Casey hasn’t produced anything

[westofyou]

http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2...uced-anything/

It’s a refrain that has been uttered by Tigers fans over and over again. This time it is a quote from Jim Leyland. Leyland was responding to questions about Marcus Thames playing 3 straight days and said:

“It’s an attempt to get some production in the lineup,” manager Jim Leyland said Thursday, before the Tigers’ 11-5 loss. “The fact of the matter is that Casey hasn’t produced anything.”

“When Marcus hits it, something happens,” Leyland said. “I love Sean Casey, and he’s going to play. But if Casey isn’t hitting, I’m going to play Marcus. That’s just the way it is. I need to get some thunder in there.”

Since Sean Casey became a Tiger he has hit 256/303/349 with 41 RBI and 5 home runs in regular season action. It isn’t exactly the production upgrade the Tigers were looking for when they found Chris Shelton’s production in June and July unacceptable. Shelton hit 246/310/374 over those miserable months.

Of course Casey’s struggles really don’t come as a surprise. Some will point to his World Series performance, but 4 months of poor performance have to trump 2 weeks of stellar production.

Some will also point to his clubhouse presence, which is fine. He is universally regarded as a really nice guy and a guy you want to cheer for. It also makes it very hard for the Tigers to cut him and it’s something I just don’t expect to happen. But reading Leyland’s quotes it seems like Thames will have an opportunity to dictate his playing time with performance. If Thames can hit, and this is the time of year he really turned it on last year (he hit 309/346/639 with 8 homers in June while filling in for Craig Monroe in left), it sounds like he’ll have his chances.

Given Sean Casey’s veteran-ness and attitude I don’t think this is a move by Leyland to light a fire and motivate Casey. This is simply about production. And quite frankly, if Carlos Guillen is going to be missing any time a hot hitting Marcus Thames can actually provide some protection hitting behind Magglio Ordonez.

[Falls City Beer]

I absolutely love that Leyland calls out individual players like that. I know he can do so because he's Leyland, but man, that directness is refreshing.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

I absolutely love that Leyland calls out individual players like that. I know he can do so because he's Leyland, but man, that directness is refreshing.

You wouldn't love it after 3 months of hemming an hawing about how he wasn't going to change anything.

But I love this gem from him:

"If Sean Casey gets a hit, you know, his steal sign is if I jump in the air and never come down, he goes," Leyland said.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by westofyou

You wouldn't love it after 3 months of hemming an hawing about how he wasn't going to change anything.

But I love this gem from him:

My guess is the hemming and hawing came from over his head to justify Casey's paycheck. If managers truly had a choice at all times, there'd be a ton of multimillionaires riding the pine in MLB.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

My guess is the hemming and hawing came from over his head to justify Casey's paycheck. If managers truly had a choice at all times, there'd be a ton of multimillionaires riding the pine in MLB.

You don't follow the Tigers much I take it?


Leyland loves Casey like Willy Loman loved Biff.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by westofyou

You don't follow the Tigers much I take it?


Leyland loves Casey like Willy Loman loved Biff.

Didn't know that. At least he's admitting he's wrong about Casey. That's worth something.

[Dom Heffner]

It isn’t exactly the production upgrade the Tigers were looking for

When you buy a tomato, you don't get a turnip.

Sean Casey is Sean Casey. How people who run major league baseball clubs can't look at very basic statistics and interpet them puzzles me.

[KronoRed]

What they see are those good seasons in the early part of the decade and expect him to repeat.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by Dom Heffner

Sean Casey is Sean Casey. How people who run major league baseball clubs can't look at very basic statistics and interpet them puzzles me.

Nah, its secret knowledge combined with rocket science.

[Reds1]

I forgot. Who did we get for Casey?

[Gainesville Red]

Originally Posted by Reds1

I forgot. Who did we get for Casey?

I think Casey was the Dave Williams trade.

[KronoRed]

I was trying to forget...

[15fan]

Haven't updated this for a few weeks:

Here is Casey's 2007 YTD Hit Chart at Comerica.

The guy is an absolute master at ground outs to the right side of the diamond, and fly outs to left / left center.

Oh, it looks like they have the prior years working, too. Cool!

2007 looks pretty similar to 2006, which looks pretty similar to...

And look at his 2007 YTD splits.

Talk about a guy who should never play during a day game.

[Matt700wlw]

Narron would never say something like Leyland did....or hell, like Lou did last night.


There's been PLENTY of times that this team needs somebody to...

[Matt700wlw]

Originally Posted by Gainesville Red

I think Casey was the Dave Williams trade.

Which ended the tenure of Mr. Daniel O'Brien