Move Over, Menino: Boston's New Mayor
In filling their last infield need with veteran lefty first baseman Sean Casey, the Red Sox look like they're just about ready for Moving Day and the reporting of pitchers and catchers on Valentine's Day. Casey's contract, pending a physical, is for a reported $800,000, and came without the loss of a draft pick due to Detroit's decision not to offer the former Mayor of Cincinnati arbitration. The addition of Casey means "Thank you, and good night," for Eric Hinske in Boston and maybe the rest of the league, as Hinske was just awful.
As you've no doubt heard by now, Casey's nickname "The Mayor" came from a great clubhouse presence and personality. His dedication to his teams and to those less fortunate took center stage in 2005 when the Globe did an exposé on Casey's community service work with Lawrence priest Father Paul O'Brien when the Reds were in town to recreate 1975. After the fractured clubhouse persona that took root in 2005, Casey should certainly be viewed as welcome reinforcements for locally heralded Mike Lowell.
On the field, Sean Casey is no slouch. Unlike previous manifestations of our backup first-sacker, this guy can hit. Although he's never cracked the 200 hit benchmark, he's also never racked up more than 88 strikeouts in a season. It's an impressive feat for someone who has nearly 5000 career ABs over a twelve year career whose line hums at an impressive .301/.366/.450. He'll never belt 40 home runs or steal 3o bases, especially at his ripe age of 33, but he's prime for part-time and shared duties at first with Kevin Youkilis. Want a comparison? Think Lyle Overbay with five more years of service time but only 79 more K's. Casey is ideal for this sort of situation. His puts good wood on the ball so much that we won't have to wince in pain every time he's asked to pinch hit or spell Youk for a day, like we did with Hinske.
Contract for less than $1 million, good contact, great clubhouse presence, and no draft pick forefeited? Let's call this what it is: a good deal.
As you've no doubt heard by now, Casey's nickname "The Mayor" came from a great clubhouse presence and personality. His dedication to his teams and to those less fortunate took center stage in 2005 when the Globe did an exposé on Casey's community service work with Lawrence priest Father Paul O'Brien when the Reds were in town to recreate 1975. After the fractured clubhouse persona that took root in 2005, Casey should certainly be viewed as welcome reinforcements for locally heralded Mike Lowell.
On the field, Sean Casey is no slouch. Unlike previous manifestations of our backup first-sacker, this guy can hit. Although he's never cracked the 200 hit benchmark, he's also never racked up more than 88 strikeouts in a season. It's an impressive feat for someone who has nearly 5000 career ABs over a twelve year career whose line hums at an impressive .301/.366/.450. He'll never belt 40 home runs or steal 3o bases, especially at his ripe age of 33, but he's prime for part-time and shared duties at first with Kevin Youkilis. Want a comparison? Think Lyle Overbay with five more years of service time but only 79 more K's. Casey is ideal for this sort of situation. His puts good wood on the ball so much that we won't have to wince in pain every time he's asked to pinch hit or spell Youk for a day, like we did with Hinske.
Contract for less than $1 million, good contact, great clubhouse presence, and no draft pick forefeited? Let's call this what it is: a good deal.
Labels: 2007 Offseason
Ryan Brodeur at 4:44 PM
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