Sometimes breaking news simply takes your breath away. The news headline today from ESPN.com quietly read "Dodgers File For Bankruptcy After Failed TV Deal". But in those simple words the music of the spheres began to soar, a million glowing angels danced through the heavens and I paused in awe of this nearly irrefutable argument supporting the existence of a Supreme Being.

Up until now, the three closest things to a true religious experience I'd had were, 1) the birth of my daughter; 2) the Giants winning the 2010 World Series; and, 3) hitting a straight royal flush on a progressive slot machine in a Reno casino. Oh wait, there actually have been other instances of pure religious rapture-- watching "The Wire" on HBO and a bunch of amazing relationships with women. And that's about it. Until today.

In the instant it takes to flash a sports news headline on the Internet, the economically-based prayers of generations of San Francisco Giant fans were finally fulfilled. From the start, Dodger owner Frank McCourt apparently modeled his stewardship of the team after whoever that guy was who decided to land the Hindenburg in an electrical storm. Sure, Los Angeles isn't exactly like New Jersey but name three major differences. Exactly my point.

From what I've read, Los Angeles Dodger players will now be paid in AMC Multiplex Theater movie ticket and popcorn vouchers. And apparently the $8.25 million the team owes Manny Ramirez now makes him a principal owner, and Manny is already lobbying Bud Selig to reverse Major League Baseball's performance enhancing drug testing rules. Bud listens to the owners, so expect some changes in that area.

As for the Frank McCourt/Jamie McCourt divorce proceedings, I understand the attorneys have agreed to Jamie's demands that she get Ted Lilly and Matt Kemp in the settlement. Frank will get Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda's food bill is costing the Dodgers about $17,000 a week so McCourt may have to sell part of his 8 track tape manufacturing empire to keep the linguini rolling in.

Because of cutbacks, there's also a rumor that "California Prison Gang Day" at Dodger Stadium may be cancelled, which means no free "Kill a snitch" tattoos for the first 20,000 fans under 12.

All this leaves only one more question: how soon before the Dodgers announce they're bringing former bench coach Jim Riggleman back to Dodgertown?

The box score for the Giants' Tuesday June 21, 2011 interleague game at home with the Minnesota Twins doesn't begin to tell the real story.

Sure, the Twins scored eight runs in the first as Giant starter Madison Bumgarner learned what it feels like to stumble down a 50 foot rabbit hole, and both teams stuck around to to play the rest of the game. Just like it says you're supposed to do in the rule book. As a result, two hours and thirty-nine minutes later the Twins were on the much better side of a 9-2 final score.
 
The reason this crushing loss, which bum-rushed the Giants into 2nd place for the first time since June 4th, was so dully depressing to watch had nothing to do with the fact Bumgarner's pitches were grooving directly across home plate at belt level like they were following a continuous tractor beam. 

The soul-crushing aspect of this contest was having to watch two over the hill, range-impaired players at shortstop (Miguel Tejada) and at second base (Bill Hall) representing the World Champion San Francisco Giants on the field.

I can't begin to express how disheartening it was to watch ground ball after ground ball skip by Tejada and Hall in that gloomy first inning. Twins lead-off hitter Ben Revere led the game off with a ground ball slightly to Tejada's left, which the movement-impaired shortstop did manage to wave at on its preventable journey to left center field.

Here is the actual text of ESPN's batting summary for Twin's #3 hitter Joe Mauer in that first inning: "Mauer reached on an infield single to shortstop".

What followed were numerous ground balls that Hall and Tejada could only pretend to try for, their performance error-free because in baseball you have to touch the ball to make an error. For the record, Tejada did manage to make contact with the ball later in the game and earn his team-leading 7th error. Hall has only been on the team a couple of weeks, but he is already second on the team with 5 errors.

Don't get me wrong. Starter Bumgarner had an odd affliction in his 1/3 of an inning pitched in this contest: he couldn't not throw strikes. And several blazing grounders shot past third baseman Pablo Sandoval-- although I doubt even a third bagger with any combination of the words "vacuum cleaner" in his nickname could have grabbed those rockets.                 

As the talented Bumgarner threw his first pitch to start this game, on the Giants' bench sat defensive whizmasters Brandon Crawford and Emmanuel Burriss. They may have been wondering, as I did, just how old and unable to bend over you need to be to qualify for a job in the San Francisco infield.

What about hitting?, you whimper in response. Isn't that why Miguel Tejada and Bill Hall are in there. You know, hitting... ?

