Casey Sylvester

Casey could never make cool poses like this before 2000

Some guys have had better overall seasons, but none of their seasons came after a season like Casey's 1999 one. During that hellish season, Casey was on the verge of quitting. He was a little boy in a man's world. The thing was, he had been just that since 1996, when he debuted. He was always surrounded by better players. This isn't weird in itself, but you knew Casey thought he belonged "up there." You could tell by the way he broke equipment after striking out. By the amount of f-bombs he dropped. This was a little boy yes, but a little boy who thought he was growing up.

 

Casey Sylvester Redefining Improvement Stat 1999 2000 At Bats 170 155 Runs 20 42 Hits 40 64 RBIs 19 48 HRs 11 24 Ks 62 37 Slg% .471 .916 OB% .266 .442 BAvg. .235 .413 Rating 21.65 41.94 IP 42 36 Hits 43 33 Runs 36 24 ERA 3.43 2.67

In 1999, his fourth season, he showed little promise. He hit just .235 with only 11 homeruns in 170 ABs. His ERA of 3.43 was never really mocked, but it was never praised either. He was just there. Barely a blip on the radar. Something happened though in the off-season. Casey moved in with Scott Carmichael, and practiced with him nearly everyday. They'd just be "dicking around" as he called it, but when you're picking up nearly 1000 ABs over an off-season, all of which are coming from Scott Carmichael, you're setting yourself up for big things when the regular season rolls around, chock full of pitchers like Eric Christensen, or Bruce Longacre. Casey knew this. He predicted big things in 2000. People laughed. He predicted homeruns like never before and an ERA to match. People laughed. Try the table on for size, which notes Casey's difference between season 1999 and season 2000. Just goes to show what a little BP with Scott can do for a career. It's a pretty disgusting list.