yay. red sox fans are relieved that casey won't end up in boston.

of course, this also means that kearns/pena/dunn/griffey won't be traded.

which is probably for the best. the reds actually did the right thing.

kudos

Dave Williams is a lefty, isn't he?

And not a terrible one, either.

Dave Williams. Lefty. Not bad. Not that good either.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willida07.shtml

It figures that, now that the Pirates have found some money to spend, they choose to spend it inefficiently. Casey's solid enough, but he's not $8.5 million solid, even in this market.

How can the Pirates be so stupid?

At least half of Sean Casey's value is bound up in being a really really popular player with the fans. This value immediately vanishes when he leaves Cincinnati.

I mean...isn't that obvious?

This is completely bewildering.

Pirates cement their position as the worst organization in MLB. Not only did they get a meaningless player for the team's future (he won't be there next year and they are doing nothing this year), he is overpriced, and it highlights the fact that the Pirates lost Walter Young and Chris Shelton two years ago, the latter of which will provide better production for 1/10 of the price.
That being said, I agree with levski. I am ecstatic that this trade lowers the chance that the Red Sox will pick up Casey. Although, as I wrote that last sentence the possibility of a flip entered my mind.

of course, when I wrote "kudos", I meant "kudos to the reds". they didn't do something dumb like trade kearns for saarloos. instead, they traded the guy with the least value, esp. relative to contract.

the pirates... what can I say. I have brad eldred in my nl only league, he lost his rookie status, so I was thinking about protecting him for next year, but it appears he's going back to aaa. sucks.

the pirates were supposedly looking at jt snow; at least he would've cost them only a million or so. and given them casey like production. this is just a bad move; they should've left eldred at 1b.

lol

rofl

lmao

roflmao

etc

etc

Is Griffey playing 1B now or Dunn?

Casey will be better than Brad Eldred or Darryl Ward in 2006. The Pirates will therefore win 75 instead of 73, or something.

You may say big deal but I congratulate them on spending a bit of the cash they take in from revenue sharing.

It might help long term, too. Casey might just be good enough to get them 2 extra draft picks in 2007.

Local boy coming home.

God, I would hate to be Pirates fan. They decide to spend $8M, and this is what they get?

What were the odds that the Reds would not only be able to get rid of Casey, but that Pittsburgh would be the team to take the contract? No team is going to have a better winter meetings than the Reds. This move alone has to take the cake.

I am up for a job in Pittsburgh that would include a lot of company Pirates tickets.

Maybe I should ask for an extra 20 bucks a year instead.

Incidentally, anyone from the area with advice on good neighborhoods (looking for something as walky and Brooklyn-like as possible) -- shoot me an e-mail?

One can only hope the Pirates would turn around and trade Casey to a playoff contender in August. Of course, being the Pirates, they'll most likely give him an extension.

Local boy coming home.

Good point. This makes it a slightly better move, and lets him retain his Popular Guy value.

Wow. Reds win, no matter who (if anyone) they get in return. I'd trade Casey for a warm bucket of spit just to get him out of the lineup.

God, I would hate to be Pirates fan. They decide to spend $8M, and this is what they get?

They do have a helluva ballpark, FWIW. Best one I've ever been to.

The Giants just won the NL West, BTW.

This seems like a poor deal for both teams. Williams has some HR issues already and it's not going to get any better in Great American.

Grady F'ing Little.

Actually, Vaux, the Giants will just finish ahead of the Dodgers. When Grady pulls a Little and leaves Gagne for a six inning stretch, after which Gagne will never recover from a busted elbow.

For some reason I can't picture Junior playing first.
Wouldn't he be better off in left? Just asking.

As a Reds fan, I'm a little stunned.

We're actually trading Casey? We aren't moving Austin Kearns or Wily Mo Pena for magic beans and a middle reliver to be named later?

Now if O'Brien could only find a way to make Eric Milton disappear. That would be a magic escape worthy of Houdini.

Joy aside, Casey isn't actually bad (312/371/423 last year and great the year before), he's just overpaid. He's also a great guy, which isn't a bad thing. He only has one more year on that contract, after which Pittsburgh probably gets a hometown discount. The Pirates didn't give up anything, really, Williams isn't exactly a future Cy Young winner. And the Pirates aren't spending their new money on a long term deal in this crazy market.

