Buster Posey tried to watch every inning of San Francisco Giants baseball last year, but he was busy.
Most of his energy went into caring for four children, specifically two adopted twin girls who were born eight weeks prematurely last summer. But he also found a useful way to keep his arm in shape – by rolling up diapers really tight and throwing them at his 9-year-old son Lee while he took cover.
“You really have to make sure you have the correct weight of the diapers,” said Posey after the Giants’ first official training session on Wednesday. “Depending on how well they’ve fed, that plays a lot in my accuracy and whether it’s equivalent to the weight of a baseball. Keep that in mind, whatever kind of formula they have, if they’re eating baby food or not – and yes , I’ve been pretty accurate. “
Posey, who concluded the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season mainly out of concern about his newly adopted daughters, enters the 2021 season with unknown uncertainty. On the opening day, he will be 34 years old and enter his 11th and possibly final season as the daily catcher for the Giants. Posey’s $ 167 million contract includes a $ 22 million club option for 2022, but the Giants also have a promising young catcher in Joey Bart, who was drafted second overall in 2018 to one day replace Posey on a long-term basis.
“Yes, of course, it has gone through my mind,” Posey said of the possibility that it will be his last season with the Giants. “I think my biggest goal for me this year is – as cliché as it may be – to go day by day and try to focus on what needs to be accomplished for that day, be it about things in weight . room or cage work or whatever it may be. And try not to get too far ahead. “
The last time Posey was on the field, he came from hip surgery and struggled through the 2019 season, eventually hitting .257 / .320 / .368 with seven homers and 24 doubles in 114 games. In the previous seven seasons, he made six All-Star teams, won an MVP award, hitting .308 / .378 / .466 while averaging 16 homers, 31 doubles and 141 games per year.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler said in mid-December that Posey would return as the team’s main catcher in 2021, giving 24-year-old Bart more time to develop after a troubled season in 2020.
Posey had access to Oracle Park when the team was not there last summer and used the facilities to train routinely. He admitted it might take some time to get used to live pitching again, but said he believes his body is in good shape to withstand the rigors of another season. He missed the game.
“It’s fun,” Posey said of returning to play. ‘It is different. Look at what we’re doing now [conducting an interview over video conference] – it’s not the same. You still wear masks, so of course that is also different. There is also normalcy. There is the norm of standing on the foul line and stretching. Play catch, ‘catch pens’. Yes, it’s great to be back, and hopefully, as this vaccine continues to roll out, we can all experience the game the way we’re used to. “