SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey caught Ryan Vogelsong 101 times in the regular season and was behind the plate for every one of his postseason starts, so he knows the right-hander as well as anyone. The two developed a close friendship, and if a tight back doesn’t keep Posey out of Monday’s lineup, he’ll face Vogelsong for the first time.
Given all the time they spent together on the mound and off, who has the advantage?
“You can look at it a couple of different ways,” Posey said. “I know how he likes to work … but he knows that I know how he likes to work.”
The Giants, from Posey to Bruce Bochy to Dave Righetti and on, know Vogelsong’s style inside and out. Which means they know they’re going to get everything the 39-year-old has to offer in his return to AT&T Park.
Vogelsong, drafted by the organization in 1998, returned in 2011 and had five thrilling seasons in a city his family fell in love with. He made an All-Star team and won two titles, with the Giants going 6-0 in his postseason starts. He was a leader off the field and an inspiration on it.
“He left such a mark on this team,” right fielder Hunter Pence said. “We have a tremendous amount of love and respect for who he is, and we all share a bond. It’s going to be a lot of fun to compete against him.”
This is something Vogelsong has been thinking about since his run in San Francisco ended. The Giants moved on from several veteran pitchers in the offseason, signing Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to fill out their rotation and committing to a plan to find younger alternatives in the long relief role. Vogelsong wanted to return, but when that door closed he signed a one-year with the Pirates in late December. Vogelsong told MLB.com that he has been thinking about this matchup since the offseason.
"I don't know if I can be fully prepared for what it's going to be like, but I've tried to get myself ready for it in case it happened,” he said. “It's going to happen."
Vogelsong’s last moment at AT&T Park was an emotional one. He represented the team after the final game of the 2015 season and gave a speech to fans.
"I don't know where I'll be next year or what the front of my jersey will say,” Vogelsong said that day, “But I do know one thing: I will always, always be a Giant.”
There is no doubt that Vogelsong will be welcomed back that way. He was a fan favorite, and Vogelsong’s former teammates expect a raucous ovation.
“As a two-time World Series champion, I think he’s going to get a pretty warm reception,” George Kontos said. “As he should.”
Kontos was one of many players and coaches who reached out to Vogelsong when he was hit by a pitch May 23 and underwent surgery to repair facial fractures. The Giants visited Pittsburgh in June, and several players hung out with the Vogelsong family during that series. At the time, Vogelsong was rehabbing.
Knowing Vogelsong, there was little doubt he would make it back to the mound in time to face his former team. In two starts back, Vogelsong has allowed three runs in 12 innings. Overall, he has a 2.67 ERA in 14 appearances for the Pirates.
“That’s not a surprise at all because of the work ethic that guy has,” said Javier Lopez, a close friend. “You knew he was going to give his all to make it back, and he has. It’s nice to see, it really is. You always root for your former teammates, but in particular with friends. I’m sure I’m not alone in the clubhouse in saying that we’re going to be excited to see him.”
