1B Sean Casey: Is He For Real?

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Peter Schiller | Mar 03, 2008 | Comments 2

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Going into his 11^th year in MLB, “the Mayor”, as he is called by some fans, has done the unthinkable in the mind of today’s modern athlete. He has opted to take a lesser role to play on a winning team in contention for another World Series title (it would be their second in a row and their 3^rd since 2004). He admittedly had offers on the table as a starting First baseman for a handful of teams, but in the end, he choose a one year contract for less money for the opportunity to play in Boston.

After all, he is a lifetime .301 hitter as is seen below and he’s no slouch with the leather either! He was an All Star three times (in 1999, 2001 & 2004). So why, at age 33, has he signed with the Red Sox as a back up? The simple answer is, taken from a radio interview I heard last week on Boston’s WEEI, he wants a chance to win a ring. He is rated as one of the nicest men in baseball by his peers as well as a great teammate.

I can see the point of view of the Red Sox, every day 1B Kevin Youkilis usually slows down after the All Star break and Casey would be in place to give him a much needed rest during the first half so that he’s not so tired or worn down in the second half. Also, this could also spell some relief for aging Third baseman Mike Lowell this year as Youkilis, a former Third baseman, can relieve Lowell more with Casey playing First!

I mean, with the exception of his numbers in only 53 games with Detroit in 2006, does this look like the numbers of a back up?

Year	TEAM	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP
1997	Cle	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	.200	.333
1998	Cin	44	82	21	1	7	52	43	45	1	.272	.365
1999	Cin	103	197	42	3	25	99	61	88	0	.332	.399
2000	Cin	69	151	33	2	20	85	52	80	1	.315	.385
2001	Cin	69	165	40	0	13	89	43	63	3	.310	.369
2002	Cin	56	111	25	0	6	42	43	47	2	.261	.334
2003	Cin	71	167	19	3	14	80	51	58	4	.291	.350
2004	Cin	101	185	44	2	24	99	46	36	2	.324	.381
2005	Cin	75	165	32	0	9	58	48	48	2	.312	.371
2006	Det	17	45	7	0	5	30	10	21	0	.245	.286
2006	Pit	30	63	15	0	3	29	23	22	0	.296	.377
2007	Det	40	134	30	1	4	54	39	42	2	.296	.353
Total	–	676	1467	308	12	130	718	460	552	17	.301	.366