We had our first in-season radio hit with Buster Posey this morning and after 20 minutes of substantive ball talk, I came to the same conclusion that I had back on October 1, when Buster Ballgame was named president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants:
The local nine are in good hands.
Breaking news, right?
What I want to highlight are three takeaways, though, to further bolster what you may have already known: You want Buster Posey running your team.
Takeaway Number One: Get back in the dugout.
When we asked Posey how he felt about the 5-1 road trip to start the season, he highlighted what you might expect: Pitching the ball and fielding the ball. “So we can get back in the dugout,” Posey said.
Simple phrase, not hugely original, but I loved him stressing it. Get back in the dugout.
That means pitchers throwing strikes. No futzing around. Of the teams who have played six games this season, the Giants are fifth-best in Major League Baseball, issuing only 15 walks.
That means fielders picking it, paying attention during a game and utilizing fundamentals. Despite Casey Schmitt sort of committing one at first base Wednesday, the Giants still have not made a fielding error in 2025. Only the Giants and Phillies are spotless in this department in MLB. The Diamondbacks and Marlins have made seven errors, by contrast.
When you cleanly field your chances, you get back in the dugout and get to hit.
The Giants have been using “Nothing Like It” as their slogan for the last couple of years — shout out Vallejo’s own LaRussell, who penned a real toe-tapper about it and came on our show to chat! — but maybe the signage up and down the Embarcadero should read: “SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: GET BACK IN THE DUGOUT”.
Takeway Number Two: Koss and Adames.
Two different times in the interview, Posey evaluated a player for something other than a number. Not to always pile on the propeller-heads, as Mike Krukow likes to call them, but over the last several years in baseball we fans have lost touch with the concept of front offices valuing something beyond xwOBA. Not that there’s anything wrong with xwOBA, my friends. I love a good xwOBA.
But when we asked him about utility infielder Christian Koss making his first big-league roster, Posey noted Koss’ fielding versatility and his base running — and more. “His character, his makeup,” Posey said. “He’s a gritty guy who became very popular in spring training.”
Aha. We have a crack in the case of how Buster Posey wants his clubhouse. Turns out he likes dirt dogs, and values them even. This should please a significant portion of the fan base. I remarked on-air the other day that Koss had a Matt Duffy vibe, only if Duffy was tatted up. A listener from the 209 texted in the nickname of the season so far: Tatt Duffy. Hey oh!
And when we asked Posey about Willy Adames’ slow start — 3-for-23 —Posey didn’t even mention anything between the lines. He said his first thought was Adames leaping out of the dugout when LaMonte Wade, Jr. broke his 0-for-2025 streak with a line drive home run in Houston. Posey could have said the same about Adames leading the cheers when Wilmer Flores swatted his hugely clutch home run in Cincinnati on Opening Day.
“He wants his teammates to have success,” Posey observed. “He has joy in the playing the game and it’s infectious. Seeing it rub off on his teammates is great to see. Willy is a leader.”
For Posey, the intangibles are almost tangible.
Takeaway Number Three: That’s Huff’s Ball.
And finally, when we asked Posey about the pop-up that fell between Landon Roupp, catcher Sam Huff and third baseman Matt Chapman, the former All-Star catcher didn’t cover anyone’s rear end. “I’d like to see Huff go get that ball,” Posey said.
You had to smile at the crisp, clean answer from the president of baseball ops.
Somewhere, Sam Huff heard that and said: Duly noted, boss.
See you all tomorrow at the yard. Wear your home creams, sports fans.