M-V-Posey

    If you every need a reminder of what a Most Valuable Player actually is, just look to San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, who has seemingly redefined the term for his team. The Giants have won two World Series titles in three years, largely due to the play of the 25-year old Posey.

Posey hitting a home run in the 2012 NLDS
against the Cincinnati Reds

    In 2010, Posey's rookie season, the Giants won the World Series in five games over the Texas Rangers. This gave the Giants their first World Championship since 1954, and their first since moving from New York to San Francisco between the 1957 and 1958 seasons. After the 2010 championship season, Buster Posey was named the National Rookie of the Year after a rookie campaign where he hit for a .305 batting average with 18 home runs and 67 runs batted in.

    However, Posey's true value to his team would not be felt until the following year. On May 25th 2011, after playing in only 45 games for the Giants, Posey suffered a season-ending injury when he fractured his fibula and tore multiple ligaments in this ankle trying to block home plate against the Florida Marlins. After the Posey injury, the Giants played average baseball, going 59-55 the rest of the way without their catcher. The Giants would finish 86-76 and miss the playoffs-one year removed from a World Series title.

Posey raising Commissioner's
Trophy after winning the
World Series

    Posey returned to his team to start the 2012 season, and the Giants were glad to have their young catcher's bat back in the lineup. Posey would have the best season of his young career. Posey would post career high's in home runs (24), runs batted in (103), and batting average (.336). These numbers helped the Giants return to the playoffs, and defeat the Detroit Tigers in 4 games to give the Giants their second World Series title in 3 years.

    Posey's great regular season numbers were rewarded when he was awarded the Hank Aaron Award (best hitter in each league), the Silver Slugger Award (best offensive player by position in each league) , and most importantly, the National League's Most Valuable Player Award.

    There's no doubt that the Giants were glad to have Posey back last season. With Posey, the Giants have 2 World Series titles, and an MVP behind the plate. Without Posey, the Giants have one of the worst team batting averages in baseball. With Posey legitimately being the difference between baseball in October or playing air hockey in the garage, the Giants would agree that Posey is certainly an MVP. Would you? The  Giants rollercoaster these last three years have shown us what a real 'Most Valuable Player' actually looks like.