Kuzul

When we think of great hitting catchers, we think of Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, and Mike Piazza. Two are already in the Hall of Fame, and the other is well on his way.

But when reading the list of Hall of Fame catchers, you’ll see names like Ray Schalk, Roger Bresnahan and Rick Ferrell. For a position that has been pretty underrepresented in Cooperstown, some pretty weak candidates have gained entrance to baseball’s most hallowed hall.

So why has one of the best pure hitters of the 1970’s, who also happened to be one of the better hitting catcher ever, been locked out of Cooperstown?

I’m speaking, of course, about Ted Simmons.

Anyone who hasn’t heard of Simmons needs only to look at his statistics.

Simmons’s best stretch came from 1971-80, when he was simply unstoppable at the plate.

In 1970, Simmons backed up Joe Torre, but took over in ’71 when Torre moved to third base. Simmons immediately produced, posting a line of .304/.347/.424, good for the second-highest batting average among catchers. His 32 doubles were tied for sixth in the league.

For the next nine years, however, Simmons improved to become one of the greatest hitting catchers around. From 1971-80, Simmons caught over 130 games seven times, accounting for nearly 92% of his games played, leading the league in games caught three times. Simmons was clearly not only the best hitting catcher in baseball, but one of the most durable.

Here’s the real kicker, though. In his first ten full years in the bigs, Simmons had an OPS+ of 131, and his single-season mark never fell below 114, the number he posted in his first full season, 1971. To put that into perspective, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg has a career OPS+ of 114, while Robin Yount and catcher Gary Carter have career marks of 115. Remember, that’s the lowest Simmons went for an entire decade.

Players with a career OPS+ of 131 or lower include Rod Carew (131), Roberto Clemente (130), Carl Yastrzemski, and Eddie Murray (129).

Among Hall of Fame catchers, none can match that mark. Only Mike Piazza, generally regarded as one of the greatest catchers ever, and Gene Tenace, who played just under 60% of his game behind the plate, have a higher OPS+.

However, as strong as Simmons’s 70’s campaigns were, in 1981 his first season with a team other than St. Louis, all of those games behind the dish caught up to him.

In 1981 and 1984, he was well below his usual standard, and even the league standard.

His ’82 and ’83 seasons were above average, but not near the type of numbers he posted in the 70’s.

In fact, after never posting a season with an OPS+ below 114 or fewer than 20 Win Shares in the 70’s, he only posted one such season in the 1980’s, which happened to be the only season in which he got 600 plate appearances.

So with the dust all settled, how does Simmons stack up to catchers who have been deemed worthy to make the Hall of Fame?

Certain catchers, like Bill Dickey, Mickey Cochrane, and Roy Campanella, were in a class of their own. The most comparable to Simmons are Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Gabby Hartnett, and Ernie Lombardi.

At the bottom tier of Cooperstown is Roger Bresnahan, who is has the most stolen bases among catchers, and only two seasons with a .300+ batting average. Some speculate that his induction was a knee-jerk reaction to his death from a heart attack, and Bill James considers him the only Cooperstown backstop not worthy of enshrinement.

Speaking of Bill James, most of his metrics and rankings support Simmons’s case for induction. In the Historical Abstract, James ranks Simmons tenth all-time amongst catchers, well ahead of Ernie Lombardi and Bresnahan. In Win Shares, James’s famed metric for measuring a player’s worth, Simmons is seventh among catchers.

James said this in his Baseball Abstract:

“An exceptional hitter, an underrated defensive catcher. Simmons was on OK catcher his first five years in the league; Bill Deane has studied the records at great length, and demonstrated that Simmons threw out an above-average percentage of opposing base stealers in his prime seasons.

But the Cardinals weren’t a very good team in those years; they spent most of the time fighting about something and criticizing one another for their failures, and then, too, Johnny Bench set an impossible standard for a young catcher…”

Not only is Simba one of baseball’s finest catchers sabermetrically, but the raw numbers also support him. Simmons has scored more runs than all but four Hall of Fame catchers, has more hits or doubles than any of them, more home runs and games caught than three, and more RBIs than all but Yogi Berra.

His fielding and batting averages would rank sixth among Hall of Fame catchers.

And remember that at the time of Simmons’s candidacy, Gary Carter was not yet a Hall of Famer, and Mike Piazza was starting his sophomore season with the Dodgers, so his numbers were even more historically significant.

