By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Sporting News announced that Sean Casey has been nominated for its "Good Guy Award."

Sean Casey shares a laugh with hitting instructor Chris Chambliss at the batting cage. (Michael E. Keating photo)

That's like nominating Manute Bol for Tall Guy Award or William Perry for Husky Guy Award.

You don't need a trophy or an award to let people know that Casey is a good guy. He's letting people know himself - one person at a time.

"The World's Nicest Person," Ken Griffey Jr. calls him.

But Casey, who along with his wife, Mandi, has given over $160,000 to various charities, was touched.

"Those things mean a lot to me," he said. "To be recognized as a person means as much as being recognized as a baseball player."

Casey showed up at Reds camp Sunday and spread a little of the usual Casey sunshine around. Casey did have one down moment. He took a ball off an elbow during batting practice.

"Right where there's no meat," he said.

But he was all right.

"It feels good to be here," Casey said. "I'm ready to roll. I'm looking forward to another season. It's funny, when you get down here and see everybody, it gets your juice flowing again. You know it's a long eight months of playing every day. But I know I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, everyone here is looking forward to it."

That is typical Casey. He is perpetually upbeat. But the August purge/salary dump hit him very hard. Every teammate is a friend of Casey's. But he and Aaron Boone were especially tight.

"That happened back in August," he said. "You have to move on. That was last year. All those things happened and those guys will always be friends; now we have a new-look team."

Casey, who turns 30 on July 2, is coming off a decent year. He hit .291 with 14 home runs and 80 RBI after returning from offseason shoulder surgery. The Sept. 12, 2002, surgery repaired a torn teres minor muscle, torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.

Following the procedure, it took Casey a while to begin driving the ball like he had in the past. He only had 19 doubles - the lowest total of his career.

But if he's healthy, Casey's going to hit. His career average is .300 after six years in the big leagues.

Casey ranks third on the seniority chart with the Reds - behind Barry Larkin and Danny Graves. And he's finally getting his own bobblehead day, on June 30.

"It's about time," he said. "Gapper has one."

Casey was especially pleased when he heard the bobblehead will be depicted adjusting batting gloves - a Casey trademark habit.

"That's outstanding," he said. "At least, it will be unique."

Given the Reds prospects for this year, the conventional wisdom is bobblehead nights are going to be needed to sell tickets.

But Casey, always the optimist, doesn't think it will be that bad in Redsville.

"We have almost the same lineup as last year," Casey said. "I think our bullpen is one of the best in baseball. With the addition of Cory Lidle, it'll help the starting rotation."

Casey knows the rest of baseball isn't so keen on the Reds. But he won't let that rain in his parade.

"I like our chances," Casey said. "I know nobody's picking us. That's how you do it. You sneak up on teams. Hang in there. Hopefully, we're right in the thick of things with the Cubs and Astros and St. Louis."

Spring training is all about fresh starts.

"I know we don't come to spring training thinking, 'Hey, we're going to be in last place,' " he said. "We're 0-0 like everyone else. We're playing for a division title. We're trying to get back to the playoffs."

Casey at the bat

Reds first baseman Sean Casey reported to camp Sunday for his seventh season as a Red:

Year	G	AB	HR	RBI	Avg.
1998	96	302	7	52	.272
1999	151	594	25	99	.332
2000	133	480	20	85	.315
2001	145	533	13	89	.310
2002	120	425	6	42	.261
2003	147	573	14	80	.291