Posey Likely Lost for Season

The San Francisco Giants have confirmed what many expected.   Buster Posey’s leg injury is severe enough than most believe he will miss the remainder of the season.

Posey has been placed on the disabled list with a fractured bone in his left leg.  The injury was sustained during last night’s violent collision at the plate between Posey and Marlins centerfielder Scott Cousins.

I’ve already shared my thoughts on the situation.  While the debate will surely continue, one thing is certain, the Giants will be without the 2010 Rookie of the Year for most if not all of the season.

Backup catcher Eli Whiteside will become the starter behind the plate, while the team will call up veteran Chris Stewart to act as their reserve.

San Francisco will certainly have tough shoes to fill in Posey’s; the backstop was hitting .284 on the year with 21 RBIs.  While that may not sound all that earth-shattering, this is a club that is ranked 29th in runs scored.  This magnifies the significance of a bat like Posey’s in a lineup like the Giants.

More importantly, Posey has handled a pitching staff that currently sits 4th in the majors with a 3.26 ERA.

I don’t like to get overdramatic and label a lot of guys as someone who can make or break a team.  But when you wear as many hats as Posey, it’s hard to say that this injury couldn’t be a deciding factor in the competitive NL West.