Notes: Casey likely for trade

07/19/2006
PITTSBURGH -- Sean Casey was elated to be traded to his hometown Pirates in the offseason. Much less thrilling is the likelihood that his homecoming will be cut short as a trade deadline casualty.
"You're human and there's a human side to this," Casey said. "To say I don't think about it, I would be lying to you."
With Casey indicating on Wednesday that the Pirates still have not contacted him to discuss a contract extension, a trade is appearing more and more likely.
The Pirates are believed to be heavily pursuing Rockies first baseman Ryan Shealy and published reports in San Francisco indicate the Giants, who have a gaping hole at first and are only 3 1/2 games off San Diego's division-leading pace in the National League West, are very interested in Casey.
The talks bother him, sure, but he went through the same situation during his last years in Cincinnati. Casey, who has as much perspective on the game as anyone in baseball, knows full well the nature of the business.
"You're always going to be in trade talks when your team isn't doing well," Casey said. "But that's part of the business, part of the job. I know when I come and show up to play, I'm still playing for the Pirates."
Still, it is clear he is one Pirates veteran in the final year of his contract who would be disappointed by a trade. He hasn't hidden his fondness for the area.
"I really do love it," Casey said. "I like it here in Pittsburgh a lot."
Daylight woes: Some 10 hours after leaving PNC Park after Tuesday's 13-4 loss, a bleary-eyed Jose Bautista was sitting in front of his locker in the clubhouse on Wednesday morning.
A day game after a night game. It's a practice the Pirates will have gone through at home 26 times, as many as any team in baseball, by season's end.
No big deal, but in those games, the Pirates are just 2-11. Under the lights, they're 21-12. What gives?
"It's one of those things you can't explain," Bautista said. "I mean, as soon as you wake up, you have to come to the ballpark, when usually you get to stretch your body out and do whatever, like walk around the mall. But I really don't know."
He then, of course, acknowledged that both teams are in the same boat.
The only explanation for Casey is that it's simply one of baseball's many statistical aberrations.
"Sometimes in baseball, there's really no rhyme or reason to a lot of things," Casey said. "Yeah, the turnaround time is tough, but hey, it's the same for everyone. So it can't really be an excuse."
Steel City tunes in to ASG: The reviews of last week's Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh were unanimously gleaming. And now that the local television ratings are in, it's apparent most of the Steel City had their eyes on the shimmering North Shore.
Pittsburgh led all metered markets with a 22.9 share, the highest rating produced by the host city in the eight years FOX has been broadcasting the Midsummer Classic. Of all the televisions in use during the All-Star Game's slot, 34 percent of them were tuned to the happenings at PNC Park.
Bucs bits: Actor Tom Hanks, director Ron Howard and comedian Dennis Miller could be seen in the second row behind home plate on Tuesday night at PNC Park, among the 20,086 who witnessed the Pirates' season-worst 13-4 loss. For Hanks' 50th birthday the three friends have been on a personal ballpark tour. ... Ryan Vogelsong was knocked around for six runs over just four innings in his second start at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. ... The slumping Jose Castillo was given the day off at second base on Wednesday. Freddy Sanchez moved to second, giving Joe Randa the rare start at third. ... The Pirates and the Yankees appear to be close to a deal involving 41-year-old reliever Roberto Hernandez, the Newark Star-Ledger reported. The only thing that could stall the proceedings, as it has in past days, is the Pirates likely insistence that the Yankees absorb the contract of Jeromy Burnitz, who is still owed roughly $2.5 million this season. Plus, there is a $500,000 payment if he is traded and it would take $700,000 to buy out his contract for next season.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/