DENVER -- Giants catcher Buster Posey used terms often applied to himself in praising teammate Matt Duffy, who has calmly dealt with a mysterious, season-long road batting slump.
"If you had a kid, he's a guy you'd want your kid to watch because he doesn't pout," Posey said. "He plays the game hard. It's fun for me to watch. Those are the type of guys who you really, really, really are pulling hard for. I'm not saying you're not pulling for everybody. But it's hard not to pull for a guy who comes to the park every day with a good attitude."
Duffy has maintained an upbeat attitude despite struggling on the road. He entered Sunday's series finale against the Colorado Rockies batting .353 at home and .133 away from AT&T Park -- the lowest road average among players accumulating enough at-bats at a rate to qualify for the batting title.
"I don't know what it is," said Duffy, who interrupted his strange skid with a 2-for-3 performance Saturday. "I feel like I'm putting together competitive at-bats on the road. I'm not changing my approach based on being at home or on the road. It's one of those things that, over the course of the season, I would hope would iron itself out."
Duffy appreciated Posey's compliment and reciprocated it.
"That means a lot, coming from a guy like that," Duffy said. "I really look up to him, the way he handles the spotlight and is able to help his teammates. It's kind of like having another coach out there playing with you. Also, the way he handles himself off the field. He's a great family man and a great dad to his kids."