Wednesday, March 29, 2000

Casey's slow start doesn't worry Reds

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BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sean Casey (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        FORT MYERS, Fla. — Something happens nearly each day that allows Sean Casey to cling to optimism.

        Tuesday, it was a line-drive single off Boston Red Sox pitcher Juan Pena's right arm, Casey's only hit in five at-bats. Sunday, the Reds first baseman stroked an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

        “That was me right there,” Casey recalled.

        So Casey insists he's feeling good at the plate, though his .221 spring batting average suggests otherwise. Among the Reds' projected regulars, only Barry Larkin (.216), a typically slow starter, has a lower average than Casey's.

        “Maybe I'm saving all my hits for the season,” Casey said with a laugh.

        Given his .332 average last year, he probably is.

        “I feel like I'm making good contact,” Casey said. “Obviously, in spring training your numbers get magnified, because there are only so many at-bats you can get. I haven't even looked at them, because I know they're not so high.”

        Magnified, possibly. Distorted, definitely. It's only spring training. Assured of being a regular, Casey said he has spent most of the exhibition season “trying a couple of things.”

        “The whole spring, I haven't been frustrated at all,” Casey said. “There were a few games where I was 0-for-4 with a couple of line drives.”

        Reds hitting coach Denis Menke hinted that Casey might be a little more concerned than he'll admit.

        “I think at times Sean worries when he doesn't get base hits, even though when he's hitting the ball hard,” Menke said. “That's just a guy who takes a lot of pride in doing his job. Basically, I don't worry about Sean Casey. He is a good hitter.”

        With only two Florida exhibitions left, Casey has finished experimenting with his stroke.

        “Right now's a time where I need to get good pitches to hit and really lock myself in,” he said.

       

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