San Francisco Giants: Let’s Be Thankful for Buster Posey

It’s Thanksgiving again, and there’s plenty to be thankful for. But in the world of sports, San Francisco Giants’ fans should be thankful for Buster Posey.

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As we gather around the table for Thanksgiving, there’s plenty to be thankful for. The bountiful feast set out on a table after a day spent bent over a hot stove. The family and friends that surround the table (yes, even that weird cousin). The laughs and smiles shared as the big bird is carved and eaten.

But, this is a sports website that talks about, you know, sports. So let’s be thankful for San Francisco Giants’ catcher Buster Posey.

Imagine where the San Francisco Giants would be if Posey didn’t wear the orange and black. Imagine that, back in 2008, the Giants skipped over Posey with the fifth pick in the draft. Maybe they take Gordon Beckham and speed up the process of getting him in a Giants’ uniform. Maybe they take a guy like Kyle Skipworth, who has played four games in the big leagues. Or maybe they even take another catcher, Jason Castro, who was picked 10th overall. Castro has carved a nice little niche in baseball and got himself a very nice contract not too long ago, but he is a far cry from Posey.

Thankful yet?

Posey’s call-up in May 2010 began an almost magical run for the Giants. He was mostly a first baseman at that point, but when Bengie Molina was dealt away at the trade deadline that year, Posey’s path was paved. He stepped into the gear, saddled himself behind the plate, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The superstar catcher has done just about everything there is to do in the game of baseball. Rookie of the Year? Check, done in 2010. Most Valuable Player? Check, done in 2012. Comeback Player of the Year? Check again. All-Star? Only four times. Silver Slugger? Only thrice. Gold Glove? Add that to the list as well. World Series winner? Check, check, and check.

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And he’s done it all while looking like a Hollywood movie star (seriously, how is his hair so perfect after wearing a catcher’s helmet for nine innings when I can’t wear a hat for two minutes without ruining everything?). If he wasn’t a professional baseball player, he’s probably the one catching Ginny Baker on Pitch. Move over, Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

He’s the Face of MLB, literally. In 2015, he was voted “Face of the MLB” by fans.

He’s transformed himself from the best offensive catcher in baseball with good defense into the best defensive catcher in baseball with good offense. Despite constant questions about when Posey will move out from behind the plate and into the infield, Posey has proven more and more that his defense, which garnered him his first Gold Glove in 2016, necessitates his presence behind the plate.

So think back to the 2008 draft again and say the Giants did pass on Posey, instead selecting Castro. Do the Giants win one World Series, let alone three, with him behind the plate? Does he build such a strong rapport with Madison Bumgarner, the team ace, getting to the point where it’s almost a sin to have anyone else behind the plate on Bumgarner’s days?

Next: Giants Make Flurry of Minor League Moves

Just the presence of Posey is something to be thankful for. And the fact that he has a contract signed through 2021 (with a team option for 2022), well that’s just the whipped cream on top of the pumpkin pie, isn’t it?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!