(The Spread) – The early reports on Giants catcher Buster Posey’s leg aren’t good and it appears as though the defending Rookie of the Year’s season may be over.
Posey hurt his leg/ankle in Wednesday night’s extra inning loss to the Marlins when Florida outfielder Scott Cousins crashed into him during a play at the plate. Posey’s left leg was caught under his body and twisted awkwardly. The early reports are that he suffered a broken bone in his left ankle and likely tore ligaments in his left knee. He has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The broken bone is bad enough but when you’re talking about torn ligaments, you’ve got a major issue – especially for a catcher. It’s hard to envision a scenario in which Posey isn’t out for the season and it might take him a full year to completely recover. And even then…
The good news is that Posey is young and has a tremendous work ethic. He’s beloved for his professionalism and class, which makes the injury all the harder to take for Giants fans. It’s a big blow for the defending champs and one in which they may not recover from this season.
Eli Whiteside will assume the regular catcher duties and Chris Stewart was called up from the minors to fill Posey’s spot on the roster. Whiteside is a career backup and has been serviceable with the Giants, but he’s obviously no Posey. The Giants could consider signing a familiar face in Bengie Molina, if him and GM Brian Sabean can mend a seemingly burnt bridge. (Molina didn’t take kindly to the way he heard about being traded to Texas last year when Posey was called up from the minors.)
Another option, although it’s a long shot, is to make Pablo Sandoval the starting catcher when he returns from wrist surgery. He broke into baseball as a catcher before moving to the corner infield. While it would be a lot to toss onto his plate, it’s an option.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog.com currently list the Giants’ odds to repeat as World Series champions at 12/1. They started the week at 14/1 and have lost two straight, so it’s a little strange to see their odds at 12/1, but we’re sure oddsmakers will adjust with the news of Posey’s injury.
The Giants called up prospect Brandon Belt today in hopes that he’ll provide the offense with a spark.
Want More From TheSpread.com? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!