Buster Posey’s agent calls for change of rules in Major League Baseball to protect catchers
The 2011 Major League Baseball season has come to an abrupt end for Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants, as Scott Cousin of the Florida Marlins delivered a brutal blow to Posey’s chest at the plate that left Posey with a broken bone in his lower leg.
This season ending injury comes as a devastating blow to the reigning World Series Champions, who will not be the same without last year’s National League Rookie of the Year.
After a MRI, Posey was diagnosed with a fractured left fibula and three torn ligaments in his left ankle due to the dangerous collision. This was confirmed by trainer Dave Groeschner.
The injury has elicited strong reactions from everyone in the Giants’ club especially Posey’s agent Jeff Berry. He commented, "If you go helmet to helmet in the NFL, it's a $100,000 fine, but in baseball, you have a situation in which runners are [slamming
into] fielders. I'm going to call Major League Baseball and put this on the radar. Because it's just wrong."
With the passage of time it has become normal routine for the catchers to block the plate and base runners to slam into them. While Berry feels like rules like these needs to be changed so that players can be protected, especially the catchers, a popular
sports radio commentator, Colin Cowherd differs. He believes that the rule has been a long standing part of baseball and should not be changed at all.
Berry issued a statement on Thursday saying he has contacted Major League Baseball and the players union. He believes that Posey was in front of the home plate and didn’t block it therefore Cousins had room to slide as he approached home. "At [the] point
of impact, all of Buster's body is still two feet in front of the plate leaving all of the plate exposed for the runner," Berry said.
Posey was left in such a state due to impact of the collision that he was helped off the field by two trainers from the team who held his left leg and the fans watched their favourite player being carried out with shock clearly visible on their faces
On the other hand Cousins has to suffer the wrath of the Giants’ fan that left no stone unturned in hurling insults at the star. He released a statement saying that it was never his wish for Buster to get hurt and that he’ll send a message over to the Giants’
clubhouse paying his best wishes.
It will be hard to replace a player like Posey, as he was a vital part of the 2010 team that brought home the Championship for the Giants. He was playing exceptionally well this season and was performing wonderfully regardless of whatever position he was
put at.
Manager of the Giants, Bruce Bochy summed up the teams loss in a single sentence by saying that guys like Buster Posey can’t be replaced.
Tags: