http://0rz.tw/OcQvN Giants want to support Posey, not vilify Cousins By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 06/03/11 9:35 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO -- A day after general manager Brian Sabean's comments regarding Scott Cousins ignited further controversy surrounding the collision that ended Buster Posey's season, the Giants are ready to put the incident behind them. The club released a statement to clarify Sabean's harsh remarks that came Thursday on KNBR-680 AM, saying the GM's comments were made "out of frustration and out of true concern for Buster and were not meant to vilify Scott Cousins." Team president Larry Baer and manager Bruce Bochy also spoke about the issue Friday, emphasizing how emotional the entire organization has been since Posey's season-ending leg and ankle injuries, as well as their desire to spark a conversation about changing the rules to prevent more serious injuries. The statement reads, "This is a very emotional time for the Giants organization and our fans. We lost for the season one of our best players to a serious injury and we are doing everything we can to support Buster Posey through this very difficult time. We appreciate Scott Cousins' outreach to Buster Posey and the Giants organization." The statement goes on to discuss the "complicated" issue of catcher safety and how it goes beyond the injury to Posey before ending with a sentiment that was thoroughly echoed by Baer and Bochy: "We intend to move beyond conversations about last week's incident and focus our attention on Buster's full recovery and on defending our World Series title." Sabean spoke with Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest on Friday to "clarify his comments and to assure him that there is no ill-will toward the player," according to the team statement, and he left a message for Cousins. Baer has also reached out to the Marlins, speaking with team president David Samson. Sabean, Baer and Bochy have all talked with Joe Torre, Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations, and Baer said Torre indicated that he would reach out to people and take a look at the rules regarding close plays and collisions at home plate. Baer and Bochy also defended Sabean on Friday, explaining that their general manager was simply caught up in the emotion of the moment and that they don't want to direct any harsh feelings toward Cousins. "This was not what we're focusing on as an organization," Baer said. "We're focusing on our player. It was, as we've said, out of frustration. It's still a pretty raw emotional time for us, losing him for the season -- a guy who means so much to us. We're looking forward to Buster's recovery. We're certainly out of the business of talking about the incident and revisiting it, other than we think it's a healthy dialogue to talk about what can be done to protect the player. "Throughout the organization -- clubhouse, front office, owners, everybody -- because of who he is and the member of the family that he is, it's an emotional time, and it's not like four, five, six, seven days dissipates much of that. It's not about the player. Our situation is that we actually believe the rule has to be looked at." Added Bochy: "There's nobody more supportive and protective of his players than Brian. I compare him to like a papa bear. When something happens to your kid, your fangs come out. He's hurt. He's hurt for Buster. He's hurt for the club, for baseball. It's a very emotional time. As we all know, Brian's very emotional. Sometimes he needs time to let his emotions settle, and he's not out to demonize any player. He's hurt for Buster and what's happened here. Certainly we don't want the media or the fans to demonize Brian, either. He is very, very concerned about Buster and the ballclub." Regarding the alleged death threats to Cousins, a Bay Area native who attended the University of San Francisco, Baer and Bochy both echoed the organization's desire to no longer make this about Cousins or Posey, but rather about keeping all players safe. "There shouldn't be any implied ill will toward Scott among our fans, among people in the community. That's just not what it is. It's not right," Baer said. "That's terrible. That's a shame. That's ridiculous. If you're a Giants fan, come on out and bring a sign, 'Get well, Buster.' Don't go after Scott Cousins. That's ridiculous." Adam Berry is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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