A week or two ago, somebody -- please chime in and take credit -- proposed Richie Sexson as the best comp for Casper Wells.

I sort of chuckled and patronized the amigo, "Not bad, yeah."  But since then, every time I've watched Wells swing the bat on TV, that Sexson comp has chewed my shoulder and neck like an attacking, invisible Dungeons and Dragons imp.

True, Richie Sexson was probably more gifted, and got the big leagues a bit quicker.  But Wells and Sexson have, so far, the following things in common:

• .260/.320/.500 type skill sets (check Sexson's year 2000)
• VERY similar EYEs of about 60 BB, 170 K, full season
• So that's the biggest two things there - and they're carbon-copy
• Unusual physical strength even compared to ML peers
• Very short swings to the ball
• ... and compact followthroughs
• Similar swing shapes:  HR's are rising line drives to left and left-center
• Though powerful, both are fairly mechanical in their movements, cf. Saunders

Wells is even showing some Safeco-friendly topspin.  His GB/FB ratio is tilted a bit to GB's, his HR's are frequent despite the GB's, he finishes with the bat fairly low ... and the shape of his best shots is essentially a line-drive-tilted-up shape.

Casper's got a moderate topspin swing; Sexson had an extreme one.

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Of course, M's fans were left with a sour taste after the Richie Sexson experience.  But before Sexson hit the wall prematurely at age 32 -- a la Adam Dunn, perhaps -- Sexson received MVP votes.  He finished his career averaging 36 homers, 112 RBI, and 89 R per season.  Milton Bradley didn't.

Scoff all you want at the Fred Flintstone evaluation methods.  But suppose you knew via TimeTravelTV that Casper Wells was going to finish #12 in the MVP voting next year?  

Thought so.

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=== Let's!  Go To! the Video! Tape! Dept. ===

A video is worth 1,000 words -- check Wells' home run yesterday, at the 0:10 mark in this reel.

He gets a James Shields fastball that is ... 92 mph ... outside, on the black ... angling away from him.

Wells engulfs an outside fastball.  He keeps his head golfer-still, extends the brawny arms, and overpowers it back into his own power alley -- a rising, screaming line drive that is at least 12 rows back in the far reaches of the stadium.  Note the short, lowish follow-through, a la Sexson.  

Who hit those in May 2011 for us?

That has been the way with the typical Casper Wells home run -- they're not long, lazy fly balls.  They're 3-irons, and if it were the year 1862 with no fences, Wells would round five bases before the outfielder ran down the rolling ball.

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