Among all-time players, Simmons is fifteenth in intentional walks

Yet somehow, Simmons only received 3.7% of the vote, falling off after his first year of eligibility in 1994, yet Carter and Fisk, who have very similar career statistics, made the Hall?

It could be that Simmons was seen as more of a pure hitter and run producer, although not much of a home run threat. In fact, since 1970, there have been fewer than 70 players who have driven in 100 or more runs while hitting 20 or fewer long flies. Of them, only four have done it more than twice, including Simmons, who is the only one to do it in different decades.

There is already a movement within the Veterans’ Committee to help Simmons gain entrance to Cooperstown, but it remains a shock to me that Simmons doesn’t already have a plaque among the greatest ever to play the game.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Although they needed both offensive and defensive help, the Cardinals have remedied one of those problems by acquiring third baseman Pedro Feliz.

Feliz, known for his defensive prowess, was batting .221 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 97 games for the Houston Astros, spending time at both first base and third, his natural position.

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired Feliz in exchange for minor league pitcher David Carpenter, who was 5-3 with a 2.36 ERA and 20 saves in 49 appearances for the Single-A Palm Beach.

The deal brings St. Louis, who ranks well below the league norm in most defensive metrics, some stability at the hot corner. Feliz has been one of the top defensive third basemen around as recently as 2007, when he led the league in Zone Runs and fielding percentage as a third baseman.

However, the deal does nothing to help a struggling offense that has been shut down by mediocre pitchers on several occasions this year.

The 35-year-old Feliz, a starter on the Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Championship team, is a .252 career hitter with 139 homers and 589 runs batted in over 1,262 games with the Giants, Phillies, and Astros.

So, while this deal helps a team at the middle of the pack offensively, the Cardinals are going to need to make some moves of bigger impact if they hope to catch the powerful Cincinnati Reds.

To make room for Feliz, the Cardinals transferred backup catcher Jason LaRue to the 60-day DL, citing a concussion caused when Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto kicked LaRue in the head.

“After speaking with our medical staff and consulting with other experts, we have come to the conclusion to put Jason LaRue on the 60-day disabled list,” Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said. “We believe this is in the best interest for Jason and his future. We will continue to monitor his progress and seek the best medical expertise concerning his situation. Part of his required rehabilitation, at this point, is rest.”

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As of August 16, thirteen teams find themselves within six games of a playoff spot.

So while Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Chicago, Texas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, and Colorado will relish playing each other, that doesn’t mean they should glaze over the rest of the schedule.

I’m sure Mets fans remember their own personal playoff spoiler. In both 2007 and 2008, the Mets were eliminated on the last day of the season by the Florida Marlins, who had nothing to gain in the game but the sweet satisfaction of ending New York’s playoff hopes.

Which cellar-dwelling teams will have that same feeling this year?

Here are five who hope to keep their division rivals home this October.

Begin Slideshow

The planets are back in alignment.

After two grand slams, a benches-clearing brawl, a rain delay, and a series to remember, the St. Louis Cardinals have returned to their usual perch atop the National League Central.

For all that was exciting outside the field of play, the on-field action was rather passé. The Cardinals finished a resounding three-game sweep by upending the Cincinnati Reds, who entered the series with a two game division lead, 6-1, on the strength of a Colby Rasmus grand slam and seven shutout innings by Adam Wainwright, who picked up his league-leading 17th win of the season.

The Reds never really threatened, as Wainwright shackled them to only two hits and no walks. Only once did a Red reach second base.

“We won three games against a team that was in first place, at their park,” Wainwright said. “It’s good to get three wins against anybody, but against a team like the Reds, a good quality team with possibly a Hall of Fame manager over there, they’re playing hard, they’re playing good all year. It’s good to get the series win.”

With Wainwright on the hill, the Cardinals got the very little offense they needed off of Rasmus’s slam in the fifth. After toughing out a long at-bat against veteran Bronson Arroyo, Rasmus deposited a full-count changeup to straightaway center, giving the Redbirds the lead for good.

“Everybody knew he had to come over the plate at that time, because you don’t want to walk in a run,” said Reds manager Dusty Baker. “Bronson, other than that one inning, threw the ball pretty well.”

The emphatic win was St. Louis’s third of the series, and pushed the Cardinals to 4-1 on the road trip.

That’s not to say the series was without drama.

Tempers flared early, starting with Brandon Phillips running his mouth before Monday’s game.

