For Giants Buster Posey, change and continuity ride hand-in-hand

In our exclusive interview, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey talks continuity in San Francisco, growing into a better ballplayer, and a tight National League West.

It may be hard to believe it, but it has been six years since Buster Posey made his Major League debut with the San Francisco Giants. Still just three years removed from the last game for Barry Bonds, the team was looking for an identity, a face for the organization, and a fresh start to build around.

Little did they know they had found their pot of gold in Buster Posey.

To say that Buster Posey has helped the San Francisco Giants live the charmed life would be an understatement. The 5th pick of the 2008 draft, Posey made his Major League debut as a September call-up in 2009, collecting 2 hits in his 17 plate appearances. He followed that up by forcing his way into the Giants’ starting line-up on May 29, 2010 and hasn’t looked back. Posey would claim the Rookie of the Year for the National League in 2010 behind a debut season that saw the backstop put up a .305/.357/.505 slash-line, 18 home runs, and 67 RBI. The Giants of course did their part as well, winning the World Series title in 2010.

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Things have continued to be gravy for Posey at times. He captured the National League MVP award in 2012 by winning the batting title with a .336 average, 24 home runs, and 103 RBI. The Giants would also claim baseball’s World Championship in 2012, and again in 2014. So all said and done, the tally is six seasons, a Rookie of the Year award, an MVP, and three World Series rings. Not too shabby for a 27-year-old.

Buster Posey will be the first to tell you that much of that success has been made easier for both him and his Giants teammates. The front office has done a great job of not just building a contender, but doing their best to maintain some continuity with the roster. For Posey, that kind of consistency from year to year has made it easier for the team to win on a year-to-year basis.

“I think the main thing is that when you get into a tight situation, you’ve been to battle with the same guys and you know what each guy can bring to the table.” said Posey, “There’s a comfort level to that.”

Of course, some of that continuity will be gone for Posey when the season starts in another few weeks. Gone is Pablo Sandoval, who batted directly behind Buster through the Giants’ World Series run in 2014 and signed with the Boston Red Sox this offseason. Also gone, at least for the first few weeks of the season, is Hunter Pence, who is out after having his arm broken by a pitch earlier this spring. Those are two important pieces of protection in the line-up around Posey, but he’s quick to tell you that he can’t focus on that.

“Ideally, I try to keep a similar approach to what I have had,” said Posey when asked about the impact of not having that pair around him will have on the way he is pitched. “I guess it remains to be seen whether it affects the way I am pitched or not. I try to keep things as simple as possible, go into a zone, and stay in that zone. A lot of it depends on who is on the mound. You just try to stay within yourself and do what you can to help the team win.”

And to Buster Posey, that’s an important mentality to have. Now entering his sixth full season (7th overall), Posey sees those successes and realizes that adjustments are just part of the game, both for the team and the player. Now a bit further into his development, he understands that and can meld the skill and instincts he has with the lessons he’s learned as a player. That includes his need to change his day-to-day routines and workout regimen, especially as his body changes and his continued usage behind the plate beats on his body a bit more.

“I guess it remains to be seen whether it affects the way I am pitched or not. I try to keep things as simple as possible, go into a zone, and stay in that zone.

“My workouts have become more functional now than they were in the past,” he says, “and from a nutritional, hydration standpoint, I think I’m much more knowledgeable about how to keep myself in shape, not just during the season but also during the offseason. I know the Giants are really honing in on hydration and how it affects your energy level, your power output. That helped lead me toward BODYARMOR® SuperDrink. It is a great choice as far as rehydrating, staying hydrated. It’s been important.”

The focus on nutrition is just one of the things Posey is pushing to continually improve and grow as a ball player. In doing so, he realizes that while he is still the same player as that 22-year-old Rookie, but also needs to be more.

“I think I’m similar to when I first came up. Still pushing myself both offensively and defensively to be a better player, finding new ways to improve my game, “he says “I think the difference is that I have gained a lot of knowledge in my time so far. It’s a little easier to pinpoint what I want to work on exactly.”

As if Major League pitchers need anything more to worry about, it’s a Buster Posey that wants to be better and wants to continue to improve on a Rookie of the Year Award, MVP, and three World Series rings.

They’ve now been put on full alert.

Next: Interview: Buster Posey wants to remain at catcher

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