Buster Posey Injury: Giants Catcher Injured In Brutal Collision With Marlins' Scott Cousins (PHOTOS)

UPDATE: San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey suffered a broken bone in his left ankle after a collision at the plate during Wednesday night's loss to the Florida Marlins. Chris Haft of MLB.com reported that he will likely miss the rest of the season.

EARLIER

SAN FRANCISCO -- Buster Posey laid in the dirt around home plate, dazed, writhing in pain and curling up in a ball. AT&T Park fell silent, fans covering their mouths in disbelief.

In the blink of an eye Wednesday night, the road back to the World Series for the defending champion San Francisco Giants took a dramatic and painful twist.

Scott Cousins scored the go-ahead run in a brutal collision with Posey at home plate in the 12th inning, injuring the Giants star catcher in a 7-6 loss to the Florida Marlins. The Giants said there would be no test results released until Thursday, when he'll have an MRI exam.

Teammates were still coming to grips with the loss.

"It's huge. He's one of the leaders of the team already and what he brings every day is something you can't replace," Giants right fielder Nate Schierholtz said. "I'm just hoping for the best. I couldn't really see what happened from out there. I was just hoping for the best, maybe he got the wind knocked out of him or something."

All this came after the Giants rallied from four runs down in the ninth in one of the wildest nights of their young season.

The deciding play came when Emilio Bonifacio hit a shallow fly ball to right-center off Guillermo Mota (2-1) for the second out. Cousins tagged from third base on the sacrifice fly, beating the throw from Schierholtz and lowering his shoulder to slam into Posey for a clean - albeit cringing - hit on the reigning NL Rookie of the Year.

Cousins was safe as Posey never could quite corral the ball. Cousins, who went to the University San Francisco, lives in the Bay Area and had almost a dozen friends and family in attendance, said he felt sorry for injuring Posey but believed it was a clean baseball play.

"I felt like he was blocking the dish. It's the go-ahead run to win the game, I got to do whatever I can to score," Cousins said. "I'm not trying to end anybody's season or anything like that. I just was trying to play hard and score the go-ahead run. He didn't say much and you could tell he was in pain.

"And when their manager, when Bruce came out, he was pretty frustrated. I didn't want to make things any more tense."

After several minutes of being attending to at the plate, with fans finally chanting "Posey! Posey!" he was helped off the field by two team trainers holding his left leg and looking stunned.

"It's the toughest play in baseball. You hate to see it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "As a catcher you know what it's like, and you don't like it. Believe me. When I see him laying there, it's certainly not a good feeling."

All this after the Giants batted around in the ninth to score four runs and force extra innings. Ryan Webb (1-3) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Marlins reliever Edward Mujica gave up a single to Schierholtz and a double to Miguel Tejada in the ninth. Leo Nunez entered with one out, and Schierholtz scored on a passed ball by catcher John Buck.

Pinch-hitter Pat Burrell had a bloop RBI single to center, trimming Florida's lead to 6-4. Nunez struck out Andres Torres before Freddy Sanchez doubled to put the tying runs in scoring position.

Aubrey Huff followed with a two-run single to make it 6-all, handing Nunez his first blown save in 19 chances. A good number of fans had left when Mike Stanton's bases-clearing double in the ninth gave the Marlins a four-run lead, and the ones who stayed received quite a show.

Stanton appeared to give Florida all the cushion it would need with the two-out double to left-center off Javier Lopez to put the Marlins ahead 6-2. Those runs at least gave Florida another opportunity in extra innings after Nunez blew the save, spoiling a sharp outing by starter Chris Volstad.

But the night would belong to a play that could have serious implications for San Francisco's season.

Posey had already taken several foul tips off his mask and leg this season, and some observers have long argued a slugger of his caliber shouldn't be behind the plate - where hits can be a routine. Posey had even talked about trying a more conventional mask next spring training instead of the hockey-style one he uses.

But the mask had nothing to do with this blow.

Cousins said he felt for Posey and repeatedly mentioned that he wasn't trying to injury him. He said he would find a way to send condolences to the other clubhouse and wish Posey well.

"It's a baseball play. I feel bad for Buster Posey, I really do," Cousins said. "I'm going to send a message over there to them."

NOTES: Marlins RHP Josh Johnson (right shoulder inflammation) threw for about 5 minutes on flat ground from 60 feet without any discomfort. Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said Johnson will long toss next and was still hopeful his ace could be return by June 1. ... Giants speedster Darren Ford has a sprained left ankle and will likely be out for at least five days. ... Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez was removed in the bottom of the ninth because of a right foot contusion. He is day to day. ... Tejada turned 37 on Wednesday. ... Giants SS Mike Fontenot left the game after he strained his left groin running to first on a groundout in the fourth. He is day to day.