“I’d play against these guys with one leg. We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is [expletive] and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little [expletive], all of ‘em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals.”

The Cardinals gave Phillips no reason to change his sentiments, holding him 2-14 for the series.

Phillips is a .255 career hitter versus the Cardinals.

“It certainly added fuel to our fire when you’ve got guys opening their mouth, saying stupid stuff,” said Adam Wainwright (17-6), who pitched seven shutout innings and gave up two hits, both singles. “But we only used that in a positive way. It’s very unprofessional to fire back.”

Phillips also neglected that current Reds Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, Miguel Cairo, and Russ Springer, along with GM Walt Jocketty, are all former Cardinals.

“It doesn’t do anybody any good,” said Jocketty on Tuesday afternoon. “I just wish he wouldn’t have said it. I haven’t seen him but I will [talk to him].”

In the first inning of Tuesday’s contest, Phillips continued his usual habit of tapping the catcher and umpire on the shin guards. St. Louis backstop Yadier Molina would have no part of it.

“I was ready to start the game, and he touched me,” Molina said. “The comments that he made yesterday, that he’s got no friends over here, why are you touching me then? You are not my friend. So don’t touch me. “

While Molina and Phillips began jawing at each other, both managers came out. In the end, both benches erupted into a fracas that caused managerial ejections and a concussion sustained by Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue, after he was kicked in the head by starting pitcher Johnny Cueto. LaRue will need stitches.

The Cardinals won that day, 8-4, tying Cincinnati for the division lead and setting up Wednesday’s battle.

Whiners? Make that division leaders.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It’s no secret that Mark Prior has talent.

That’s never been a problem for the one-time ace. It’s been injuries that have plagued the Southern California native.

So, why would any team be interested in the former flamethrower?

If you’re St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, you should. Not because the Cardinals lack starting pitching. Far from it.

St. Louis currently has one of the most solid starting rotations in the National League, headed by aces Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, and complimented by strong rookie pitcher Jaime Garcia and workhorse Jake Westbrook.

Instead, the Cardinals should attempt the most radical move of this season—making Mark Prior a relief pitcher.

When I first contemplated this idea, I thought I was crazy, as you probably do now. The Cardinals’ biggest need is at third base, and Prior isn’t going to help them there.

But the more I thought about it, the less crazy I seemed. At least to myself.

Didn’t Kerry Wood also have an injury history? And what did the Cubs do? They moved him to the bullpen, and in 2008, Wood was an All-Star closer.

Could Mark Prior do the same? I think so.

If Prior is willing to accept the league minimum to pitch out of the ‘pen for a playoff contender, I could see him returning to the major leagues. If he’s willing to grow a beard, he could pitch out of the ‘pen for the Cardinals.

Experts seem to agree that Prior’s injuries stemmed from mechanical flaws, part of a delivery that resembles those of Kris Benson and Stephen Strasburg. With Dave Duncan, the best pitching coach around, kinks in pitching mechanics can be worked out.

After losing Jason Motte to the 15-day DL, the Cardinals are now relying on Mike MacDougal’s fastball for strikeouts in big situations. When it comes to the big situations in the midst of a close race, or the playoffs, can you afford to trust MacDougal?

Prior is just signed on to pitch for the Orange County Flyers of the Golden Baseball League, a long way from St. Louis. Will he be able to pitch in big situations? Who knows?

I’m not saying they should insert him into the closer’s role. Sign him to a minor-league deal, and work him in to games slowly. If it works out, St. Louis has a good relief pitcher and Prior fulfills his dream of returning to the bigs. If not, no big deal, the Cardinals lose $40,000, and Prior heads home to SoCal.

In a recent workout at his alma-mater USC, a veteran major league scout said Prior was “just all right.”

Call me crazy, but for a bullpen that currently boasts Fernando Salas, “just all right” could be just what they need.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cardinals head into Cincinnati on Monday looking to make up two games in the standings on their rivals, the Reds. For most of the season, the two teams have been locked in a to-the-death battle for first place in the National League Central. Who wins this three game series could likely have a major impact on the pennant race going forward.

With three of the National League’s best starters taking the mound for St. Louis, they have the early edge in this series.

The Cardinals will send Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, and Adam Wainwright to the hill to face a solid but inexperienced Reds pitching staff. This season, the Cardinals’ first three starters have accounted for 32 of their 61 wins, second most in baseball, and by far the most among NL teams.