This isn't exactly a terrible move for Pittsburgh.

I would move Griffey to 1B because he has continual hamstring problems and it's a lot less running around. That said, he's TEN-TIME GOLD GLOVE WINNER KEN GRIFFEY and I'd imagine it'll be Dunn.

Dunn isn't great shakes in the OF either, and at least he's played some 1b.

I imagine the general reaction among Reds fans will be just the opposite of that on Primer. Especially when Williams gets pummeled at the GAB while the Mayor turns in a pretty .310 BA in 2006.

Q: Who runs more awkwardly, Sean Casey or Vlad Guerrero?

A: Ron Santo.

Chris Shelton two years ago, the latter of which will provide better production for 1/10 of the price.

Probably more like 1/20th.

I'm a Pirates fan and used to being bitter about moves (Benito Santiago?!?!), but I'm having trouble whining about this one. Casey's not all that old and is a very decent hitter. He's also well suited for PNC Park and the short right field porch.

As for Williams, the Bucs already have two or three soft-tossing lefties in the rotation for next year, which would hurt his effectiveness. He's a useful back-of-the-rotation type, but we're overflowing with them anyway.

Also I imagine the Reds will throw in some money to offset Casey's salary for this year. Then if the Pirates decide in July or August that Eldred will be the first baseman of the future, they can spin Casey off for another Dave Williams or get a first rounder back in the offseason.

Just an awful deal for the Pirates. Not that Williams is that great but he is making about the minimum. I think Casey's fans are pointing at his 312/371/423 from last year but he hit 324/381/534 in 2004. He's had three good years, 2004 and 1999 and 2000 when he was 24 and 25. I don't think that there is much chance of him being much more than league average and at $8.5m you would expect more. These kinds of signings always baffle me because I guarantee that there is few guys floating around AAA that are just as good and won't get a chance.

Kind of sad to see Casey go. He seems like a genuinely nice guy, which you don't see very often (in any walk of life).

That said, unless they have to send along a bunch of cash, I really like this move. It'll make the team both better and cheaper (I've stated earlier today that I expect Kearns to come way, way back).

Now if O'Brien could only find a way to make Eric Milton disappear. That would be a magic escape worthy of Houdini.

Adam Dunn package!

Not that Williams is that great but he is making about the minimum

This is not true. He's signed for $1.4 mill, plus incentives, for next year.

These kinds of signings always baffle me because I guarantee that there is few guys floating around AAA that are just as good and won't get a chance.

If you believe in things like "clubhouse presence" or "veteran leadership" (and I think both things, to a degree, do help a team), Sean Casey is the poster child. There is no one "floating around" who are just as good at those things.

In the end the Pirates will be adding about 5 million. The Reds are going to pick up 2 million of Casey's deal and Williams 1.5 million goes back to Cincy.

The Reds have just a horrible defensive OF. Getting to move at least one of Griffey or Dunn to 1B will probably save 20-30 runs right there.

Don't the Pirates have a bunch of mediocre mashers to play 1B? Wilson and Eldred are mainly 1B, right?

The Pirates acquistion of Casey can be justified if you believe in:

--the salary drive (Casey turns it up a notch looking for a big payday. Jeff Blauser, Adrian Beltre ring a bell?)

--he's due to go UP. Casey has lurched between very good and blah. He was blah this season. So......

--the previously mentioned home cooking tastes good. Over the last 3 seasons in PNC Casey has a .378 average. Of course, that's against Pirate pitching.....

Some additional idle observations:

Williams was mocked by the locals for being "homer-prone". But of his 20 homers 16 were given up on the road. Hmmmmm, Eric Milton anyone? I also happen to remember Lloyd actually talking about not pitching Williams in GAB because of his likelihood of giving up the long ball. Vlad or someone would have to confirm this old man's recollection. Because that would likely be one of three intelligent things Mac ever did with the Pirates and other two were convincing Littlefield he could do the job and well, I am sure he did at least one more.

Williams is in the league because he's left-handed. He's got nothing special in his arsenal.

Casey is SLOOOOWWWW. You cannot understate his lack of speed. He LOOKS like he's trying. Arms pumping, legs working furiously, head bobbing. But he can't get from here to there before half the ballpark falls asleep waiting. Combine a line drive, ground ball hitting approach with his lead butt and BEHOLD, it's a double play in waiting.

