Sox sign Sean Casey

[yankeessuck013]

to 1 yr deal...per ESPN.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3225795

[Ray10]

I can honestly say that I don't understand this move.

[stocker323]

decent lefthanded option off the bench to replace Hinske. Knows coming in that he's not going to have much playing time. Great clubhouse guy. I like this signing.

[rician blast]

Random thoughts:

 

- is he an insurance policy?

 

-how is it that a guy 6-4, 237 lbs can only manage 4 HRs last year?

 

-did ya know he's a devout catholic, his nickname is "the Mayor" and he's extremely well liked by teammates and opponents alike? Good clubhouse guy, if they decide to keep him.

[redsoxrules]

I can honestly say that I don't understand this move.

 

Why? he's way better than hinske for backup at first, he's a a career 301/366/816 .I like this move . AND it only cost 700,000. the ONLY problem is that he can only play first base BUT he would be great as a pinch hitting option

[Jayhawk Bill]

I strongly dislike this move. Now we'll never see if Chris Carter is as good as he appears to be: the veteran will get the spot on the bench, and Carter will use up his option year in AAA.

 

Casey will probably hit around .290/.350/.400, with a significant downside and little upside. Carter would probably hit around .270/.330/.430 with very significant upside. Why pay $700,000 for that difference in talent?

[BSN07]

Carter needs to show improvement on his fielding before he will see time with the Sox. Or maybe they intend on trading him.

 

-Casey will have a decent bat and good glove off the bench.

 

-I guess this means the experiment with Moss at 1B didn't go so well.

 

- Having Casey play for Youk every 5 games or whatever, will help Youk make it threw the long season. Maybe he won't drop off so much like he has the last couple seasons.

[Soxfan1]

The nicest guy in baseball is now in Boston.

[rician blast]

Now we'll never see if Chris Carter is as good as he appears to be: the veteran will get the spot on the bench, and Carter will use up his option year in AAA.

 

 

My thought is that this move positions the Sox for some other move(s)...i.e. Carter may be dealt, etc. So we may still get to see if Carter is as good as some believe...just in a different uni.

[das11209]

The nicest guy in baseball is now in Boston.

 

Not sure that should make me very excited for my team.

 

Useless move that will block roaster spot.

[Jayhawk Bill]

My thought is that this move positions the Sox for some other move(s)...i.e. Carter may be dealt' date=' etc. So we may still get to see if Carter is as good as some believe...just in a different uni.[/quote']

 

You're probably right, but trading away Chris Carter before he puts up some MLB numbers is a waste of resources, IMO. I've gotta do a study of trade values of players with no MLB experience, limited MLB experience, and a season or more of MLB experience (say, 150 games plus) to prove this, but it seems that players who demonstrate that they're, say, 1.4 WARP hitters in MLB are worth more than those who project to be 1.4 WARP players in MLB based on MiLB stats and MLEs.

 

Chris Carter projects to a 1.4 WARP player in MLB this year based upon 2008 PECOTA. His two most similar players at the same age are Dan Johnson and JT Snow. That's not superstar value, but neither is it trivial worth.

 

The nicest guy in baseball is now in Boston.

 

And in addition to Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox signed Sean Casey today!

 

Edit: FWIW, BP PECOTA has Casey at only .275/.330/.380 this year. They value Chris Carter as better, even considering Carter's defense, and Carter certainly has the higher upside.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Damn so i guess this means no chance of Trot returning. Oh well. I can't wait to see how casey does

[riverside sluggers]

Very decent move. No lie, I thought of his name right away to be the backup 1st baseman. Good lefty bat capable hitting above .300, some pop, good defender

 

I strongly dislike this move. Now we'll never see if Chris Carter is as good as he appears to be: the veteran will get the spot on the bench, and Carter will use up his option year in AAA.

 

Casey will probably hit around .290/.350/.400, with a significant downside and little upside. Carter would probably hit around .270/.330/.430 with very significant upside. Why pay $700,000 for that difference in talent?

 

Whos to say that Casey will indeed stay the full season? An injury can happen at any time, or maybe a DFA if he spirals downward to JT Snow circa 2006

[Matt]

I don't see what people dislike about this move. Basically, Sean Casey will be replacing Eric Hinske as the Sox's left-handed option off the bench, and he will be an improvement. I understand that some people want to see Chris Carter on the big league squad, but how is he going to develop while riding the bench for the big club? He's better off getting 4 at-bats a game in Pawtucket.

 

Honestly, I think that the Red Sox should try and package Chris Carter with Coco Crisp in a trade. The Sox don't really have a need for Carter right now, and he can help Boston get something of worth in return for Coco.

[Cocos Disciples]

I don't mind the signing. He's better than Hinske, and he will have his role, minus the outfield spots. That will be for Moss and the loser of the Crisp/Ellsbury competiton, if Crisp stays.

