Brian Sabean, Giants GM, Rips Marlins' Scott Cousins Over Buster Posey Injury

Brian Sabean, San Francisco Giants general manager, had some harsh words for the Florida Marlins player who collided with star catcher Buster Posey at home plate last week.

In an interview on KNBR of San Francisco on Thursday, Sabean called Scott Cousins' play at the plate "malicious" and said that he doesn't blame Posey for not responding to the center fielder's apology.

"Why not be hard nosed?" Sabean said. "If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we'll all be happy."

Cousins ran over Posey and scored the go-ahead run in last Wednesday's game. The collision left Posey writhing in pain for several minutes before being helped off the field.

Matt Sosnick, Cousins' agent, said that "it's an emotional time for the Giants" and he understands Sabean's disappointment.

Posey had surgery over the weekend to repair three torn ligaments in his left ankle. He has been ruled out to return for the rest of the season.

Click HERE to listen to the interview.

Comments

[bmwracer]

12:48 PM on 06/05/2011

Apparently making death threads to Scott Cousins is acceptable to some Giants "fans," but the beating of Giants fan Brian Stow by some Dodger "fans" is intolerable.

Hypocrisy in action.

[scottarino]

07:56 AM on 06/05/2011

It was a clean play. But a collision was not necessary.

[Tony Wang]

05:17 PM on 06/04/2011

You know, instead of debating among ourselves -- anyone here ever play in a major league game? -- we should listen to what guys who actually do it for a living have to say.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/03/padres-catchers-criticize-sabean-statements-cousin/

This is what Padres catcher Rob Johnson had to say. “I thought it was a great baseball play. As catchers, we sign up for that. I respect Cousins. I tip my cap to him. He didn’t go out of his way to injure Posey. I’ve been cleaned out before. It’s part of the game.”

And Nick Hundley, who's on the DL and who might be a little more sensitive about injuries, said this. “Cousins played the game the right way. He went in hard and knocked the ball loose."

Yes, it's coming from a division rival and a last place team that benefits from having Posey out of the lineup. But these guys actually play that position, and they might know a thing or two about whether what Cousins did was clean or not.

[phill273]

04:06 PM on 06/04/2011

Dude needs to get over it. It wasn't on purpose.

[MXL]

07:31 AM on 06/04/2011

Perfectly fair and legal play with a sad consequence. Baseball is a non-contact sport everywhere on the diamond but home plate. It's very unfortunate that Posey got hurt, but that's the game. Had Cousins done the exact same thing but Posey didn't get injured, we wouldn't even still be talking about this.

[mooondog]

08:25 AM on 06/04/2011

it's also a contact sport when breaking up a double play.

[MXL]

12:32 PM on 06/04/2011

Yup.

[Always Conservative]

11:55 PM on 06/03/2011

Lakers players taking wildly cheap shots, Dodger fans beating opposing fans, now the SF GM... California needs to do a reality check to see if it really needs sports....

[bmwracer]

12:17 AM on 06/04/2011

Oh yeah, like the rest of the country is sane, responsible, and compassionate.

[mooondog]

08:27 AM on 06/04/2011

Did you know a Giants fan killed a Dodgers fan in SFO in 2003? Probably not. Stick to politics. From a fellow conservative.

[Always Conservative]

07:03 PM on 06/04/2011

You make my point... S.F. is still in California, CORRECT????

[Shoesuntied]

11:06 PM on 06/03/2011

Reading through some of these comments it's clear to me that a lot of people don't know nearly enough about baseball to be speaking up about this.... Cousins play was clean and legal, it's an unfortunate part of the game but I can't imagine how to do away with it. I guess if the safety of the catcher is the concern then the run should automatically score, but I don't think anyone wants to see that (not to mention the logistical nightmare it would be to implement a rule for plays that happen as quickly as plays at the plate)

As far as Brian Sabean is concerned, he should be ashamed of what came out of his mouth during that radio interview. The man is already getting death threats from Giants fans (which, in light of what happened to Stow at Dodger Stadium is bizarrely hypocritical) and Sabean decides to go and throw some gas on the fire saying that he hopes Cousins never plays again (or at the very least, wouldn't care if he didn't). I understand that Posey was important and valuable, but you're a GM not a 7th grader. Smearing this kids name isn't going to make Posey heal any faster. As for Cousins, I thought his reaction to Sebean's comments and people who think he was going after Posey was perfect. There's nothing he can say that will convince these people of his intent or of how sorry he is about the results.

[shthar]

09:40 PM on 06/03/2011

Spoken like a guy who never played in the pro-leagues.

Go back to high school.

