Emotions are still running high following the May 25 collision at home plate that resulted in a season-ending injury to San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey.
Giants general manager Brian Sabean was upfront with his bitterness toward Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins Thursday during a radio interview on KNBR of San Francisco, calling the contact "malicious." Sabean said he didn't blame Posey for refusing to return an apologetic phone call.
"Why not be hard-nosed?" Sabean told the radio station. "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 didn't back down later in the interview; rather, he left little doubt that the Giants are planning on exacting some on-field revenge against Cousins.
"He chose to be a hero, in my mind, and if that's his flash of fame, that's as good as it's going to get, pal. We'll have a long memory," Sabean told KNBR. "Believe me, we've talked to (former catcher Mike) Matheny about how this game works. You can't be that out-and-out overly aggressive. I'll put it as politically as I can state it: There's no love lost and there shouldn't be."
Cousins' agent, Matt Sosnick, said he understood Sabean's anger.
"It's an emotional time for the Giants and I understand Brian's disappointment," Sosnick told ESPN.com's Amy K. Nelson. "But his opinion is in the vast minority. It's a play within the rules and I imagine his opinion would be vastly different if Posey ran over (Marlins catcher John) Buck on a legal play and Buck was injured."
Sosnick confirmed to ESPN.com Thursday night his client had received death threats since his collision with Posey last week, and MLB's security department was notified.
"It's just enough," Sosnick told ESPN.com of the criticism leveled at his client. "Scott can't say (enough) he's sorry that it happened."
When reached Thursday night, Cousins declined to comment on anything related to what Sabean said, and added, "I've said my piece. I feel horrible for Posey. The aftermath of this has not been fun."
Posey suffered three torn ligaments in his ankle and broke a bone in his lower left leg when Cousins collided with him at the plate in San Francisco's 12-inning loss to the Marlins.
Posey, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, had surgery Sunday to repair the torn ligaments in his ankle. He
had two screws inserted into his lower leg to stabilize the ankle in an operation that lasted about 90 minutes.
The Giants remain optimistic Posey will be ready for Opening Day next season, but admits he has a long road ahead.
Posey hit .284 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 45 games. Last year, Posey was recalled from the minors in late May and hit .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs in 108 games.
ESPN.com staff writer Amy K. Nelson contributed to this report.