 

Last year: .296/.353/.393, 4 HR, 54 RBI in 453 at bats. Obviously he won't get nearly that many at bats, but the average numbers should be about the same, which is very solid for a bench player. His glove is also very impressive, a nice improvement over Hinske. I give it a Coco's Disciples Thumbs Up.

[Jayhawk Bill]

I don't see what people dislike about this move.

 

1) Carter is probably better than Casey, but we won't ever know.

 

2) Carter won't get the playing time in MLB he needs to establish his trade value, if he's to be trade bait.

 

Basically, Sean Casey will be replacing Eric Hinske as the Sox's left-handed option off the bench, and he will be an improvement.

 

Chris Carter would possibly be a better improvement. Carter has an option remaining, IIRC, and he could bounce back and forth to Pawtucket to make room for extra pitchers. Casey is on the MLB roster--he can't be sent down at all, even through waivers, unless he chooses to play in the minor leagues rather than collecting his salary for doing nothing.

 

I understand that some people want to see Chris Carter on the big league squad, but how is he going to develop while riding the bench for the big club? He's better off getting 4 at-bats a game in Pawtucket.

 

He's had two excellent years in AAA already. He's ready for MLB. He's 25--if he's in AAA again, it's going to hurt, not help.

 

Honestly, I think that the Red Sox should try and package Chris Carter with Coco Crisp in a trade. The Sox don't really have a need for Carter right now, and he can help Boston get something of worth in return for Coco.

 

Every potential trading partner will say, "Carter? If he was any good, why did you sign Sean Casey?"

 

Very decent move. No lie' date=' I thought of his name right away to be the backup 1st baseman. Good lefty bat capable hitting above .300, some pop, good defender.[/quote']

 

That good defense is, IMO, exaggerated and declining; that .300 average is years in the past. He's missed double digits in home runs for three straight years, and he's posted an ISO over .120 just once since age 26 despite playing in Cinergy Field/Great American through age 30.

 

Let's look at defense. UZR and FRAA, 2003-2007:

 

[table] Year | UZR | FRAA

2003 | 12 | -14

2004 | 6 | -14

2005 | 4 | 0

2006 | 6 | -7

2007 | 2 | -7 [/table]

 

Most analysts prefer UZR; UZR shows Casey declining and now very average. If one appreciates what's shown by FRAA, FRAA shows him as just plain bad--he hasn't posted a positive FRAA in a decade.

 

For what it's worth, Casey is a lousy pinch hitter: his career BA pinch hitting is just .250 with no XBH in 71 career chances. His OPS as a PH is .602; his OPS as a DH is .634. Combined, he's over 200 OPS points worse as a PH/DH than he is playing first base.

 

Whos to say that Casey will indeed stay the full season? An injury can happen at any time, or maybe a DFA if he spirals downward to JT Snow circa 2006.

 

Few good signings are defended by perspectives such as these, riverside sluggers.

[yankeessuck013]

Those statistics mean nothing to me, Jayhawk.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Those statistics mean nothing to me' date=' Jayhawk.[/quote']

 

His defense is average to below-average.

 

He's no longer a power hitter--he has roughly the power of a middle infielder.

 

He's no longer a .300 hitter.

 

He's blocking a potentially better young player who is ready for The Show.

[Mr Crunchy]

hes a nice guy who lost his pop but can still hit for avg i bet

i saw his 1st a.l game when detroit got him from pitt back in 06

i had the gold seats 2 rows behind the detroit on deck circle so close you can tell what the guys ate for dinner...we share the same 1st name and i knew he was a pitt native so of course i started the dialogue..""seano is this your resurrection going from the cellar to the best team in the league""...he nods and smiles....forgot what he did but he didnt get on...next ab""seano is it hard leaving the family behind seeing as youre a pitt native""...i get the look that sayswho the f*** is this guy and how does he know where i live..

 

next ab the tigers had blown out beckett and it was over essentially

""hey seano.....(he looks up with 1 eye) welcome ta baaastan "" and he tips his hat with the utmost sincerity....then i find out he was voted the nicest man in baseball that year or the year before....

 

mr jayhawk

this carter guy is an obvious live bat but why would the dbacks dump when they dont have s*** at 1st?

the stats are also impressive in the minors but something must be very wrong with the glove

[MANNYHOF24]

Jayhawk, you may be right, but no matter what happens, he is not going to get playing time here. If he was on the Sox, he would ride the pine. Last time I checked Youkilis and Lowell don't miss that many games. If Casey knows his role he will be a good addition.

[26 to 6]

Jayhawk' date=' you may be right, but no matter what happens, he is not going to get playing time here. If he was on the Sox, he would ride the pine. Last time I checked Youkilis and Lowell don't miss that many games. If Casey knows his role he will be a good addition.[/quote']

That pretty much sums it up. It'll be up to Casey to determine whether or not this was a good move. I feel that he own't let down for you guys though. I would have thought the Sox would want somebody a little more versatile, but even still..