Comments

[Fabiola Del rio]

02:43 AM on 06/24/2011

In my opinion Cousins could've slid. If he would have done that he would have been safe and the catcher wouldn't have been harmed. It looked like his intention WAS to slam into Posey,watch it in slow motion. I just wished he would have used his brain and did the obvious thing.SLID into home!!!

[CANTHATBE]

08:51 AM on 05/30/2011

Get real people. Baseball is not changing. America loves the violence. We are number 1 in violence and fear. Thats why American style football is the number 1 sport in the USA and it is shoot out at the O.K. corral in our cities every weekend. Plus we now have a new villain Cousins to top it off.

[Sansculotte]

12:29 PM on 05/29/2011

The rule that should be changed is simple; catchers can no longer block the plate. End of problem.
I've always thought (and I've played a lot of baseball) it weird that catchers were allowed to block the plate - *especially* without the ball. That's not done at any other base. And this isn't football - so wtf.
Stop blocking the plate - and no more collisions. Easily solved.

[TrueBlueDemMI]

05:56 PM on 05/29/2011

Actually is there in the MLB rule book that catchers are not allowed to block the plate. What needs to be done is enforced the rule.

Otherwise, you were spot on!

[socalrunner]

05:58 PM on 05/28/2011

MLB should discipline Cousins. The video clearly shows Cousins started well outside the foul line; further, it shows Cousins had a clear shot at the plate as Posey was positioned well in front of the plate. Cousins then shifted across the foul line and ran straight at Posey—intentional running into Posey and missing the plate entirely. Indeed, Cousins never tagged the plate—after he rammed Posey, he fell backwards onto the plate.

Cousin’s stated it makes him sick to watch the replay—he knows exactly what he did and he knows everyone who watches the video in slow motion will see his despicable actions and condemn him for intentionally causing severe injury to a player.

[Sansculotte]

12:31 PM on 05/29/2011

Good point. I looked again and you're right; he wasn't blocking the plate.
This "running into the catcher" thing has become part of baseball - and needs to stop. It's stupid.

[highflag]

05:16 AM on 05/28/2011

I'm a baseball fan.Neither Giant nor Marlin.

But I'm troubled by the Giant fans who are labeling Cousins a thug. He did what he was taught. The current rules in MLB state that a runner coming to the plate has every right to barrel into a catcher who is attempting to block the plate. Had Cousins not done what he did, he'd have been letting his team down.

I have hated this play ever since Rose knocked Fosse into an alternate universe in an All-Star game, of all places. It's a football, or hockey play that doesn't belong in the cerebral game of baseball. I t's not done at any other base, excxept for the take-out slide at second, when attempting to break-up a double-play.

I'm very much in favor of a rules change. I would like to see all of these type plays banned from baseball. Do I know all the logistics such a move would entail? Nope. Not my job. But the guys who oversee this stuff ought to be able to come up with a solution.

Mostly, I want to see an end to the vilification of Scott Cousins.He seems like a nice and sensitive young man. He has expressed deep sorrow over the injury to Posey. He has attempted to reach out to him (unsuccessfully).

The Giants, and their fans need to give him a break. He was doing exactly what they would have expected, had the uniforms been reversed.

[TommyMcCarthy]

05:08 PM on 05/28/2011

Read your own comment ..."attempting to block the plate".....then watch the replay.

Cousins had a clear path to the plate on the foulside of....or even straight down the baseline

Rather than slid in safely....Cousins gave in to the competitive impulse to do a "Pete Rose" on Posey.

Is Cousins a nice kid?....I'll bet he is

A thug?....probably not in general....but he chose the thug's path for that moment

Don't excuse it by pretending it's something else
TM

[pjlowry]

02:32 AM on 05/28/2011

If the catcher is blocking the plate, especially when the ball hasn't arrived yet, the player has every right to remove the blockade from his path by hitting him with his shoulders in a hockey style collision. If any player (at first, second or third) are blocking either the base or the path to the base, players have a right to push or knock down them as well. Players are supposed to get out of the way if they don't have the ball. If they stay there, they are putting their own helath at risk.

I'm a former Umpire, if I see a player blocking the plate or base without the ball... you're fair game and not only will I call the player safe, I will site the player for interference.

[socalrunner]

06:04 PM on 05/28/2011

But in this case the catcher Posey was well in front of the plate and Cousins had a clear shot at the plate. Cousins started out running toward the plate, outside of the foul line; Cousins then shifted to his left, crossed the foul line and ran straight at Posey.

Cousins never tagged the plate--never even tried to tag the plate. After he rammed Posey, the force of the impact caused him to roll onto his back--Cousins then fell on top of the plate.