Grab your walker and speed dial 911 because the news is pretty startling: Tejada is batting .221 with a .251 OBP and a .288 slugging percentage; Hall is hitting .227, with a .274 OBP and a .344 SLG. Forget about starting Tueday's game, why are they still on this team? They must have secret damning photos of Bud Selig actually doing a good job on some difficult baseball issue.  
      
As the fog slowly began to circle AT&T Park after a blazing hot day Tuesday, my companions and I took our seats in Section 110 on the first base side and looked up at the scoreboard to see the Giants line-up. We were full of excited expectation as the talented Madison Bumgarner trotted out to take the mound. Thankfully, that scene will happen many times in the coming years.   

A map of the United States shows the distance between Ashdown, Arkansas and San Francisco, California to be 1,603 miles. A good distance, but for $230.00 United Airlines will get you from Little Rock to San Francisco in 3 hours and 35 minutes. That would be the most direct route.

Kentrell Hill, the San Francisco Giants 10th pick in the 2011 First Year Player Draft, will be taking that same journey but on a slightly different route and with a more specific goal: to be in a Giants' uniform in the outfield of AT&T Park during a Major League baseball game.

Kentrell Hill is 20 years old, focused and articulate with a soft Texarkana accent. In the summer after he tore up NJCAA Division I baseball in his sophmore year at Arkansas Baptist College, Hill has been drafted by the 2010 World Champion Giants, and he is determined to make his dream of playing in the Major League come true. This season, he batted .402 with a .698 SLG, .428 OBP, and 11 homers and 50 RBI in 56 games. His 35 SBs displayed Hill's blazing speed, which includes doing the 40-yard dash in 4.4.     

I had a chance to talk with Kentrell Hill in a phone interview this week and we did a series of quick hits discussing the excitement of going through the MLB draft and his background in rural southwestern Arkansas less than six miles from the Texas border:

The Giants Cove
Kentrell, how did you know you might be included in the 2011 MLB draft? How does that work?

Kentrell Hill
During the middle of the 2011 season at Arkansas Baptist, I started getting some attention-- scouts started coming in to watch me play, and then they began really showing attention, so I knew the chance [of being drafted] was getting better. At some point I knew I would be drafted this year I just didn't know which team would draft me. Ashdown High is really small, I think we graduated about 120 kids, and Arkansas is small, so you don't know if the scouts will see you. The goal is to play hard. All you can do is play hard all the time. And this time the scouts noticed it and wanted to know more about me.  

GC: When Major League scouts come to see you play do they just sit in the stands or will they come up to you and let you know they're at the field?

KH: At first the scouts would just come out and sit in the stands, and we figured they were watching the pitchers. But later on they would come into the dugout and introduce themselves and shake hands.

GC: Did you participate in any of the predraft workouts MLB teams sometimes set up around the country to better judge player skills and abilities?

KH: I was invited to a number of workouts conducted by scouts but I didn't attend any of them. None were local and it's expensive to travel to the workout locations, you have to pay you own way so I had to pass.

GC: Where were you on draft day Monday June 13th?

KH: I was at home with a couple of friends watching the draft on the Internet, MLB.com on line. During the draft I got a phone call from the Houston Astros, who asked me some questions. Then the Giants called and we talked some and right after we hung up the phone my name came up on the screen; it was like 30 seconds after I got off the phone. Seeing my name up there was amazing, so exciting.

GC: There's always a lot of sports media pre-draft predictions and mock drafts to see where players might be picked. The general assessment this year was that after some top pitching prospects in the top ten, there was a large number of highly talent players spread out through the rest of the draft. Before draft day did you check out where you were predicted to get picked?

KH: Yeah... they had me anywhere from round 4 to round 10, so watching was really exciting and I'm fortunate it worked out all right. I celebrated with my family and friends and we had a lot fun that day. It's been so exciting, this is such a big moment in my life and I'm just enjoying it right now.

The MLB First Year Player Draft consists of 50 rounds over several days. This year 1,530 players were picked and the Giants took Kentrell Hill in round 10-- the 327th player picked. That puts him in the top 21% of all players in the 2011 draft. Teams must provide written notice and a minor league contract to selected players within 15 days of the draft. So by July 1st drafted players and their representatives will know the economic terms initially being offered by their teams.

MLB teams have until August 15th of each year to sign drafted players. If a selected player is not signed, the draft team loses excluisve signing rights and the player can return to school or elect to join an independent league. Those players can participate in the 2012 draft if they are still eligible.

