Buster Posey Has Pressure to Be an Even Bigger Offensive Force in 2015

Buster Posey’s pressure and expectations have never built like this. 

In his five full major league seasons, the 28-year-old catcher has seemingly gone through it all and come out a shining superstar.

He won the National League Rookie of the Year award. He suffered a major injury in 2011 that led to a rule change that affected the game’s mentality, returned from it and was the league’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2012. That season, he was also named MVP. He has won a batting title. He’s been an All-Star twice. In February, fans voted him MLB Network’s “Face of MLB.”

And intertwined in all of that, he has helped the San Francisco Giants build a dynasty of sorts, capturing three World Series titles in his five seasons. Through all of them, he was the club’s key offensive force.

While there has always been pressure surrounding Posey, the fifth overall pick in 2008, there have also been release valves.

Even though Posey was a major piece of the team’s title runs, pitching has always been the dominating force for the organization. From Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner to Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla, the men throwing to Posey in the postseason have been more prominent.

That changes in 2015, starting Monday.

Despite being the defending World Series champs, the Giants step into Opening Day as underdogs in the National League. In fact, many consider them to be the third-best team in their own division, the NL West, behind the rival Los Angeles Dodgers and completely revamped San Diego Padres.

Since last season, the Giants have significant unanswered questions in their lineup. They lost Pablo Sandoval in free agency. Hunter Pence, Posey’s sidekick in the batting order, is down with a broken forearm. And Mike Morse, who was second on the team last season with an .811 OPS, also bounced in the offseason.

While Bumgarner remains an ace entering his prime, Posey is the team’s most valuable piece, hands down.

“I try not to [feel any pressure],” Posey told Jim Caple of ESPN.com. “Obviously, Pablo was a big bat. But since I’ve been here, we’ve lost guys, like Melky Cabrera halfway through the year in 2012. Hopefully, experience for all of us will play a factor in that, for us to realize you do your job. Just do what you’re capable of doing and that should be enough.”

Ben Margot/Associated Press

What Posey is capable of is sitting at the top level of major league hitters. Despite taking most of his plate appearances from the demanding and premium catching position, he finished last season with the game’s 13th-highest WAR (5.6), the 12th-best weighted runs created and the 16th-best weighted on-base average, as FanGraphs calculates it.

While none of those places on the list are absurdly high, they show Posey to be among the game’s elite offensive players. And his second-half production last season shows he's capable of being among the absolute best. 

After last year’s All-Star break, Posey hit .354/.403/.575 with a .978 OPS and 12 home runs. Posey’s average and WAR were the best in the majors during that run, his OPS was second behind Giancarlo Stanton and his slugging percentage was third behind Matt Kemp and Stanton, respectively.

On top of the production, Posey is also clearly a team leader capable of uniting a clubhouse. While those qualities cannot be quantified by data, even rich teams with brainiac front offices—see Los Angeles Dodgers—are recognizing their importance and building their rosters accordingly.

“He’s one of the best players of today,” Pence told Caple. “He’s a great individual and family man. He has an incredible baseball mind, incredible talent. He’s just an all-around good guy. And he’s a tremendous leader in all facets.”

This season, the Giants are in need of the elite Posey. They have lost enough over the last couple seasons, including the previous offseason and spring training, that Posey has to be at least an MVP candidate, if not the runaway favorite, throughout the season for the Giants to contend.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

At the same time, manager Bruce Bochy has to manage his playing time, determining when to use him behind the plate, when to stick him at first base and when to give him time off. All the while, Bochy must figure out how to ensure Posey is in the batter’s box for no fewer than 600 plate appearances.

This is, after all, his franchise player.

With that title comes immense pressure, expectations and possibly scrutiny. This is the year Posey has to put nearly all of the weight on himself, because everyone else will regardless.

If he lives up to it, the Giants have a chance. If he does not, this will be just another installment of the team’s even-year, odd-year drama.

All quotes, unless otherwise specified, have been acquired firsthand by Anthony Witrado. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.