Sean Casey's arm is examined by trainer Greg Lynn after Casey was hit by a pitch. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Sean Casey's bid to make this season's National League All-Star squad actually began last year.

        Casey will be the only Red at Tuesday's All-Star Game in Seattle, having been named Wednesday to the NL team as a reserve. He and San Diego's Ryan Klesko will be the backup first basemen to Colorado's Todd Helton.

        Casey's big day was dampened when he suffered a bruise on his right elbow after being struck by a second-inning pitch from Pittsburgh's Joe Beimel. X-rays were negative, leaving Casey's playing status as day-to-day.

        Casey, whom manager Bob Boone had earmarked for a day off today anyway, didn't expect his injury to hamper his All-Star participation.

        “Everything's going to be fine,” Casey said. “I caught it just above the elbow and it swelled up on me. I don't have the range of motion, so I'm sure once the swelling goes down, I'll get it back.”

        In 2000, Casey overcame a broken right thumb and a .213 batting average at the end of May to finish at .315.

        But Casey never publicly shared his intent of returning to the Midsummer Classic. He continued to savor his 1999 experience, when he made the NL All-Star squad in his first full major-league season.

        “One of my goals was to try to get back to the All-Star Game,” Casey said. “Probably the only person I told was my wife; I think I told my mom and dad.”

        Casey accomplished his mission by hitting .330 with 10 home runs and 58 RBI. “I knew that if I didn't go back (to the All-Star Game) but had a good first half, I'd accomplish what I wanted to accomplish,” he said.

        Though Casey doesn't rank among the league's top run producers, Boone said Casey's contributions must be placed in perspective.

        “For six to eight weeks, we've had trouble scoring anything, and he's on pace to have 100 RBI in an offense that hasn't really been a machine,” Boone said.

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