Putting Baby Huey (Adam Dunn) at first forced him to stay in a semblance of shape (by his own admission). I have dibs on Adam "Jumbo" Dunn showing up at spring training after he is notified he will be the regular first baseman. Three bills EEEEAAASSSSYYYYY.

The acquisition of Casey would be another example of a low-revenue team adding payroll this off-season.

But isn't the trading of Casey another example of a low-revenue team shedding payroll this off-season?

Griffey will play first, it's been their plan all off season 2 trade Casey and move Griff to first. Did Casey personally offend any of you? I can't figure how he had a bad year last season, and the year before that he was very effective. It's a good trade for Pitts, as long as they don't have to absorb the whole salary. He's a solid player, albeit overpaid, player.

I am up for a job in Pittsburgh that would include a lot of company Pirates tickets.

Maybe I should ask for an extra 20 bucks a year instead.

Incidentally, anyone from the area with advice on good neighborhoods (looking for something as walky and Brooklyn-like as possible) -- shoot me an e-mail?

Shadyside is nice - or Mount Washington. I loved Shadyside, but I went to school at CMU and its was convenient.

Go to Pirates games though - PNC is one of the most beautiful parks I've ever seen.

I'll like the deal a WHOLE lot more if money is coming back to the Pirates. That just makes sense, though, so it's probably not the case.

The fact that Littlefield went out and made first base his top priority, and came up with Sean Casey, worries me terribly. Casey's fine, and if you look at his home (GAB)/road splits since the park was built, you'll notice that he enjoyed being AWAY from homer central quite a bit. I'm not sure why, but in any case, there's some logic to thinking that he might enjoy a change of scenery and produce at a higher level next year.

But the questions I ask myself, as a Pirates fan, are why is Sean Casey a solution for this team? Can't you get solid production from Craig Wilson at first? Would it kill to give Eldred a shot at accomplishing what he's done at every level in the minors - mash like nuts and whiff a lot in the process? I couldn't care less that Dave Williams was traded, but wouldn't he be able to bring back someone better? Wouldn't it make more sense for Littlefield to grow a pair and put together a package of pitching to obtain a Chad Tracy or Austin Kearns? Does it seem like the Pirate PR department is running the personnel moves by acquiring hometown players, in spite of actual performance?

It's not easy being a fan of this team. Does anyone have Mark Cuban's email address?

In the end the Pirates will be adding about 5 million. The Reds are going to pick up 2 million of Casey's deal and Williams 1.5 million goes back to Cincy.

If these figures are correct the Pirates are paying about $6.5M for Casey. He had 66.2 VORP two years ago and 31.7 last year. So he's making half as much as, say, Paul Konerko (56.4 VORP in 2005) or Rafael Furcal (49.4). That seems like fair market value to me.

Post 37:

Gonna have to request some links, citations, or other justification for your claims. Because I think it would be news to everyone if Ken Griffey Jr. were to accept moving to first base.

I know a lot of folks dialing into WLW 700 believe Jr. should go to first. But the next time Andy Furman's faithful have a good idea you let me know.

As to Casey's seasonal fluctations it's pretty simple. He has to be perfectly healthy. If you track his seasons closely you will find nagging injuries impacting his swing. Casey stays IN the lineup. But unless he's JUST right his swing goes south.

I have written multiple times he is the modern day Mickey Vernon. Vernon was a singles/doubles guy who when he was healthy for an entire season would challenge for the batting title. But if the aches and pains mounted he just couldn't grip it and rip it effectively.

It's also aggravating to have a player with just ok results getting to MUCH adulation. Barry Larkin busted his *ss for 20 years and he got respect from the city. Casey flaps around like some out of control dreidel and gets nicknamed "The Mayor".

yeah, yeah all the charity work. Like Barry Larkin wasn't a goodwill ambassador. And no, I'm not making this a "race thing". Just pointing out the obvious discrepancy. It's a farce.

Yeah, I'm looking for a link right now to that Griffey thing... seem to remember from one of those "free" Gammons articles. Gammons reiterated it on the 3:00 Baseball Tonight, but deemed it "unlikely" because Casey would be difficult to trade. Obviously the situation has changed.