[rktboy]

12:14 PM on 05/29/2011

I disagree. As Cousins reached the plate, Posey was positioned directly over the plate. Cousins' knee touched the plate as he made contact with Posey.

Though unfortunate, Cousins' actions were not only within the confines of baseball rules, but you might even say expected of him. He was trying to guarantee the run. Not really any different from a runner doing a high kicking slide into a second baseman trying to break up a double play.

Listen, I'm no Giants fan, but I admire Buster Posey. It's unfortunate, but it's baseball.

[mskimberlyclark]

05:54 PM on 05/27/2011

I'm tired of reading posts accusing Cousins of trying to slam Posey so he would drop the ball. The tapes, from many angles, show that Cousins had a foot on the base before Posey had the ball in his glove. Posey turned into Cousins as he crossed the plate and caused the collision.

[huffyISaHottie]

02:52 PM on 05/27/2011

It is not legal to black the plate...for some reason MLB long ago decided to not enforce the rule...I guess it adds a bit more excitement to the play. Though I think Ray Fosse would disagree.

[Tails]

01:28 PM on 05/27/2011

We shouldn't change the rules because one catcher doesn't know how to sweeptag.

Besides, if this had happened to a Mike Napoli or a Jeff Mathis, no one would care.

[zonafan51]

01:26 PM on 05/27/2011

It may have been a legal play . . . but a clean play . . . I don't think so! Of course, I'm biased as I'm a Giants fan . . . but to me it was not a clean play and Cousins is a thug! The next time he goes in like that I hope he's the one who has to be helped off the field.

[pjlowry]

02:36 AM on 05/28/2011

Does that make players like Pete Rose and Ty Cobb thugs? They used to slam catchers a lot harder than that.

Joe Carter when he was a Blue Jay actually broke a catcher's leg in a home plate collision. Does that make him a thug too? It's a part of the game... if you chose to stay in the path of an oncoming runner, you are making yourself a target.

Posey didn't have the ball, he should have stepped out of the way. An possible season ending injury wasn't worth trying to prevent one run from scoring.

[TommyMcCarthy]

05:14 PM on 05/28/2011

Was Ty Cobb a thug........are you kidding?

Do you know anything about Ty Cobb?

The answer is "yes...he was a thug" along with many other qualities (virulent racism, for example) that make him, despite his records,.... one of the most reprehensible people ever to wear a major-league uniform.
TM

[troutboy]

12:59 PM on 05/27/2011

if a baserunner runs into an infielder attempting to dislodge the baseball from his glove resulting in a catcher/runner type collision, there would immediately be a bench clearing fight on the field. so why is it okay for it to happen at home plate? i realize that there will be alot of "because its always been part of the game" type responses. so have elbows to the head in football, but that obviously doesn't make it right.

hopefully, posey will make a quick recovery. the Angel's kendry morales broke his leg last year and will have missed 1½ seasons if he is able to return in 2012.

[Quotidien]

11:36 AM on 05/27/2011

What's even sadder about this story is that Buster Posey, who has won 2010 Rookie of the Year, and a led his team to a 2010 World Series championship, is still playing under what amounts to a minor league contract.

He has yet to make his "big league" money, and might never get it at all.

[Winthorpe]

08:45 AM on 05/27/2011

I haven't found anybody with the Giants calling it a dirty play. Bochy and the agent want a rules change, and I'm fine with that. Don't let them block the plate without the ball, and if they have it, don't let guys barrel into them.

[schatsie]

08:16 AM on 05/27/2011

Baseball can be brutal, personally I know of a woman who played catcher who boasted of breaking a players ankle.....wicked people out there who do not care....

[behindEnemyLines]

12:52 AM on 05/27/2011

That's what you get for blocking the plate. It's good to see the Marlins playing so well. Hopefully we can get the Dolphins and Canes back on track. Heat to the finals and who knows the Marlins might make it back to the playoffs this year.

[NevadaLib]

02:21 AM on 05/27/2011

The Baserunner had a clear route to home and chose to ram Posey instead. Intentional and cheap.

[behindEnemyLines]

02:26 AM on 05/27/2011

the catcher was in front of the plate and there was no way to score without ramming into him. Something that is absolutely legal in baseball. If he didnt want to get hit he should have moved out of the way.

[Ramon Moreno]

03:59 AM on 05/27/2011

Intentional and cheap is standard operating procedure for behindEnemyLines' ilk.

[Ramon Moreno]

04:01 AM on 05/27/2011

So, what state are you "actually" from?

[behindEnemyLines]

10:38 AM on 05/27/2011

Florida. Born, raised and currently living in Miami.