Back when Buster Posey was shattered by a play at the plate — seven freaking years ago — there was a name that was whispered, half-talisman and half-curse. That name was Jason Kendall, who was pretty much the perfect catcher until a freak accident changed everything. Was Posey going to follow the same path? Then he had one of the greatest seasons any catcher has ever had.
The problem with that comparison is that Kendall came back from the injury to hit .320, with a career high in homers and 22 stolen bases. The decline came later. It was always a dumb comparison.