While there is a lot up in the air regarding the Tigers roster, one thing isn’t and that is Sean Casey’s future. Casey met with Dombrowski and Leyland and they let him know he won’t be returning.
This isn’t a big surprise given the Tigers announcement that Carlos Guillen would be moving to first base. And while there was a contingent who would like to see Casey kept around as a pinch hitter, it isn’t feasible in an era of 12 man pitching staffs. Casey can’t run and can only play the easiest defensive position to fill which just isn’t enough to justify a roster spot.
Casey was a popular guy, but the production just wasn’t there. His .296/.354/394 line was about as good as what could be expected given his career numbers. The only real surprising part of his season is that he stayed healthy.
Casey was basically all of the Tigers offense in the World Series last year and so Tigers fans should have some fond memories of The Mayor.
Gosh, based on his career slg %, i sure was hoping for more than a cumulative Tigers .388 slg %. (Rough combination of his two Det years. Not mathematically exact). I mean, chronologically, he was in his late prime.
I mean the guy had a plus .500 slugging % in 04 and a .424% in 05. With the Tigers lineup protecting him, a .425-.435 slugging % at 32/33 seemed completely reasonable
Would have loved to keep him as a left handed bat off of the bench, but Casey worked his way out of that one.
But he also had a 408 slugging and a 368 slugging percentage in 2002 and 2003. And he’s not really a guy that is going to age gracefully. So a .390ish slugging percentage really isn’t that far off.
Good topic as the Mayor deserves respect and thanks, but, obviously, not another year.
All the best to him in the future and let’s hope they have a plan for the 6-hole, if Carlos is going to move over full time.
Speaking of the SS-spot, this from an article on Jack Wilson at Yahoo!:
“Wilson hit .483 in his final 18 games, 29-for-60, and .401 (59-for-147) in his final 46 games after July 25. He finished the season with a .296 average, 12 homers and 56 RBIs in 135 games, his second-best season in the majors offensively. He hit .308 and had 201 hits in 2004.”
Will the real Jack Wilson please stand up. Maybe he still deserves to be in the mix.
Well I did like having Sean on the club. A good presence in the locker room can not be over looked. I wonder if he will play at all next year?.
Farewell Sean, it beats ending up yur career in Pittsburgh.
Steve
You wonder if he will play? Of course he will. Even if he’s not a day to day starter, someone will want him for his left handed bat and/or his presence in the clubhouse. I’ll miss him.
I realize I’m kind of late to the party and this is all my own conjecture, but didn’t Alex Rodriguez play shortstop his whole career until Jeter came to the Yankees? And isn’t A-Rod also available, sort of, this year?
SEAN CASEY IS THE NICEST GUY IN AND OUT OF BASEBALL. I THINK THAT HIS GREAT PERSONALITY AND CARING ATTITUDE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AND HIS ABSENCE WILL RIP THE HEART OUT OF THE TIGERS’ TEAM. I HOPE THAT CHICAGO SCOOPS HIM UP AND HIM AND THOME CREAM THE TIGERS’ BUTTS NEXT YEAR.
SEE YOU AT THE WORLD SERIES NEXT YEAR SEAN!!!!!!! YOU REALLY LOOK GREAT IN YOUR NEW WHITE SOX UNIFORM
SEAN CASEY IS A REALLY GREAT… WHAT… OH
Sean Casey is a really great guy. It is a terrible shame that such a great guy is not a great baseball player.