Angels outfielder Scott Cousins reflects on Buster Posey collision

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Within a span of six weeks last October and November, Scott Cousins went from the Miami Marlins to the Toronto Blue Jays to the Seattle Mariners to the Angels, all without summoning a moving truck to his San Francisco home.

What a long -- or is that short? -- strange trip it’s been.

Three times after finishing the season with the Marlins, Cousins was designated for assignment, and three times he was picked up by another club. Now, the left-handed-hitting outfielder is in camp with the Angels, one of numerous players fighting for bench spots.

“It’s the worst thing ever to be taken off a roster and the greatest feeling ever to be added to a roster,” Cousins, 28, said. “I have to stay positive and have the feeling that someone wants your services, but it has been interesting.”

Cousins, who has good speed, a strong arm and can play three outfield spots, spent parts of the last three seasons in Florida, batting .183 in 128 games, with two homers and nine runs batted in.

He is best known for being the player who crushed San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey in a home-plate collision that resulted in season-ending injuries -- a broken fibula and torn ankle ligaments -- for Posey in May 2011.

Giants General Manager Brian Sabean called the contact “malicious” and said he didn’t blame Posey for refusing to return Cousins’ call to apologize.

“If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we’ll all be happy,” Sabean said at the time.

Cousins, who grew up a Giants fan in the Bay Area, said he was “hurt” by the comments, but chalked them up to heat-of-the-moment sentiments. He has since spoken to Sabean, but he has not spoken to Posey since the collision.

“He’s moved on, just like I did -- that was two years ago, it’s behind me,” Cousins said. “We both understand this is a man’s game, and we’re going to play like men.”

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