The Mayor

Sean Casey, professional hitter and member of the 2008 Red Sox bench crew, has announced his plans to retire and join the MLB Network.  You already know how I feel about the MLB Network [LOVE it! And no, they're not paying me to say that... do you think they would?], so I'll fill you in on my opinion of Casey.

Nicknamed "the Mayor" by his baseball colleagues because of his general charisma and positive attitude, Casey was shunted to the side down the stretch last season with the arrival of Mark Kotsay.  Casey handled the situation admirably; you  never saw an interview or heard of an offhand comment that showed his dissatisfaction [unlike someone else, who acted a bit like a baby when he was pinch-hit for in the postseason].  Probably Casey recognized that Kotsay was faster and a slightly better defenseman, and, like he said when he signed with the Sox, he just wanted to win a championship.  

Casey couldn't buy a home run this year, and anyone who saw a game he participated in knows how hard it was for him to reach on a double, let alone trying for three.  However, in 69 games, he hit .322 with a .381 OBP; lifetime, he hit .302 with a .367 OBP.  Very respectable stats, but the only way Casey reaches the Hall is if they create a wing for everyone's favorite clubhouse guy.  If that happened, he would be a shoe-in, as he's been voted the Nicest Player in Major League Baseball by his peers, and given the Good Guy Award by the Boston Baseball Writers.

Casey will be a great addition to the MLB Network crew, though he has not revealed what his exact role will be.  Hopefully, they put him to work interviewing players, as he is most definitely a people person.  I couldn't be happier that a player like Casey spent some time in Boston, as it has been a treat to see him play, and I can't wait to watch him on the MLB Network [once I'm at home again, where we actually get the MLB Network].

And all of a sudden, the bench looks pretty good...

In the last week, the presumptive bench has improved enormously. Just for the sake of this post, I'm going to assume that Julio Lugo will be the utility infielder. This gives us a bench of Lugo, Rocco Baldelli (OF), Mark Kotsay - remember him? - (OF/1B), and a backup catcher, presumably Josh Bard.

As a starter, Julio Lugo was average at best, and excruciating at worst. In the 81 games he played at shortstop in 2008, Lugo committed sixteen errors, but at times, it felt like sixty.

http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/Headline_Archives/BDD_JL_ny_4.27.07_bgjd.jpg

However, I'm alright with the prospect of him as a bench player. Say, for instance, that Mike
Lowell needs a day of rest at the beginning of the season (well within the realm of possibility). Jed Lowrie shifts to third base, and Lugo plays short. Or, if you don't like that, Lowrie keeps Lowell company on the bench, Lugo plays short, Youk slides to third, and Kotsay fills in at first.

The versatility that Kotsay demonstrated at the end of last year is a great boon to the Sox. Say JD Drew needs an epidural (crazy, right?). So far, it's unknown how much Baldelli will be able to play at a time. However, because Kotsay is an above-average outfielder who can play center, Baldelli's health is less of a problem. Keep in mind that Theo would not have signed Baldelli if his health was as bad as has been speculated.

Only one month and five days until pitchers and catchers!