Why is Casanova on the roster

I have nothing against Raul Casanova, but it's a waste of a roster spot to have a guy who is strictly a pinch hitter. There is no need for three catchers, none of them play a second position and all are very slow on the base path. Willie isn't using Castro as an early game pinch hitter and late in games if either Casanova or Castro get in scoring position a pinch runner is used. Casanova is a third catcher who should be in New Orleans waiting for a call-up when one of the full time catchers go on the DL. Both Tatis and Easley have practiced catching and are considered the emergency catchers which would get you by until the next day when Casanova could catch-up to the club.....

The Mets need to fill the spot with an outfielder, Tatis and Easley can get plenty of playing time between Castillo knees and Delgado's bat. The only true back-up outfielder is Endy Chavez, Nick Evans has speed but is another infielder trying to play out of position and his bat isn't ready for this level yet. I'm guessing Evans will go down when Alou is activated later this week and I'm sure it will give all the guys in AA incentive to hear the story about the Show. But that still leaves Casanova on the bench.

It's not that the Mets don't have alternatives, in fact all three outfielders in New Orleans are hitting the cover off the ball. I did a post earlier this week on Jesus Feliciano who is hitting over .300. The name getting the most buzz is Val Pascucci who might actually be the best alternative at 1B available, but his glove is an issue. In case you missed it Metsblog posted a great interview with Pascucci today. The other alternative is the most accomplished ( parts of three seasons in the majors with the Marlins) and is having the best year of them all. I completed a post on Chris Aguila when Alou went down, since then he has gone on to be named the PCL offensive player of the week.

New Orleans Zephyrs outfielder Chris Aguila was named the Pacific Coast League's Hitter of the Week for the week ending June 1, it was announced Monday.

Aguila batted .500 (12-for-24) and hit five home runs in a three-day stretch, including back-to-back games with two home runs at Round Rock. In seven games, he ranked second in the PCL with eight runs scored, a .586 on-base percentage and led the league with a 1.125 slugging percentage. source MiLB.com