Incidentally, anyone from the area with advice on good neighborhoods (looking for something as walky and Brooklyn-like as possible) -- shoot me an e-mail?

If you're looking for a place in the city, Shadyside's pretty great. Excellent location, access to pretty much anything you'd want access to.

Post 42:

KG Jr. moving to first base would be big news.

The Reds have publicly discussed moving Dunn to first base after watching his first ten games in the outfield. :)

I didn't check. Did the Reds make Aurilia an offer? Because if Jr. DOES go to first then Freel to center and that means someone like Aurilia at second base.

Kearns could do it. (If he's back in shape) Of course, that would mean that the organization would have to give him a month's worth of games to do something as opposed to the play two games in a row, sit three nonsense.

If they wanted to give Marty B. a stroke they could put Wily Mo in center a few games. A few misplays and I think Marty would swallow his tongue. His reactions to Wily's "struggles" defensively are pretty darn chucklacious.

Squirrel Hill's nice, too.

Harvey:

If they don't plan on an outfield including Kearns, then this trade makes no sense.

Thanks for the 'Burgh advice, guys. Shadyside/Squirrel Hill (or maybe Mount Washington if I find a great deal on a house) seem to be the way to go.

And the great reviews of PNC are unanimous.

And if I do end up moving there, I'll put out a call for a BTF meetup, as I won't know a single soul in the city except for my wife.

Griffey at first?

Really?

The first time he has to stretch for a throw and shreds his hammy, a whole bunch of people in Southern Ohio are going to be wondering what the heck they were thinking.

Dayton Daily News (RR)

The evidence is heavy that the Reds traded Casey less because of his performance than to get out from under the $8.5 million contract he has for the upcoming season. Several teams who have talked to the Reds say the first thing they are asked is, "Do you have any interest in Sean Casey?"

One club said, "No, but how about Adam Dunn?" The Reds didn't say no, but did ask for a No. 1 pitcher, which quickly stiffed any deal.

With Casey a Pirate, Dunn most likely will be switched from left field to first base.

Great PR move for the Pirates - the P-G already has a picture of Casey up from his USC days (that's Upper St. Claire). Casey has been an object of affection for a lot of the fans I have come across for many years, regardless of production. He'll sell tickets, be a good public figure and any production the Pirates get out of him on the field is completely secondary.

Williams is an arm - not a good one, not a bad one. He'll improve the Cincy rotation, though that may be damining with faint praise.

As long as Casey is not resigned to an extension, this deal is just meh for me. Littlefield could do a lot worse, and the Pirates still have Kip Wells to dangle and entice some (Phillies perhaps, for Jason Michaels).

Also, Craig Wilson is certain to be traded if at all possible.

Pittsburgh is one of the most underrated cities in America, really a greta place to live. Biggest knock on the town is paucity of good restaurants but it's geeting slowly better in that depratment.

TD:

Ahhh, I don't know about THAT. Primanti's is the best (gotta go to the Strip district for the real thing. all other locations are but a pale imitation) but that isn't swank by any stretch. It's for folks who want a unique sandwich experience. And "sandwich" is a misnomer. Gastronomical ambrosia is more appropriate.

The 'Burgh is an old city. As in OLD. I'm a blue hair (not really but I am old) and I look pretty spry relative to the others walking the city streets. From a demographics/tax base perspective I don't know what the city fathers have planned.

Wasn't the city put into receivership by the state?

Anyway, Senseri Brothers in the Strip is a fun place to buy cheese and fresh pasta. It ain't the Italian Market in Philly but good stuff to be had.

Primantis is indeed sublime.

TD:

Pastrami
Sweet Egg and cheese
Kolbasi

Which is best?

You are now on the clock..........

Pastrami, IMO

I've been living in Shadyside for the past 8 years. It's probably the neighborhood the has the most of a high class/old money feel to it (for Pittsburgh which isn't saying much). It's a mixture of grad students and rich people.

Squirrel Hill has more of a working class/undergrad feel to it and also is in walking distance to a bigger commercial area (the two main streets have several blocks of shops/restaurants).

