CASEY NEVER REALLY STRUCK OUT
When it came to home run power and producing eye-popping RBI totals, Sean Casey was hardly "Mighty."
Solid yes, dependable most certainly but the affable 31-year old was never the big bopper teams seek and crave at first base.
Afterall, in five of his eight seasons in Cincinnati, Casey hit 14 homers or less. In addition, Sean never managed to drive-in more than 99 runs during his stint in Cincy.
But when it comes right down to it, that might be about the only legitimate knock that can be leveled at Casey. That and maybe his unfortunate penchant for being victimized by freak injuries.
No, if Casey did have a fault it was simply that he wasn't a big numbers guy at a position that almost demands it.
That being said, there were plenty of areas where Sean was indeed a "Mighty" Casey.
To start, Casey was a splendid contact hitter who batted better than .310 on five occasions.
And though not blessed with grandstand type power, the lefthander was a gifted gap hitter who was more than capable of muscling the ball into the alleys. Three times Sean whacked out 40 or more doubles and you don't do that without some pop.
At 6'4", 235 and with sizable forearms, Casey's strength simply showed up more in the gaps than in the seats.
Moreover, Casey brought passion to the field. He made hustle his mantra and he always sold out and gave his best. His fire and competitiveness was as apparent as the funky pre-pitch routine he went through before he finally dug in to take his cuts.
And we haven't even begun to address the character issue where Casey's credentials were strictly of the Hall of Fame variety.
And so seeing a class act like Casey depart the Cincinnati scene is saddening, regardless of how the trade for pitcher Dave Williams comes out in the wash.
Watching Casey vacate is akin to having your best friend suddenly move out of town. It's a loss that pains you deeply. It creates a void that you can never quite fill. And you know in your heart that things will never be the same. It leaves you feeling empty, almost as if you've been hollowed out from the inside.
Having Casey at first provided a comfort level for Reds' fans, not to mention his teammates. He was reliable, consistent and solid and what made him even more appealing is that he went about his job with a seeming permanent grin on his face.
They called him the "Mayor" because of his engaging personality and his ability to win over just about anybody. Even opponents couldn't resist his charms when he began chatting them up whenever they reached first base.
Casey must have surely read the works of Norman Vincent Peale because he became the poster boy for the power of positive thinking. He was perpetually upbeat. Casey always exhibited a 100-watt outlook in a 60-watt world.
You don't lose a solid citizen/great teammate like that and not feel it. Without him, Great American Park will be clearly diminished. Sans Sean, the Reds' clubhouse will be a less joyful place.
As Austin Kearns observed upon hearing of the trade, things will seem awfully strange come spring training without the bulky first baseman on the scene. It'll be a definite case of culture shock. A period of adjustment will surely be required.
Casey was the rare ballplayer who combined likeability with productivity. A truly good man with a very good bat. You had to have a hardened heart not to marvel at his kind nature or to admire the way he went about his work on the field.
Now he's gone and that's cause for reflection. You can never have enough quality guys like Casey on your roster. They're harder to come by than the slow-footed Sean legging out an inside-the-park-homer.
Even though the Reds haven't had a winning record in recent years, their team chemistry was positive, in large part because Casey was a central figure in the locker room. By removing him, the Reds run the risk of undermining the comraderie that Casey was so instrumental in fostering.
The merits of the Casey deal can be debated but it's not hard to see the Reds' reasoning. By dealing Casey, Cincy has now opened up a spot for Wily Mo Pena to be a regular. The prospect of the muscular Wily Mo playing everyday makes management salivate given what the youngster has produced in a limited role.
Moreover, with Casey gone, the likelihood of Adam Dunn or Kearns being sent packing is now next to nil. And that's a major plus because along with Pena and the budding Felipe Lopez, they form the core of a young nucleus around which the Reds must build.
But that doesn't minimize Casey's loss! He'll be genuinely missed. He'll be remembered with great regard and fondness. He was everyman's kind of ballplayer in the truest sense of the word. He was a joy to watch and to those who came in contact with him, he was a joy to know.
Yet, unlike that other "Mighty Casey" of poetic lore, Sean Casey never really struck out. In the things that mattered the most, Cincinnati's Casey always hit the long ball.