Monday, August 9, 7:10 PM ET, Great American Ball Park

Monday’s game will be a treat for Cardinals fans living outside of the Central Time Zone, as it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

The pitching matchup will pit longtime ace Chris Carpenter against rookie Mike Leake. Carpenter will serve as a trendsetter for the whole series. If he pitches well the Cardinals will have the early momentum.

He’s coming off a strong start against Houston, whom he held to two runs in 7.1 innings.

He also spun a gem against the Reds in his last meeting with Cincinnati, giving up just one run and four hits in eight innings. He’s won eight consecutive starts against the Reds, posting a 1.09 ERA, and beaten them three times this season.

He’s also been red-hot of late, posting a 1.64 ERA in his last five starts, all St. Louis wins.

If Carpenter can continue his dominance against the division leaders, the Cardinals could inch closer by the end of the night.

Mike Leake, who broke camp with the Reds without ever pitching in the minors, looks to rebound from his last start, where he was plagued by the big inning. In the second, Leake hit Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen in the back of the neck, and was visibly shaken. He threw 33 pitches that inning alone, facing 10 batters and allowing six hits.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Carlos Gonzalez is making Rockies’ fans forget all about Matt Holliday.

Ever since breaking out in last year’s playoffs, Gonzalez has been on an absolute tear.

The young outfielder is in the top ten in all National League offensive categories, and is second in Power-Speed, a statistic invented by Bill James that measures the harmonic mean between a player’s home runs and stolen bases.

And at the ripe age of 24, he’s one of baseball’s budding young stars.

But forgive me if I’m skeptical of his amazing stats.

After all, in his 85 games with Oakland, he hit just .242/.273/.361, and the Athletics saw fit to trade him in a package for Rockies star left fielder Matt Holliday.

Now, in baseball’s famous hitters’ haven of Coors Field, he’s putting up MVP-type numbers at an incredibly young age.

So I decided to take a further look at CarGo’s numbers. I hoped to prove myself wrong.

But sometimes, you don’t get what you hope.

As of Wednesday, August 4, Gonzalez has played one more home game than road. A basic look at his splits cast his whole season into doubt.

First, the home runs.

Coors Field has always been notorious for producing the long ball. So much so, that recently they began a practice of humidifying baseballs to take the sting out of the thin mountain air.

As for Gonzalez, the Rockies star hit his 22nd and 23rd home runs of the season on Wednesday. That gives him 19 at Coors Field, and just four on the road.

Put it this way.

If Gonzalez played an entire 162 game season at Coors Field, he’d hit a superhuman 64 home runs.

If he played all of his games on the road, he’d hit just 13 homers. Yikes.

He also slugs .700+ at home, but just .385 on the road.

Obviously, his power numbers are influenced by the Rocky Mountain air.

And home runs and slugging percentage aren’t the only mirages in CarGo’s stat line.

He bats more than .100 higher at home than on the road. That’s shocking for a player who is second in the National League in average.

He even strikes out twice as often on the road.

So it’s obvious that most of his numbers are a product of Coors Field.

And I thought that would be the end of my investigation. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

It turns out, the Denver air isn’t the only thing fueling Gonzalez’s super human statistics.

He’s also had a fair bit of luck to his credit. On the season, he has a BAbip of .369, almost .3 above his career average.

Even more shocking, his BAbip during the month of July is .441, a number that I had a hard time finding, as it was so high in the stratosphere. His HR/FB rates are also above his career average.

Can CarGo keep up his miracle season?

For now, the only number we can assume is real is his .995 fielding percentage.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The St. Louis Cardinals’ run at an 18th National League pennant took a serious hit Tuesday, when the team learned that rookie third baseman David Freese re-injured a sore right ankle in a rehab start with Double-A Springfield, and will miss the rest of the 2010 season.

After injuring the ankle on June 27, Freese was expected to help rejuvenate a limping Cardinals offense sometime this month. Instead, it appears St. Louis will have to do without him.

But without adding another bat, another National League Central crown seems unlikely.

Right now, the plan going forward is to have rookie Allen Craig, who is hitting just .139/.200/.250, and has spent most of this time in the outfield.

Why in the world would a contending St. Louis squad make him the starting third baseman?

With weak bats at shortstop and second base already, the Cardinals cannot afford to have three-quarters of their infield and a third of their lineup below the offensive norm.

