This Buster Posey Kid Is Pretty Damn Good

For those of you outside the cities of San Francisco and Philadelphia, I've got some news for you.

Buster Posey is a damn fine ballplayer.

I don't just mean he could have a good career.  I mean he's already one of the top 5 catchers in baseball.

No, that's not a joke or an exaggeration.

Posey has been an integral part of the
Giants success in 2010.

The numbers speak for themselves.  A .305/.357/.505 triple slash line over 443 plate appearances.  18 home runs, 67 RBI and 58 runs scored.  A respectable strikeout rate (13.5%) and a good arm (his 37.1% of runners caught ranked 4th in the National League in 2010).

And it's not just luck.  His .315 BABIP (batting average on balls in-play) was significantly lower than his minor league BABIP.

He might not be Joe Mauer--yet--but he sure looks like a young Mauer.  His pure ability to hit is special, and his knowledge of the game far surpasses that of most players his age.  Sounds a lot like Mauer at 23.

And he knows how to handle a pitching staff, too, as the Giants led the major leagues in ERA, Strikeouts and Hits Allowed in 2010.  Though they do have a great staff that also excelled in 2009, the catcher is still responsible for calling the game and gaining the pitchers trust and confidence (allowing the pitcher to focus on making his pitch, instead of worrying about pitch selection).

But where Posey's star has really shone bright, has been the postseason.  Hitting .344/.400/.438, Posey has been an imposing force in the middle of the San Francisco lineup.  He hasn't had the flashy numbers--0 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R and a SB--but he's been a smart and productive hitter, driving the ball hard and working great at bats.

And if the Giants make it to the World Series, Posey's star will no longer be a secret.