[DarkHorses]

08:33 PM on 06/03/2011

Sabean's done a fine job restoring the Giants to competitive respectability, and everyone understands what a prize Posey is/was. However, his comments were very much over the line and way beneath those expected of a Major League GM (Ken Williams, perhaps, excepted).
I don't know what Cousins' intention was, but I doubt it was to end Posey's season, so Sabean's comments might be harming a kid's career by painting him this way. My guess is that some teams teach plays at the plate and some don't. Besides, baseball players have a way of doling out appropriate responses to questionable actions. Let them decide.
I'm not going to mention Barry Bonds or Juan Marichal. I'm not.

[galactictravelerjavjav]

08:23 PM on 06/03/2011

Cousins is lacking in the fundamentals and respect for the game.. there was a clear path and he chose dirty. legal but dirty in the spirit of the game.

shoulders snap back while helmet goes down with a clear aim is only seen when the catcher is waiting with ball in glove.

[mooondog]

09:05 PM on 06/03/2011

You have no right commenting on baseball as you clearly know very little about it.

[shthar]

09:40 PM on 06/03/2011

Girl's team plays on friday.

[Forester]

03:14 PM on 06/03/2011

Sabean is way off base, and I hope the league goes after him.

Larry Baer and Neukom will be walking this all back shortly.

Sabean is just trying to deflect attention from his latest huge mistake (Miguel Tejada)

[Pailface]

03:03 PM on 06/03/2011

The San Francisco Giants have become the whiniest team in sports and that is something that I never thought would happen. I have absolutely no question in my mind that if the tables were turned and it was a Giant that ran into a Marlin player and a similar injury occurred there would no outcry from the Giant organization. In fact they would be praising him for his “hustle”.

They are actually a classy organization, but in this case they have become a bunch of whiny babies and are dead wrong. Brian Sabean should be fined and suspended for his comments! In my mind he is 100% wrong.

The double standard that the Giants have shown here is unreal in my mind! This team could not play with the great teams of the past; they obviously do not have the testicular fortitude…

[tcny]

05:25 PM on 06/03/2011

Sorry, but any organization that stood by Barry Bonds as long as they did has a hard time being considered "classy."

[Pailface]

06:14 PM on 06/03/2011

Excellent point!

[mooondog]

02:38 PM on 06/03/2011

This play happens several hundred times a YEAR at 2nd base where a guy goes in, slides nowhere near the bag to attack the 2nd baseman or shortstop. If Posey is anywhere near the plate, he is fair game. It's easy to watch a replay and think otherwise. But put yourself in the shoes (no pun intended) of the runner. He doesn't know if Posey is about to catch the ball or not. He's assuming (as he should) Posey is about to catch the ball and tag him. It's a "bang bang" play. You don't wannt take a hit, move 10 feet away from the plate. Otherwise, stop crying.

[galactictravelerjavjav]

02:10 PM on 06/03/2011

There is a way to break-up a double play by sliding hard into whoever is covering second and there is a dirty way to do it. Cousins chose dirty..

If Cousins takes one in the face while breaking up a double play I will look past his sorry instincts.

[cousin roy]

02:42 PM on 06/03/2011

You should not be commenting on baseball if you do not know the difference between second base and home plate. That play happened at home plate.

[galactictravelerjavjav]

08:11 PM on 06/03/2011

idiot. talking fundamentals

[galactictravelerjavjav]

08:17 PM on 06/03/2011

making a solid comparison.. get with it roy.

hopes this passes the mods

[mooondog]

02:47 PM on 06/03/2011

No. There is no dirty way to break up a double play. You either break it up or you don't. And if you illegally interfere, they ump will call that. That's why they umps let shortstops/2nd basemen get away with the "phantom touch" of the bag with their feet. They are protecting them.

[galactictravelerjavjav]

08:13 PM on 06/03/2011

sliding with cleats up in the air aiming at the knees is dirty. it doesn't happen as much anymore but it did

[HD42]

01:24 PM on 06/03/2011

This is ludicrous, and while I have liked Brian Sabean before (mainly for being a very good GM), I now have to reconsider. He acts like Scott Cousins told his players before the game, "Just get me a chance to have a play at the plate so I can cause a drastic, HOPEFULLY season-ending injury to Buster Posey..." he then let out an evil cackle as lightning flashed in the background.

People need to realize what their words do...Cousins is now receiving DEATH THREATS from Giants fans, and it is no shock considering that their own GM is saying that he'd be happy if Cousins never played another game in major league baseball. Right...due to a non pre-meditated play at the plate that resulted in a freak injury, Cousins should lose his entire career.

[mooondog]

02:50 PM on 06/03/2011

I thought Giants fans were civil and nice. That's what they keep saying regarding the Stow incident. Guess not.

[bmwracer]

02:55 PM on 06/03/2011

Death threats??

Yikes.

People need to get a grip.