Buster Posey, the Giants' rookie catcher, had struggled leading up to Game 4 of the NLCS, but came through with possibly one of the best rookie performances in playoff history in carrying the Giants to a 3-1 series lead.
Posey's 1-for-11 performance at the plate in the series' first three games was erased with a 4-for-5 performance in Game 4 that helped erase a Phillies lead. The highlight was a clutch hit in the ninth off Roy Oswalt which set up Aubrey Huff to eventually score the game-winning run. He also drove in two runs in the game and had a spectacular defensive play in the fifth inning, scooping up a throw to home and tagging Carlos Ruiz at the plate to save a run.
"I just tried to relax and keep everything simple," Posey said of Game 4. "I cut down on a little movement and just tried to put the barrel on the ball."
The performance has helped make Posey, an NL rookie of the year favorite, a household name. But who is he?
Posey, 23, was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 MLB Draft. After playing his MLB debut late in the 2009 season, Posey was called up for good in late May 2010. His play allowed the Giants to trade Bengie Molina in June. In July he caught fire, hitting .514 with six home runs and a 21-game hitting streak.
Posey has already shown an ability to cover both sides of the plate when at bat, as well as the defensive chops to handle the Giants' talented staff of pitchers. The latter is especially notable, given that the Giants began playing Posey at first base because of an uncertainty as to whether he could deal with such a staff. In 2010, Giants pitchers had a 3.50 ERA with Molina behind the plate, and they had a 3.18 ERA with Posey. More amazingly, Posey had never caught until 2007, his sophomore year of college.
After Wednesday's Game 4, he certainly looks the part of big-league catcher, just when the Giants needed him.
(source:fanhouse.com)
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