[BSN07]

Youk needs someone to spare him every few games so he doesn't disappear in the 2nd half.

 

Coco will need to stick around and pinch run for Casey because he is exteremely sloth like...

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Great sign for the Red Sox. This adds some depth to the corners and Sean Casey is deffinitly a good clubhouse presence. He doesn't have a lot of power but thats not why they brought him in. He can certainly get on base which is what they want.

[mAAAbs]

Good signing IMO. Let's see how he adjusts to the secondary role.

[BSN07]

With Lowell a year older they might want to try and keep him fresh. Casey could see a descent amount of time replacing Youk when he needs a day off, or when Youk plays 3B for Lowell.

[Jayhawk Bill]

mr jayhawk

this carter guy is an obvious live bat but why would the dbacks dump when they dont have s*** at 1st?

the stats are also impressive in the minors but something must be very wrong with the glove

 

First, the glove: Chris Carter is bad defensively. Chris Carter is considered by PECOTA to be the worst first baseman in MLB (by projected FRAA). Chris Carter is considered by scouts watching his defense to be an abomination, possibly of a magnitude portending the apocalypse, with mankind's only hope of salvation the decision that he can no longer play left field.

 

But two points:

 

1) Over a whole season, he'd probably only cost his team around nine runs. Defense at first base isn't as critical; and

 

2) Carter is better than Casey in projections even after that defense is considered.

 

***

 

Why would the Diamondbacks dump Chris Carter? They didn't "dump him," they acquired a good relief pitcher for him. Furthermore, they've got Conor Jackson at first base--Jackson had the scouts drooling a few years back, and the Diamondbacks organization is committed to giving him a longer chance. Frankly, Jackson could still easily develop as another Cecil Cooper...I see first base in Arizona as blocked.

 

 

Jayhawk, you may be right...

 

Yup. I might be.

 

...but no matter what happens, he is not going to get playing time here.

 

Carter would've been the backup for, essentially, both third base and first base. Given that Youkilis struggles with more playing time and that Lowell is aging, 200-300 PA would've been likely, IMO. We'll see how many PA Casey gets.

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

Not a bad move. I wanted Wilkerson, but he's with Seattle, so it's solid. Also, someone who can play more then one position would've been nice.

[SCM33]

Casey is no more than John Olerud a few years back (minus the plus defense). Casey is a great, and I repeat Great bat off the bench. Not many teams can throw out a Sean Casey as a bat off the bench.

 

Chris Carter will not make this team, and is just another Petagine, Juan Diaz, Calvin Pickering type of player. There is reason we got him so easily.....there is a reason why nobody has given him a chance. Plus, the DH position is locked up for quite a few years. In the minors he has done alot with the bat, but not quite enough. Averaging 18 HR in 500 ABs in AAA doesnt scream out stud to me, although his OB% is high....his slugging% looks a little low to consider him a future slugger.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Casey is no more than John Olerud a few years back (minus the plus defense). Casey is a great' date=' and I repeat Great bat off the bench. Not many teams can throw out a Sean Casey as a bat off the bench.[/quote']

 

Casey was very good in 2007 as a PH, 5-11...but he was 0-7 in 2006. Over his career he's just .250 as a PH with zero XBH in 71 PA.

 

Chris Carter will not make this team, and is just another Petagine...type of player. There is reason we got him so easily.....there is a reason why nobody has given him a chance. Plus, the DH position is locked up for quite a few years. In the minors he has done alot with the bat, but not quite enough. Averaging 18 HR in 500 ABs in AAA doesnt scream out stud to me, although his OB% is high....his slugging% looks a little low to consider him a future slugger.

 

First, fair warning: I'm wearing a Petagine T-shirt as I read your post and respond. Being another Petagine sounds pretty good to me--Petagine's years in exile in Japan were MLB All-Star caliber, and his stats except as a pinch hitter were excellent. Francona misused him.

 

That said, Carter projects to be a fine hitter, probably better than Casey in 2008 if given a chance. His challenge is his glove work.

 

If Big Papi goes down, Carter would be an excellent platoon DH and a solid everyday DH. I'd rather have Carter than Casey backing up first base, but his defense is truly horrible, and that's why Casey is on the team.

[SCM33]

Casey was very good in 2007 as a PH' date=' 5-11...but he was 0-7 in 2006. Over his career he's just .250 as a PH with zero XBH in 71 PA.[/quote']

 

A .250 career hitter as a pinch hitter is actually very good. The extra base hit number is a little fightening, but when the winning runner is in scoring position and all you need is a single, who gives you the better option? Lugo, Cora, Tek (when hes slumping), Crisp.......or the .250 average of Casey?

 

The best pinch hitter of all time, Lenny Harris is a career .263 pinch hitter. Gates Brown, probably the second best pinch hitter ever was a .258 career pinch hitter. Batting .250 asa pinch hitter is pretty good.