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2008 After getting a grand total of five big-league plate appearances over the preceding four seasons, Casanova got semi-regular time as Tampa's backup catcher last year and slugged over .500. Despite that, his defensive shortcomings demonstrated why he wasn't getting much playing time in the first place, and Tampa designated him for assignment, not once but twice, properly identifying that slugging percentage as a small-sample fluke. 2003 Once upon a time, Casanova was a touted prospect for his bat. As is distressingly common with catchers, it never happened. The Orioles claimed him off of waivers last September to give them catching depth down the stretch. “Having depth” doesn’t automatically mean using it, though, as he just sat at the end of the bench every day. He’ll be a waiver-wire pickup again in 2003. 2002 Just when it began to look like Davey Lopes was getting a clue, in that Lopes recognized that his lineup was better off with Casanova than with Henry Blanco, a knee injury ended Casanova’s season in mid-August. Casanova had some good times in Miller Park that might heighten people’s expectations, but he is better off as a solid caddy. 2001 It gives little comfort to know that if and when Henry Blanco slumps his way back to the bench, his at-bats will go to Raul Casanova. What Casanova did last year is about all that can be expected from him. He hits a lot of ground balls and isn’t a very good defensive catcher; he switch-hits, so he’ll likely stick around. 2000 Essentially finished as a prospect, Casanova best serves as a reminder of how pointless Randy Smith’s obsession with his former team’s players was. Free to go as a minor-league free agent, Casanova has to hope somebody remembers his big 1994 and gives him a shot. 1999 He’s got one season on his resume that suggests he can hit, and that was in A-ball four years ago. Fair defense, and one of the few switch-hitting catchers in the game today, but the Tigers have lost patience with him. He isn’t out of chances yet, but they’re punching “Hell’s Bells” into the sound system as we speak. 1998 A stocky catcher entering his make-or-break year. Casanova has the potential to hit for a lot more power than he’s demonstrated in the majors thus far. No huge platoon split. A team could certainly do a lot worse at catcher. Raul may not develop, but he definitely could break out and become a star, combining good defense with above average hitting. He’s got the next 1000 plate appearances to do it. 1997 Casanova achieved prospect status with a monster 1994 season, but his numbers were inflated some by playing in the hitter-happy California League. Still, switch-hitting catchers with power are roughly as common as family fare on Fox, and the Tigers did well to get him in the Nieves deal. Threw out only 22% of basestealers last year. His Vlad is probably a bit optimistic, but the Tigers would be fools not to give him 400 at bats to find out. 1996 We've got six years of data. Five say he's not a real prospect, one says he's at least a minor one. That 1994 was good, but when a 21-year-old four-year pro has a big year in A ball, some skepticism is called for. Good defensive reputation. Traded to Detroit, where he'll have a clearer shot at a major league job.
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