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Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants, #28
Full name: Gerald Dempsey Posey III
Position: Catcher; Bats: Right; Throws: Right
MLB Experience: 3rd season; 25 years old
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 220 pounds
Background: Drafted in first round (fifth overall pick) in 2008 out of Florida State University. He began his professional career playing for the Giants A-level team in San Jose in 2009, earning promotion to AAA Fresno later that season. He earned late call-up to the Giants in September 2009. After starting the 2010 season in Fresno, Posey was promoted to the majors for good in May 2010, soon replacing Benjie Molina as the team's starting catcher, earning Rookie of the Year recognition and helping the Giants with the 2010 National League pennant and World Series championship. Gravely injured in a home-plate collision in may 2011, Posey missed the rest of that season. He returned in 2012 catching and playing occasional first base, hitting cleanup for the Giants, winning the N.L. batting title and leading the team to another N.L. crown.
Personal: Born March 27, 1987, in Leesburg, Georgia; Married with two children.
Buster Posey's statistics -
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers, #24
Nickname: Miggy, Cabby, Big Cat
Position: Third base; Bats: Right; Throws: Right
MLB Experience: 10th season; 29 years old
Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 240 pounds
Background: Cabrera was not drafted but signed with the Florida Marlins in 1999. After three years in the minor leagues, he made it to the majors in 2003. He was a four-time All-star with the Marlins. Traded to the Tigers before the 2008 season, he has been among baseball's elite hitters, winning the A.L. batting championships in 2011 and 2012, when he won the Triple Crown by leading the league in batting (.330), home runs (44) and RBI (139). It was the first Triple Crown since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski won it in 1967.
Personal: Born April 18, 1983 in Maracay, Venezuela; Married with two children.
Miguel Cabrera's statistics -
Buster Posey batting average
.336: Won the National League batting championship, while also leading the major leagues in average, It was the second time in three seasons - not including his brief appearance in 2009 - that Posey hit at least .300; he hit .305 in his Rookie of the Year season of 2010. His 178 hits were tied for eighth-best in the N.L. -
Miguel Cabrera batting average
.330: Won the American League batting championship for the second consecutive season. It was the seventh time in his 10-year career that he surpassed the .300 mark. His lifetime average is .318. Cabrera's 205 hits were a career high and second in the American League. -
Buster Posey home runs
24: Not considered a classic home run hitter with his all-fields approach and swing, Posey nonetheless set a new career single-season best, surpassing the 18 he hit as a rookie. -
Miguel Cabrera home runs
44: Cabrera also set a new personal best in home runs, going over 40 firs the first time and hitting 30 or more for the eighth time in his career. -
Buster Posey runs batted in
103: By driving in 103 runs, Posey became the first Giants catcher since Dick Dietz (107 in 1970) to have at least 100 RBI. Posey's total was sixth-best in the league and one behind teammate Hunter Pence. The next-highest RBI total by an N.L. catcher in 2012 was 88 by Arizona's Miguel Montero. -
Miguel Cabrera runs batted in
139: The total was a career high for Cabrera and the ninth time in 10 seasons that he topped 100 for the season. -
Buster Posey fielding
Critics liked to pick at threads when assessing Posey's defense, alluding the the fact that he converted from shortstop to catcher relatively late. What close observers know, though, is that, though statistically Posey presents strong evidence of competence, his contributions go beyond that. His way of framing pitches is subtle, his ability to block pitches in the dirt state-of-the-art, his throwing arm something of a marvel. He led the major leagues by throwing out 38 runners attempting to steal. He had just two passed balls. And despite returning from a broken leg and spending time at first base this season, he was fifth in the National League in games played at catcher, so durability questions were put to rest. -
Miguel Cabrera fielding
Cabrera put up strong statistics at third base . . . in his first season back at the hot corner after playing first base for several years. He played outfield in Florida before going to third base (where he was an All-Star), then was asked to play first base for his first four seasons in Detroit. Going back to third in spring training, he found his touch, and went out every day, leading the league in games played at the position (154), as well as innings played (1,322). He was third in assists, second in double plays and third in fielding percentage. Dependable glove, strong arm. -
Mike Trout's fielding
.993: His fielding percentage does not tell the story of Trout's defense. His speed and judgment are better yardsticks. He got to most everything hit in the air, and when he got there, he made the plays. His highlight-reel plays were regular sports programming throughout the season. -
Why Buster Posey should be N.L. MVP
Aside from what a great story his recovery and comeback from career-threatening injury is, Posey earned the award. Simply put, without him on the team, the Giants would not be National League champions. His post-All Star Game performance was a nightly list of highlights. A catcher winning the batting championship? Go back to 1942 when Ernie Lombardi did it for Cincinnati. He gave the Giants an actual cleanup hitter. Defensively, he led the league in throwing out would-be base stealers (38) and had two passed balls, the kind of stats pitchers come to love. -
Why Miguel Cabrera should be A.L. MVP
Well, he did win the Triple Crown, which means that aside from accomplishing a treasured milestone that hasn't been done in 45 years, Cabrera was the most dangerous offensive player in baseball. It is perfectly reasonable to argue that without Cabrera the Tigers would not have won a hotly contested A.L. Central championship, and if they had not done that, they probably would not have made the playoffs. Defensively, he led the league in games and innings played at third base, was third in assists, second in double plays and third in fielding percentage. Not just a potent hitter, Cabrera was the all-around talent and leader that MVPs were made for. -
Why Mike Trout should be A.L. MVP
A player who proves that statistics are not the final yardstick in determining a player's value -- though his statistics were breathtaking. Trout was a game-changer, a player with such burning speed that every opponent had to prepare to face him. And as a hitter, he showed that his skills are nearly limitless. Some observers write that his season was one of the great ones ever and that he could be the kind of star who sets new standards for greatness. This after one full season in the majors. It should be a fun trip following his career.
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