GC: What are you doing this summer?

KH: Right now, I'm working out every day running and hitting. I go to Ashdown High School to run and then go over to the city park to hit.

GC: Ashdown, Arkansas is right at the Texas border so I'm guessing you grew up following the Texas Rangers.

KH: Yes sir, that's the team [laughs]. That's my team.

GC: Any particular players you followed on the Rangers when you were growing up and did you go to many games?

KH: I've always been an Ian Kinsler fan, and of course Josh Hamilton-- those are my Ranger guys. When I was younger I went to quite a few games, me and my friends would go to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in the summertime. Had some great times watching games there. Other players I like watching are Torii Hunter, who is from Arkansas, and Austin Jackson of the Tigers. He's a guy I just enjoy watching-- I love the way he plays. 

GC: Should I even ask you who you rooted for in the World Series last year?

KH: [Laughing] Of course you know I rooted for the Giants, sir. That's the story I'm sticking with...

GC: You put up some huge numbers in your sophomore year at Arkansas Baptist. How is the baseball program there and what's your thinking about signing a contract or continuing with college?

KH: Arkansas Baptist has an up and coming baseball program, and it's a great place for anyone wanting to work on their game and try to get better. It's been great to participate in their baseball program and I was fortunate to be part of it. I was originally a shortstop but converted to playing center field; it was big change but it ended up making me a better all around player. As for what the future holds, I am ready to be a big leaguer, that's what I want to work toward, that's what I want to do, that's been the dream. Hopefully everything will work out.

GC: When you do get some down time, what kind of stuff do you like to do?

KH: I love fishing, I love to ride horses, just being with friends in the outdoors. I'll go see action movies or anything funny, and the only TV I really watch a lot is ESPN Sports Center.

GC: What is your main focus right now?

KH: Staying in shape, keeping my skills sharp, trying to better myself.


Giants Cove readers will get periodic updates on Kentrell Hill's journey and we wish this super talented young player all the best. Note: the Giants signed Kentrell Hill on June 25, 2011!

One of the most common infobites about the 2010 Giants was their luck at keeping the starting pitching and bullpen off the disabled list. Flash forward to 2011 and, other than Barry Zito's sprained ankle, San Francisco's pitching staff could be featured on the cover of Healthy Pro Athletes Monthly.

It's the rest of the team that now has permanent reservations in the local emergency room. While the San Francisco Giants' offense is 29th out of 30 MLB teams in runs scored with 230 (3.48 runs per game), the hitters now lead the Majors in the following categories: MRIs taken, fractured/broken bones re-screwed and set, groins and obliques strained, and ankles and knees battered and swollen the size of a Volkswagen.

When Freddy Sanchez separated his shoulder during the weekend series with Cincinnati, the Giants received a warning letter from the Obama White House about the team's impact on the rising cost of national heath care. I mean, dude, this is serious.

We are approaching the mid-point of the second 50 games of 2011. What do the Giants need to do to adjust, retool and move forward? To stay at the top of the National League West and be prepared to excell in the 2011 playoffs, these are the issues facing the Giants front office :

1. Improve the everyday line-up with the addition of an impact hitter in the outfield.

With all the infield injuries and DL stints this team has suffered, you might think this is where overall run production could be best improved. But it's in the outfield where this team desperately needs to improve offensively. The current outfield line-up is not close to contributing the runs the Giants need to stay on top:

2011	OPS	RBI	OBP	AVG
Cody Ross	.768	19	.343	.261
Pat Burrell	.732	15	.339	.221
Andres Torres	.762	12	.356	.254
Nate Schierholtz	.722	19	.306	.263
Aaron Rowand	.666	11	.297	.246

   Cody Ross is an everyday player whose career stats support putting
   his name in the line-up every day. Ross has averaged 24 home runs
   each of the past three years and has excellent defensive skills.
    
   At this point in their careers Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand are at
   best pinch hitters and back-ups. It is only the $24m the Giants owe
   Rowand for 2011 and 2012 that makes him untradable and keeps
   him on this team.
   
Nate Schierholtz has had some clutch hits this year and has always been an outstanding fielder but he is not an everyday player, which is how the Giants are currently using him. Lifetime he has a .715 OPS and a .269 BA. When you look at Schierholtz's stats averaged over 162 games, he hits 6 HRs and plates 35 RBIs a year.

At this point in their careers Rowand, Schierholtz and Burrell are not going to magically turn their games around and be the offensive force this teams requires.