Although Craig projects as a strong major-league hitter going forward, right now he’s a “Quadruple-A” type who dominates the minors, but can’t seem to figure out MLB pitching. He’d be a relatively cheap option, but if St. Louis wants to show Albert Pujols that they are committed to winning now , they need to pursue a strong bat at the hot corner.

However, now that the 2010 trade deadline has passed, the Cardinals must try to improve their third base position through some other option.

Look no further than Joe Crede.

As a former White Sox and Twins third baseman, Crede has battled injuries in the past, but when he’s healthy, he’s one of the best hitting third basemen around, and one of the top fielders to boot. It still baffles me that no team made an effort to sign him.

But why should St. Louis take a chance on the oft-injured third sacker?

For starters, his glove would be an improvement over even Freese’s. Coming into the season, Bill Dewan ranked his as the third best glove available at the hot corner, behind only Adrian Beltre and Pedro Feliz. He also ranked third among free agent third basemen in UZR/150 last season, behind Beltre and Chone Figgins.

Beltre and Figgins snapped up multi-year deals, and Feliz caught on with Houston, making Crede the best defensive third baseman available.

Crede has pop at the plate, too. Although he’s been limited to less than 400 at-bats for the past three seasons, when healthy, he can slug it with the best of them.

In 2006, with a career high of 586 at-bats, he won a Silver Slugger Award, while also setting highs in batting average (.286), on-base percentage (.323), slugging percentage (.506), home runs (30), RBI (94),  total bases (275), and WAR (3.6), along with tying a career high with 31 doubles.

Now, was Crede’s 2006 season a fluke, or was he the real deal?

His AB/HR ratio that season was 18.13, not much less than his career ratio of 22.15. I’m not saying Crede can duplicate the power numbers he displayed in 2006, but he can give the Cardinals a home run threat that their lineup is currently missing.

So, would Crede, who could be had relatively cheaply (his salary in 2009 was $2.5 million), be a good signing for St. Louis?

In my opinion, if St. Louis doesn’t move on Crede, easily the best third baseman available on both the free agent market and on the waiver wire, their shot at the 2010 Central Division title could be shot.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

So far this season, the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds have been engaged in a dogfight among the top of the National League Central. With St. Louis recently solidifying their starting rotation, that may be about to change.

St. Louis pulled off a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians, acquiring Indians starter Jake Westbrook while shipping right fielder Ryan Ludwick to San Diego. Meanwhile, the Reds, who have been in need of bullpen help all season, made no moves leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

“There were a couple yesterday that we had been working on for a while that fell apart at the end,” Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty said after the 4:00 PM EST deadline had passed. “The players we were pursuing were not traded. They probably were not real serious.”

So, while quality arms like Octavio Dotel, Kyle Farnsworth, Kerry Wood, and Chad Qualls will all wear new uniforms in the coming days, none of them will suit up in Cin City.

Instead, the Reds look to build from within, with Russ Springer, former Cardinal Jason Isringhausen, and young Cuban fireballer Aroldis Chapman waiting in the minor leagues.

Meanwhile, St. Louis has bolstered their starting rotation with a quality fourth starter in Jake Westbrook. Ryan Ludwick, who was batting .281/.343/.484 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, and 44 runs scored in 77 games, was sent to the NL West-leading Padres. St. Louis also receives Padres left-handed prospect Nick Greenwood and an undisclosed amount of cash from Cleveland.

“I think they gave up a pretty good hitter to get him,” Jocketty said of the Westbrook-
Ludwick deal. “Offense has been one of their struggles of late. He’s a good addition for them but they also lost a very good offensive player.”

But although they traded Ludwick, the Cardinals are faithful that rookie Jon Jay, who has batted .396 and slugged .604 while filling in for an injured Ludwick, can fill the void admirably.

The 21-year-old has impressed the Cardinals organization, obviously enough to turn the reins over to him in right field, where he started Saturday’s game against the Pirates. He also plays a good center field, although that position is currently held by Colby Rasmus. He is fourth among NL center fielders in Total Zone Runs this year.

“In fairness, our offense was inconsistent with him,” Cards GM John Mozeliak said. “Will it be inconsistent without him? I don’t know. But we have had some success when we’ve had players out of the lineup. We still have a chance to get [David] Freese back in the next 10 days or so, and if that happens, that should be a jolt offensively for the club. But overall, I just felt like the way things were going offensively, it made sense.”

Ludwick, who has been a fan favorite during his four years in St. Louis, had mixed feelings about the deal.

