San Francisco Giants: Buster Posey to Play 2 Innings at Catcher on Friday

After the 2011 season was left in shambles with a key piece of the future of the franchise wavering in the balance, the wait is over for the San Francisco Giants.  Buster Posey will be behind the plate on Friday when the Giants take on the Cincinnati Reds.

Posey sat out most of last season after a collision at home plate with Miami Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins left Posey with a left leg injury that sidelined him from any physical activities, until recently. Now, the Giants plan on testing that left leg in spring training to see how it reacts.

According to The Mercury News' Alex Pavlovic, Bruce Bochy plans on playing Posey for two innings behind the dish on Friday, seven games into San Francisco's spring training schedule.

All eyes are sure to be on Posey, that left leg and his bat that is so dearly needed if the Giants are to hang tough in the National League West this season. 

He is clearly the heart and soul of this Giants ball club. In his rookie season, Posey played a significant role in helping the Giants get their first World Series title in San Francisco. Last season, we saw just how much he really meant to this team.

After he went down injured, the team seemed mentally drained down the stretch when a playoff push was needed. The team was dismal on the offensive side of the ball and lacked that middle-of-the-order bat to help drive in runs and take meaningful at-bats.

With Posey assuredly back in the Giants lineup for Opening Day 2012, the Giants should feel like a new team—and the news that we are going to see him back on the field calling pitches behind the plate on Friday only further adds to the team's hyped morale.

Look for the Giants to take several precautions on Friday, but just seeing him with the mask on this week should be enough to get the baseball juices flowing back in San Francisco. 

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