The San Francisco Giants need to revamp their outfield by: 1) playing Brandon Belt in right or left field when he returns from the DL after the All Star break; and, 2) deal for an outfielder who is a game changer, who can produce extra base hits and runs, and who will lead by example.
  
2. Keep the left side of the infield in tact the rest of the season with Pablo Sandoval at third and Brandon Crawford at shortstop.

With the disturbing injuries to Freddy Sanchez, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Pablo Sandoval, Mark DeRosa, and others Sandoval's return tomorrow provides the promise of increased run production. The best support Giants starters can have for the remainder of the 2011 season is Sandoval's offense and Crawford's defense. This is the foundation on which San Francisco can solidify its winning season and charge into the playoffs.

Miguel Tejada no longer has the capability to consistently contribute at the plate or on the field. Tejada recently had two productive games in a row and fans can get mesmorzied when a sub-performing player shows some spark. Here's a reality check: Tejada is batting .227 with an amazingly dismal .258 on base percentage. He also leads the team with 6 errors and no longer has the range to play the infield every day.

The addition of Bill Hall is an understandable reaction to the Freddy Sanchez injury. It is smart to immediately bring in an older veteran guy to provide stability and calm when something like this happens. But Hall has been cut from four different teams since 2009 and has a lifetime batting average of .249; his career is winding down. The team needs the speed of Manny Burriss in the line-up and he has the range to play an above average second base. Keep Hall as a safety net (or let a healthy Mike Fontenot be the safety net).

3. The catching issue needs to be addressed.

As important as Eli Whiteside has been to the World Championship Giants, the team will be forced to confront the loss of catcher Buster Posey sooner or later. The efforts of Whiteside and backup Chris Stewart have so far been exemplary, but the defensive and offensive production behind the plate needs to be upgraded by an experienced everyday catcher who has the ability to work with the pitching staff.

Since Posey's injury, Giant catchers are batting .167 with 2 extra base hits. Defensively, teams are increasingly running on the Giants: Buster Posey had a 27-15 steals/caught stealing record; Whiteside and Stewart are a combined 22-7.

On a team that is already offensively-challenged, the catcher's position has to provide better run production. The idea some have floated about Sandoval playing some games behind the plate is a loser on many levels-- there's the transition curve, the increased potential for injury, and weakening an already damaged infield. Why would anyone even think that could work?

No one can replace the talented Posey, but GM Brian Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy are faced with two choices: pull the trigger on a deal to bring an experienced and productive catcher on board, or cross their fingers and hope for the best.

Follow the status of all SF Giants' draft picks here

Each year the dedicated experts who live and breathe Major League Baseball's First Year Player Draft develop an overall consensus of the draft's quality. The 2011 group were judged to be above average overall, with an excellent pitcher-centric group at the top of the pack followed by high talent parity evenly spread out through the rest of the draft.

That profile worked out well for the San Francisco Giants, who took St. Johns University shortstop Joe Panik as their 1st round pick at #29 overall. In the second round they chose RHP Kyle Crick at 49th; Crick is a Texas high school prospect who has committed to attending Texas Christian University.

The one downside to this year's draft was a thin field of middle infielders, but among that group Joe Panik was considered the best college shortstop in the country. Panik throws right and bats left, and is described as an excellent hitter with good range. He hit .398 with 10 home runs this year and had a whopping .509 OBP.

Panik, a twenty year old junior, suffered a serious injury in his freshman season which apparently limits his long throw from the hole. For that reason a number of scouts see him moving to second base when he hits the minor leagues.

Kyle Crick is a nineteen year old right hander who bats left. The Giants received the 49th draft pick as compensation for the Dodgers signing free agent former Giant Juan Uribe in the off season. Crick was 7-2 with a 1.11 ERA this year and expected to attend TCU, so it may be several years before he signs with any team.

And the best name in the 2011 Draft? How about Rookie Davis, the North Carolina high school power hitting third baseman who also throws in the early 90s as a starting pitcher. The aptly named Davis apparently picks the ball good at third and matches his fastball with a great curve. The Baseball Draft Report projected Davis to go at #91 in this year's draft. Remember that name.

Additional SF Giants picks in the 2011 First Year Player Draft

#3. Round 2 #86 Andrew Susac - 21 C R/R
A pure slugger who needs to work on mastering the mechanics of catching. Rob Ozga of The Baseball Draft Report listed Oregon State sophmore Sisac as the #1 college catcher in the draft. He has a hamate bone injury (sound familiar?), but apparently it's not serious.  

