Posey, Alonso headed to All-Star game in Miami
The A’s Yonder Alonso is headed home and the Giants’ Buster Posey is a starter again.
Even amid the rubble of the Giants season, Buster Posey remains unscathed. The Giants mainstay will serve as the National League’s starting catcher in the All-Star Game for the third consecutive time, as determined by final voting totals released Sunday night.
“Anytime you’re voted in by the fans, it’s a big honor,” Posey said Sunday, not long after the Giants’ sixth consecutive victory. Posey becomes the first National League catcher to start at least three consecutive mid-summer classics since Mike Piazza, the future Hall of Famer, did it from 1994-99.
Posey got in this time by a wide margin. With 3,368,263 votes, he earned roughly twice as may as runner-up Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs (1,561,151 votes).
“To be the starting catcher in the All-Star Game, that’s such a great honor,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re lucky to have him.”
The 88th MLB All-Star Game takes place July 11 in Miami.
A model of consistency, Posey is one of just two major league players to hit .325 or better each month this season. (Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the other.) It’s even more impressive that Posey has done so without much help in the lineup.
In that regard, his selection on Sunday felt bittersweet: This is the first time since 2007, when Barry Bonds was the lone selection, that the Giants have had only one All-Star.
“Of course, it would be more fun for me if a few more guys were going from the team,” Posey said.
This will be Posey’s fifth All-Star Game overall. He was the starter in 2012, ‘15 and ‘16 and a reserve behind Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013.
His favorite part of the All-Star experience? Posey said it’s the Home Run Derby, of all things.
“I just liked watching it as a kid, so it’s fun even now to be down there on the field,” he said.
Has he been asked to participate?
“No,” Posey said with a laugh. “Some guys are hitting them faaaaaaar this year.”
Posey entered play Sunday leading the majors with a .340 batting average and ranked fifth in the N.L. with a .418 on-base percentage. Including Sunday, he has now reached base safely via a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch in 65 of his 71 games.
Posey has done so while also providing terrific defense behind the plate. And he ranks among the best in the game at framing pitches — getting borderline strikes called for his pitcher because of his subtle glove work.
“That’s why he’s starting the All-Star Game. Not just his hitting, but because of what he does behind the plate,” Bochy said.