“I’m excited,” the newest Padre said. “Sad, excited, nervous, a lot of things…[Coming to St. Louis] jump-started my career. That’s why I’m sad to leave. Management, coaching staff, players, I got along with everyone. I’m sad leaving the fans. They treated me great.”

Westbrook, who has not been to the playoffs since 2007, carried a much merrier tone.

“I’m excited to go to a club contending for a playoff spot and pitch in some meaningful ballgames,” he said. “That’s why you play the game, for a chance to get into the playoffs, and I’m looking forward to doing that.”

The righty, who had pitched over 210 innings per season from 2004-06 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of the 2009 campaign, has been slowly returning to form over the course of this season. Although he is 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA over the course of the season, he has seen a return to form lately, averaging 6.4 innings over his last 15 games.

Although St. Louis may miss Ludwick’s bat while Jay transitions to a starting job, receiving some dependability from someone outside of Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, and Jaime Garcia will help over the long stretch, and gives the Cardinals a serviceable options other than their top three starters come October.

If Cincinnati doesn’t find some way to strengthen their bullpen, they may be looking up at St. Louis come playoff time.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Coming into the season, Braves outfielder Jason Heyward was the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year. But Heyward has succumbed to injury, and other names have popped up in the forefront of the Rookie of the Year discussion.

Among them, Buster Posey, the San Francisco Giants catcher with a red-hot bat. Currently riding a 19-game hitting streak, Posey has been the lynch-pin that the offensively anemic Giants so desperately needed.

“He’s been a big shot in the arm for us,” manager Bruce Bochy said of the 23-year old Georgia native. “There’s no getting around it. We think a lot of Buster. We are not surprised by what he’s doing.”

“He’s got discipline at the plate,” Bochy said. “He’s a patient hitter. He’s got one of those swings that the bat stays in the zone a long time. He gets inside the ball well and he can handle the pitch in and away. Those guys who have that type of swing, they are going to find a way to get the good part of the bat on the ball. That’s what Buster does.”

On the season, Buster is batting .368 with eight home runs and 33 RBI. For a 10 game period from July 2nd to July 11th, Posey set National League rookie records for home runs, RBI, and hits over such a stretch.

“I’m just playing ball, trying not to think about it too much,” said Posey.

In fact, the buzz Posey is generating in the Bay Area should be expected. The Johnny Bench and Golden Spikes Awards winner signed for a then-record $6.2 million out of Florida State.

But now that he’s reached the majors, Posey remains focused on just getting the job done.

“The thing that a lot of us did when we were younger is you try to come up and press and do more than we are capable of, try to hit home runs,” Giants teammate Freddy Sanchez said. “But him, since day one he’s come up with the same approach at the plate. He stays inside the ball great. Everything he hits is to right-center. When you go to right-center, especially with the type of power he has, there are a lot of hits that way.”

So, is the Giants hitting machine a favorite for Rookie of the Year?

Well, Ryan Braun, winner of the 2007 Rookie of the Year Award, was called up in mid-May that year, and went on a hitting tear that lasted all season. So, there’s no reason he can’t be placed in the discussion.

How does he compare to other candidates?

Well, right now, the favorites are Jaime Garcia and Stephen Strasburg, both pitchers. It’s hard to compare pitchers and hitters, but right now, Posey could be the best hitter on his team, and one of the top run preventers as well. His WAR is 2.2, which compares favorably to Jason Heyward’s 2.5 mark over the entire season, and Stephen Strasburg’s 2.1 mark, over a longer period of time than Posey.

Since July 1st, when Bengie Molina was traded to Texas to make room for Posey behind the plate, the rookie has put up stellar numbers both offensively and defensively. His .459 batting average and .788 slugging percentage are second to none for the month of July. He’s also been one of baseball’s premier backstops, throwing out 43 percent of runners attempting to steal, compared to Molina’s 23 percent.

Posey has also handled one of baseball’s best pitching staffs well. Giants hurlers have a 3.11 ERA with Buster catching, but only had a 3.46 ERA with Molina behind the dish.

“He’s been great,” Cain said. “It’s been a pretty smooth transition. Sometimes it takes a little time to get on the same page. But he’s been real adaptive, so I give him a ton of credit for wanting to catch on fast. He put a lot of effort into that.”

Is he the Rookie of the Year? Not quite yet. But the Giants are glad to have him.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com