#4. Round 3 #116 Efrin "Ricky" Oropesa - 21 1B L/R
Originally drafted #742 by the Red Sox in the 2008 draft, Oropesa is a product of the University of Arizona. A former third baseman, he has classic first baseman bopper power. Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com commented in this article about Oropesa's bat, writing that he has "light-tower power". 

June 11, 2011--
Mike Axisa of MLB Trade Rumors reported the Giants have signed first round pick Joe Panik for an estimated $1.1 million.

June 25, 2011--
SF Giants.com reports that outfielder Kentrell Hill has been signed by the team.

The San Francisco Giants clubhouse is beginning to look like the ravaged city of Tokyo in Ishiro Honda's classic 1954 film "Godzilla". In this case the fearsome beast is the DL monster and it's taking Giant players right and left, leaving a trail of empty lockers, lost opportunities, and used towels on the floor.

The list of Giants down is postively frightening: Mark DeRosa, torn wrist tendon; Mike Fontenot, left groin strain; speedster Darren Ford, left ankle strain; Barry Zito, right foot strain; offensive leader Pablo Sandoval, broken hamate bone in right hand; and of course Buster Posey, broken left fibula and torn ankle ligaments.

Welcome to the San Francisco Giants' 2011 DL club, Brandon Belt.

Rookie Belt joined the DL ward on June 4th after an MRI showed a hairline fracture in his left wrist four days after being hit by a pitch. Luckily, that pitch was thrown by a St. Louis Cardinal and not a Florida Marlin (somebody, please remind Brian Sabean of that fact). Belt only had time to make two starts after being called back up from Triple-A Fresno on May 26th.

Brandon Belt will be out a month while the fracture heals, which puts him at about July 4th. The 2011 All Star break follows six games later, so we're realistically looking at a date after July 21, 2011. You can bet the team will be extra careful with their prized left-handed power hitter, so the rehab period for Belt to get his groove back could take him closer to August 1st.

Since the Giants are hoping to start scoring more than their season-to-date average of 3.62 runs per game, let's hope Belt returns sooner. (Note: MLB run scoring leader St. Louis is plating an average of 4.96 runs per game; the average for all National League teams is 4.13 runs per game.)

Check out The Pulse Network's Sports Buzz on line for great sports content from all over the country. I was recently interviewed on TPN's Sports Buzz program about the San Francisco Giants and Buster Posey.

We went live at 8:00AM-- the TPN studios are in Boston, Massachusetts. Sports Buzz host Tyler Pyburn did an outstanding job and TPN is an amazingly professional and high tech organization. They could definitely give ESPN a run for their money.

Go to the Sports Buzz link here and then to the June 2, 2011 content section - "Buster Posey's Injury".

Baseball headlines from newspapers around the Nation:
   

CONVICTED FORMER SLUGGER BARRY BONDS CONTINUES GOOD WORKS TO REHABILITATE IMAGE
Follows Up College Fund For Injured Fan's Kids With Offer To Put Buster Posey's Children Through Summer Camp

ANGRY SF GIANTS GM BRIAN SABEAN VOWS TO HUNT DOWN MARLINS OUTFIELDER SCOTT COUSINS IN RESPONSE TO POSEY INJURY
Sabean In Contract Talks With Navy SEAL Team 6 - "At The End of The Day, We Will Unleash A Special Kind of Hell on This Young Man"

FLORIDA OUTFIELDER COUSINS SPOTTED IN MOUNTAINS AT AFGHAN-PAKISTANI BORDER
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Claims His Government Is Not Assisting Cousins - "We were as surprised as anyone about this and we are cooperating fully with the Giants", stated a shaken Zardari  

NEWLY HUMBLE BARRY BONDS INCREASES IMAGE ENHANCING ACTIVITIES 
SF Giants Players With Flu-like Symptoms To Receive Expensive Fruit Basket; Tells Nation's Drivers "Send Me All Your Outstanding Parking Tickets"; Arranges For State Lotto Quick-Pick Losers To Receive Encouraging Phone Call From Dali Lama

BASEBALL COMMISSIONER BUD SELIG ANNOUNCES NEW AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION FEATURING THE NEW YORK YANKEES
The Newly Formed "Pinstripes Division" Will Consist Of Three Teams; Selig Says Inclusion of Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros Will Ensure Yankees Make The Post Season "For The Rest Of Eternity" 

The buzz over Buster Posey's season-ending injuries as as result of his May 25th collision with Florida's Scott Cousins is everywhere. Debate permeates the sports media and dominates conversations in every MLB clubhouse and in bars, living rooms and little league fields across the country.

