If anyone ever deserved having the chance to participate in the postseason, it's the one-time Red.

And not surprisingly, Casey is making the most of that opportunity.

Ever the solid hitter, the likable first baseman had a big part in helping to dispatch the New York Yankees.

There's no denying that the Yanks felt the sting of Casey's bat. Sean worked over the New York pitchers to the tune of a .353 average and four very important RBI in the surprising ALDS.

Watching Casey continues to be a delight.

His mouth is always going whether he's feverishly working on a wad of gum or chatting up either a teammate or an opponent.

The smile is omnipresent and his unbridled enthusiasm for the game is unmistakable.

And that sweet stroke of his is still very much intact. Just ask the Yankees who were victimized by his productive raking.

And wasn't it a hoot to see a joyous Casey playfully dousing some Tiger fans with blasts of champagne in the aftermath of  Detroit's victory.

To the say the least, it couldn't happen to a finer guy. Sometimes nice guys do indeed finish first.

And given the rather curious route Casey took to find himself in Motown, you can't help but wonder if some divine intervention wasn't involved.

In less than ten months, Sean has been property of three teams. After his unpopular departure from Cincinnati, "Case" landed in his hometown of Pittsburgh only to be dealt in a deadline trade to Detroit.

But moving from the Pirates to the Tigers was a real blessing. The Bucs were having an absolutely horrible season. They were dead in the water.

Conversely, the Tigers were experiencing a remarkable renaissance and were a certain playoff team.

In the blink of an eye, Casey had gone from the dregs to the top of the heap.

A deeply devout man who reads the Bible daily, could anyone blame Sean if didn't see the handiwork of a higher power at work in his recent relocation?

After all, good things do come to those who wait. And God does move in mysterious ways.

Whatever, it's all working out beautifully for Casey.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Reds.  

As heartwarming as it is to see Casey thrive on baseball's biggest stage, he nonetheless serves as a painful reminder to the Reds' organization as to what might have been.

And what they lost. And what they literally gave away.

It still deeply rankles the Cincinnati faithful that the Reds ever felt the need to divest themselves of Casey.

Arguably, Sean was one of the most beloved players ever to don a Cincy uniform. Moreover, the 6-4, 237-pounder was a splendid hitter who was amazingly consistent and productive.

As a Red, Casey hit .310 or better on five occasions.

"Case" made his case year in and year out. He was dependability personified.

So because of his high likeability quotient in addition to his hitting acumen, was it any wonder that his departure created such an uproar?

What made the loss of Casey even more galling was the fact that Cincy got virtually nothing in return.

Pitcher Dave Williams, the player who came over from the Bucs, proved to be a complete disaster. Williams was so inept and ineffective, he was gone before the end of May, sent to the Mets for a Single-A hurler.

Imagine, you peddle someone of Casey's caliber and ultimately all you have to show for it is an arm from the low minors. That's like exchanging a diamond ring for some trinket you find in a Cracker Jack box. 

Plain and simple, the Reds got ripped off. The deal ranks as one of the most ill-advised moves ever made by baseball's oldest franchise. Cincy got taken.

But in a perverse way, it came to symbolize the failed Carl Linder and Dan O'Brien regime and the two men most responsible for foisting this fiasco on the Queen City.

It's was Linder's and O'Brien's farewell present to the fans as they took their leave. Thanks for the memories, guys and here's hoping the door hit you in the ass on the way out. 

It's by no means a stretch to believe that if Casey had remained in Cincinnati, the Reds, like the Tigers, would have made the postseason party.

Given his bat not to mention his locker room presence, there's little doubt he could have made up for the 3 and 1/2 game difference that separated the Reds from a divisional title.

Even though Scott Hatteberg did an admirable job of subbing for Casey, he couldn't replace him. The Reds aren't anywhere near the team without Sean that they were with him.

His intangibles were invaluable and incalculable. The void he left upon his departure was impossible to fill. Just ask his ex-teammates who stayed behind. Seeing Casey go was a gut-wrenching experience.

And to a man, the Reds knew that they had lost a one-of-a-kind.

Without Casey on hand and coupled with a subsequent transaction that saw Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez also sent packing, the Reds' offense became severely impaired.

It went from dangerous to fitful.

Getting nary a bat back to compensate for what they had sacrificed, the Cincy attack went flat. A once prodigious lineup quickly turned ordinary. 

To a great extent, the Reds' firepower had been neutered and that was a reality they just couldn't overcome. They had lost too much, too fast.

And of all the things they missed the most, it was Casey's persona and stick. There was simply no making up for that.

So while it's wonderful to see "Case" doing his thing in October, to Reds' fans, it's also like rubbing salt in the wounds.

With each succeeding base knock off of Casey's bat, the frustration mounts and the heartache grows progressively worse.

For in a perfect world, Casey would still be doing his stroking in Cincinnati, not the Motor City. But if things were perfect, Casey would have never been shipped away.

Yes, the damage has been done and nothing can change that. The Reds have paid a dear price for their stupidity. The cost of shedding Casey has been high.

But wouldn't it be a wondrous thing if Reds tried to rectify their blunder and brought Casey back where he belongs?

Remember that Casey is a free agent after this season and therefore is available to anyone who may chose to woo him.

The Reds should be first in line. They should do everything in their power to convince the classy Casey that he's been sorely missed.

Owner Bob Castellini and G.M. Wayne Krivsky should put on the hard sell and tell "Case" that they sincerely want him back in the fold. Make sure that he knows he's needed and above all, wanted.

Under those circumstances, it's this reporter's belief that Casey would give the Reds serious consideration. And a welcomed homecoming might be in the offing.

But what about the recent resigning of Hatteberg, you may ask? Wouldn't that present a potential problem at first base?

Sorry but that doesn't matter. Anytime you can bring aboard a player of Casey's stature on and off the field, you just do it. You worry about the ramifications later.

Simply put, there's no downside to having a Sean Casey in your dugout. 

So keep right on swinging, Sean. Here's hoping you bat your way right to the World Series. Lord know, no one deserves that thrill more than you.

But when it's all over and the dust has settled, please keep an open mind if the Reds do come a callin'.

They made a grievous mistake by letting you go. Please let them try to make amends. Not only to the fans but more importantly, to you.