Friday, April 16, 1999

Casey at the stats

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First baseman among NL leaders

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sean Casey leads the league in hitting (.517), slugging pct (.966) and extra-base hits (7). (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        CHICAGO — Sean Casey didn't know he was the National League's leading hitter until teammate Pete Harnisch mentioned it to him.

        Casey's response: a figurative shrug.

        The Reds first baseman might get excited if he still ranks among the NL's best when the Reds make their next visit to Wrigley Field on Labor Day. Thursday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs was rained out; the game will be played Sept.7 as part of a twi-night doubleheader.

        “It's neat to see, but we still have 154 games to go,” Casey said. “Talk to me in September. Hopefully my name's still on the leader board.”

        Right now, it's everywhere atop the league's statistical lists, alongside some impressive names.

        Entering Thursday, Casey's .517 average left San Diego's Tony Gwynn, an eight-time batting champion, in second place. Casey also led the league in slugging percentage (.966), trailed by San Francisco's Barry Bonds and St.Louis' Mark McGwire, and had seven extra-base hits, sharing the NL high with Bonds and two others.

        Casey's 15 hits were another league high, and he ranked second in multiple-hit games (five), on-base percentage (.548) and total bases (28).

        Reds manager Jack McKeon knows it's too early to name Casey an All-Star.

        But, McKeon added: “You're getting a pretty good idea he can swing the bat. There's no doubt about that.”

        Few have doubted Casey's ability to hit since the Cleveland Indians selected him in the second round of the 1995 amateur draft. He hit .348 in three minor-league seasons. Last year Casey overcame an April eye injury to bat .272.

        This season Casey has hit safely in all seven games he has played, including three three-hit games and two two-hit games.

        “I just feel so much more comfortable,” said Casey, who's happy to hit third in the order between Barry Larkin and Greg Vaughn. “I want to be a tough out and battle, battle, battle. If I can consistently do that and stay mentally focused, I think my numbers will be there in September.”

        Chatting with Casey about hitting provides some insight into his lofty standards. When he cites another player, it is an accomplished one.

        Casey invoked Don Mattingly, the classy New York Yankee and a fellow first baseman. He mentioned how David Justice, briefly a Cleveland Indians teammate, told him not to try to hit home runs, that they'll come by making steady, solid contact.

        One of Casey's favorites was Baltimore first baseman Will Clark, who at his height was the hitter Casey can be — a left-handed swinger who hits not just for a high average but also for decent power.

        “I analyzed Will Clark growing up,” said Casey, 24. “He was one of the guys I really looked up to. That's maybe why I have an interesting stance, because I tried to model his (to fit) into my own mold. But that's exactly it. I enjoy the fact that you can really fool a team with how they're trying to pitch you. They try to play you over here and you hit it over there. ... That's what I enjoy about hitting. There's a lot of strategy to it.”

        Casey will resume his strategy tonight when the Reds begin a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the hometown team he rooted for as a youth. He hit only .129 (4-for-31) against the Pirates last year but insisted that he wasn't trying too hard: “I never put any added pressure on myself against Pittsburgh. I just didn't hit well.”

        Casey knows he'll have days or even stretches when he doesn't hit well. But he doesn't expect them to last long.

        “Obviously, you're going to have times when you tip your cap to the pitcher because he absolutely "dealt' or fooled you. I'll be the first to admit that,” he said. “But I don't want to tip it too much. Because then I'm not doing my job.”

       

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