It is a subject is worthy of our attention and passion because losing a player as dynamic and talented Posey is not only a loss for the San Francisco Giants, it diminishes the 2011 baseball season for anyone who cares about the game. The questions remain: should something be done to prevent MLB catchers from being injured in home plate collisions? And if the answer is "yes", what exactly should be done?

A wide range of suggestions and solutions have been offered from the baseball establishment and national sports media. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy has stated several times that he believes MLB rules should be changed to protect catchers; specifically Bochy suggested runners coming down the third base line be restricted to run inside the baseline, while catchers be restricted to positioning themselves outside the line at the plate. Thoughtful but complicated.

St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa is an old-school keeper of baseball tradition, but he believes that the rules affecting 1st base should also be applied to home plate. Reporter Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch posted that in spring training La Russa drills his catchers to always leave a slice of home plate for the runner.

The Cards' Manager believes that a catcher should not be allowed to block home plate any more than a first baseman is allowed to block the first base bag. In that scenario, any runner blocked from the bag at first is safe. Oddly, that couldn't apply to plays at second or third base, where blocking access to a sliding runner with a knee or foot is part of the artistry of defending those bases.

And second base is where I believe the solution to protecting catchers (and runners) at home plate can be found.

The art of the double play is one of the most graceful and dramatic plays in baseball. Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's double play in the May 19th game against the White Sox will take your breath away. Probably no other defensive act on the field affects the course of a game greater than a double play. Shortstops and second basemen work out every day to become expert at catching the ball to make the out at second, pivot, then get a throw off to first base to complete a twin killing.

An important element in successfully completing a double play is avoiding player-to-player contact; not allowing yourself to be upended or bowled over by the runner who is pounding hard toward second base to do that very thing. This dovetails with Tony La Russa's instructions to his catchers, and it is where managers and catchers should look to avoid a Posey/Cousins-type collision and still successfully defend home plate.

Like middle infielders, MLB catchers can adjust their positioning to be in front, in back, or at the sides of home plate, or to take part of the plate and leave part for the runner. This provides the runner with what he needs: a scoring target. The use of a quick tag or swipe tag on the runner provides the catcher with reasonable protection and the ability to still do his job.

Also part of solving the problem? Stop justifying collisions at home plate in terms of manning up and being tough. NHL hockey-like smash-ups have never been part of baseball tradition and that line of huffery has zero credibility in this argument. If that kind of tedium excites you, switch the TV channel to hockey central.

Apply the rules used at first base and add the infield artistry of making the double play to plays at the plate, and Buster Posey might have been working out this afternoon in St. Louis, preparing to catch Jonathan Sanchez in the last game of the Giants' current road trip.

It's like losing your best friend for the summer. Sure, it will still be great and you'll do lots of cool stuff and have a good time. But it just won't be the same.

With Buster Posey's injuries likely putting him out for the remainder of the 2011 season this is what the Giants organization, Posey's team mates, and the Giants fan base have to deal with: the stunning shock of his loss, that feeling of losing your bearings and free-falling, then finding the grit to suck it up and keep moving ahead.

The rest of baseball, and the rest of the country, can't begin to understand what Buster Posey means to the San Francisco Giants and to Giant fans. On the field he is a rock, directing the best pitching in the game the past year; at the plate he is a dangerous hitter who, when he finds his groove, can dominate a game, a series, a season. Posey batted 3rd in the order throughout the 2010 World Series-- the last catcher to do that was Yogi Berra 54 years ago with the New York Yankees.

Since Posey was brought up mid-season last year there has been an ongoing public discussion about whether he should be moved to an infield position to avoid the inevitable wear and tear, injuries, and shortened career that faces virtually every MLB catcher. Throughout April and May this season, Posey has taken an inordinate number of foul tips off his mask, leaving games early twice after particularly bad hits.

Forget about the obvious injuries, the threat of concussion is there every time a batter hits a foul tip. The Minnesota Twins have agonized over the future of their own All Star catcher Joe Mauer, one of the best pure hitters in the game. When an organization has hitters the caliber of Mauer or Posey, the decision to extend their careers by moving them from behind the plate will always be part of the ongoing conversation. The pressure, the second-guessing, and the concern will never go away.

How is Joe Mauer doing this year? He has played in only 9 games this season and is currently on the disabled list with bilateral leg weakness.