Taking that in chunks, and translating through Google Translation's press-release-to-English option ...

Brian Sabean’s comments yesterday were said out of frustration and out of true concern for Buster and were not meant to vilify Scott Cousins.

"Brian Sabean's comments yesterday were said out of a belief that no one would really listen or care other than the partisan fans he thought he was addressing on a local radio show."

Brian has been in contact with Florida Marlins General Manager Larry Beinfest to clarify his comments and to assure him that there is no ill-will toward the player.

"Brian has left a message to Florida Marlins GM Larry Beinfest asking if Wes Helms is available, and if he can play shortstop."

He has also reached out to Scott Cousins directly.

"He reached out to grab Scott Cousins and put him in a choke hold, but the attempt was unsuccessful because Cousins is a professional athlete, and Sabean is totally psyched about getting his AARP membership card next month."

Now that Sabean has apologized through a proxy, I'm sure this is totally the last time we'll hear about this story.

The Development Of The Giants-Marlins Rivalry

2011-06-03T22:27:15Z

A brief history, and a brief future.

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May 25, 2011
In a ghastly scene at San Francisco's AT&T Park, Marlins reserve outfielder Scott Cousins scores the go-ahead run in extra innings by plowing over Giants catcher Buster Posey's leg at home plate. Posey sustains a fractured fibula, torn ligaments in his ankle, and a reduced Handsomeness Quotient, although he does gain an improved Sympathy Quotient. Almost immediately, arguments begin over whether or not Cousins should have collided with Posey instead of simply sliding. Most agree that the play was clean, or at least not dirrty (Christina Aguilera joke).

June 2, 2011
A week-and-a-half after the initial Cousins/Posey incident, most everybody had moved on. However, "most" does not include Giants general manager Brian Sabean, who channels his inner Reggie Dunlop during a radio interview. Sabean rips into Cousins and talks about how baseball people "have long memories," implying that Cousins' act will not soon be forgotten, and that some form of revenge might be in order. Sabean's words only stoke the developing flames of hatred between the San Francisco and Florida organizations.

June 3, 2011
Logan Morrison goes on the radio and calls the Giants GM unprofessional. Morrison notes that Sabean never played in the big leagues and has never been in this kind of situation himself, and so he doesn't have the right to put a target on Cousins' back. Morrison also calls Posey "immature" for declining to return Cousins' phone calls.

June 5, 2011
Piling on for some reason, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria goes on the radio and makes fun of Sabean for consulting with ex-catcher Mike Matheny, declaring that "[Matheny] doesn't know what's what, ever since his concussion." The radio host calls Loria a prick, so Loria buys the station and sells it to Bud Selig.

August 12, 2011
In their highly anticipated first meeting since the Posey play, the Giants travel to Miami, with Sun Life Stadium celebrating We Have A Rival! Night. Free placards are distributed, featuring the Giants' logo with a red strike through it, and fan signs are spotted around the ballpark disparaging Tim Lincecum, Barry Bonds and Kirt Manwaring. In the top of the first inning, Aubrey Huff tags up on a deep fly ball and bowls over John Buck before touching home plate, sparking a beanball war that gets five players ejected. Scott Cousins spends the game on the bench, because he isn't very good at baseball.

August 13, 2011
With many wondering whether the Giants got the aggression out of their system the night before, Mike Fontenot charges John Buck from third base on a grounder to short, ending up unconscious on the ground. This sparks a beanball war that gets six players ejected. Scott Cousins spends the game on the bench, because he isn't very good at baseball.

August 14, 2011
In a day game after a night game, John Buck doesn't play, so the Giants instead target backup Brett Hayes. While leading off, Andres Torres turns around and spits in Hayes' face. Pablo Sandoval takes an extra long backswing to make sure he knocks Hayes in the helmet. The first pitch Hayes sees while batting buzzes his skull, and the next one ends up behind his back. The Giants' aggression sparks a beanball war that gets nine players ejected. Scott Cousins spends the game on the bench, because he isn't very good at baseball.

April 27, 2012
It's a new season, and the Marlins arrive for their first game in San Francisco since the Buster Posey Incident. Fans and players alike, coursing with adrenaline, show up thirsty for blood, and the collective mood grows increasingly hostile until somebody points out that Scott Cousins had been designated for assignment and snapped up by the Twins the previous December. With Cousins gone, the Giants players and fans ask themselves what they're actually mad about anymore. The game proceeds normally, with Anibal Sanchez throwing two no-hitters.

April 28, 2012
Brian Sabean takes to local radio to rip the Twins - which he "thought to be a classy organization" - for acquiring a player of Cousins' ilk. Sabean repeats that baseball people have long memories, which he proves by recounting the story of when he ate an entire German chocolate cake when he was six.

May 2, 2012
Batting just .217, Cousins is dropped to the AAA Rochester bench.

May 5, 2012
Cousins is released and becomes a free agent.

May 17, 2012
The Giants and Marlins announce an All-Star Game voting alliance.

Giants GM Brian Sabean Has Harsh Words For Scott Cousins

2011-06-03T00:17:28Z

Remember when San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey was hurt last week? There was consternation and grief, mostly because Posey is like James Dean crossed with Mahatma Gandhi, and the world is a better place with him in it. But the story sort of faded away. There was talk about rule changes, Posey was declared out for the year, and for the most part, the baseball world went back to whatever it was doing before the home-plate collision.

Not so fast! Brian Sabean is still a little upset at Florida Marlins utility player Scott Cousins, and after careful consideration, he decided to unload both barrels of the ol' Sabean mouth cannon during an interview with KNBR 680 in San Francisco, portions of which were transcribed by Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News:

"If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we’ll all be happy."

Oh. I thought the consensus was that Cousins was just playing the way a 25th-man needs to play if he wants to keep his job. Apparently, if the play affects how you'll be evaluated as a general manager at the end of the season, though, you'll feel a wee bit differently.

"He chose to be a hero in my mind, and if that’s his flash of fame, that’s as good as it’s going to get, pal. We’ll have a long memory. Believe me, we’ve talked to (former catcher Mike) Matheny about how this game works. You can’t be that out-and-out overly aggressive. I’ll put it as politically as I can state it: There’s no love lost and there shouldn’t be."

The Giants will play the Marlins in a three-game series starting on August 12, in case you were wondering. The angry words from Sabean are sure to whip Marlins fan everywhere into a frenzy.

Buster Posey Injury Update: Posey Officially Done For Season

2011-05-29T22:08:57Z

After the San Francisco Giants announced that catcher Buster Posey had undergone successful surgery to repair the ligaments in his ankle, Giants head trainer Dave Groeschner confirmed what many had suspected. From Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News:

He's not going to be back this season, Dave Groeschner says, officially.

So if he's out for the season, how about 2012?

Opening day 2012 for Posey? "I would think so," Groeschner said. "I think it’s a good prognosis."

Posey had screws put into his ankle, and he'll be on crutches for the next two months, according to John Shea. After the screws are removed, he'll remain off the injured ankle for two more weeks. While he is on crutches, he is still expected to be the fastest catcher the Giants have had in years.

It's almost a cliche that a player has undergone successful surgery -- Kendry Morales had successful surgery on his ankle last year, for example -- but the Giants did get some good news that they were looking for. From Baggarly again:

Groeschner said the medical team was pleased that Posey’s fractured left fibia did not require a plate to be inserted; there was a thought that the insertion of the screws might worsen the slightly displaced fracture, which is expected to heal on its own.

So good news, tempered by the confirmation that Buster Posey's season is over, and that there are hopes, rather than guarantees, that he'll begin 2012 at full strength.