You also might want to check out the South Side(if you're working downtown) or Bloomfield/Friendship(if you're working in Oakland). Those are all less expensive neighborhoods, but still decent residential areas in the city. I'd avoid Lawrenceville/Garfield/Homestead/the Hill District/and parts of the North Side if you're worried about crime/drugs.

If you're used to Brooklyn, the cost of living here should be a nice surprise.

"Lloyd actually talking about not pitching Williams in GAB because of his likelihood of giving up the long ball."

I remember him saying things like that about Fogg, so it wouldn't shock me if he echoed the sentiment for Williams.

If you're willing to live outside the city, Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park are both nice suburban-type areas to the S/SW. Oakmont's reasonably close, and it has a good small-town feeling. Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are where most of the fun is, if that's important to you.

Gainsay's warning list is pretty good; I'd also add Homewood.

For Primanti's, I actually tend to gravitate toward corned beef.

Oh, and this deal sucks big ones for the Pirates.

Er... I'll be frank:

I like Sean Casey.

Good fielder at 1B, and I don't have a problem with his hitting. I know it's a BA heavy OBP, but his walk rate isn't terrible. HIs power disappeared last year but was great in 2004.

He's better tahn Kevin F Millar

I went to Primanti Brothers twice the first time I was here, and haven't had the desire to go back in 5 years.

Oakmont and Verona are basically the same place, nice old towns by the river - not depressed like most of the ex-steel towns nearby (Etna, Sharpsburg, Clairton, Duquesne, Glassport, McKees Rocks, McKees Port, Wilkinsburg).

Bethel Park and Dormont are good if you like boring suburbs that aren't too expensive. Mount Lebanon, Bridgeville and most of the northern suburbs (Wexford, Fox Chapel) are expensive.

Mount Washington houses are really really expensive if they are on the top of the hill with a view of the city, and not expensive at all otherwise.

Lawrenceville is rapidly getting nicer. Don't ignore Lawrenceville. Also check out the Edgewood/Swissvale/Regent Square area, but make sure you aren't close to Wilkinsburg.

There are good restaurants in Pittsburgh, but none of them are in the downtown area. If you check out the 50 top restaurants issue of Pittsburgh Magazine, probably five of them will be in the downtown area, and those will be the super-expensive ones geared at business lunches.

In fact, none of the good things about Pittsburgh are in the downtown area, except an indie movie theater, the coffee/tea store, and a couple theaters/playhouses. Plus PNC Park and the Warhol museum, if you count the north side.

So, all it took to get Casey plus 2 mill is a mediocre arm? I'm pretty disappointed that the Giants couldn't have made this happen.

In fact, none of the good things about Pittsburgh are in the downtown area, except an indie movie theater, the coffee/tea store, and a couple theaters/playhouses. Plus PNC Park and the Warhol museum, if you count the north side.

Downtown is really dead in terms of things to do because it's not much of a residential area.

I don't spend a lot of time in Lawrenceville, but I've been told by people who in some of the seedier parts that there are still a lot of heroin junkies around.

There is a pretty cool brew pub called Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville though. It's a huge old church that was turned into a bew pub. They've got all the brewing apparatus up where the altar used to be which makes for a very sacriligious atmosphere. The food is good (fancy bar food) but pretty expensive. The beer is good but more reasonably priced.

In general real estate/commercial space is really cheap throughout most of the city so their are lots of cool little restaurants/bars/art galleries to be found.

Yeah, agree on the Church, great spot.

A close friend of mine lived in the Mexican War Streets part of the North Side for several years. Interesting bend of seediness and character, and walking distance to PNC.

Pittsburgh's got pretty good public transit, so you can live just about anywhere and get around fairly easily. I'm partial to the South Side myself; you might also check out Mt. Oliver.

-- MWE

I lived in Squirrel Hill for a little while when I was at Pitt. It's a really nice neighborhood. Pittsburgh is a really nice city.

Pittsburgh does not have very good public transit. We have a "subway system" that runs from a couple towns in the southern suburbs to a couple stops downtown and back again, and we have a bunch of buses that are constantly under threat of being defunded by the state legislature and hardly run at all on Sundays. Our transit system isn't as bad as Phoenix or something, but it should be better, for a city with such a dearth of affordable and convenient parking downtown.

We had streetcars for a while, until they were eliminated to make way for a light rail system that never materialized, except as the "subway system" which only benefits South Hills commuters.