The Cubs and Giants squared off yesterday in a Monday matinee for the benefit of sabermetricians everywhere.
Each team posted eight hits, including one double. The Cubs added a stolen base. They also recorded a double play on defense and their pitchers fanned eight to the Giants' five. They strung together their hits better too, with four singles from five batters in the two-run second inning.
Advantage Chicago.
Except.
Five Bearcub hurlers issued seven free passes (to none by San Francisco's Ryan Vogelsong and Jeremy Affeldt), four of them to Buster Posey. That's right, every time Posey came to the plate, he took first base without making an out. To the batting average counters, the star catcher accomplished nothing, but Posey forced Chicago pitchers to throw at least 16 unproductive pitches that failed to record a single out He also created a base runner each time he batted.
Without an official at bat, Posey scored two of the Giants' three runs, including the game-winner. His batting average didn't rise, he didn't hit a home run, or even a double or triple, he didn't steal a base, he didn't knock in a run. He didn't do anything that would awaken your average sportswriter from his 30-year slumber.
He was just the star of the game.
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