I was just about to write a message expressing the desire to see a jersey reveal photo-op when I came across this here photo of new Mets catcher Brian Schneider, his cuteypie wife Jordan, and the No. 23 jersey he may wear next season.
As related by Larry in the comments secition of the Matt Wise post below, issuing 23 to Schneider leaves Marlon Andersonin temporary digital limbo: The 18 he wore in his first Met go-round blongs to Moises Alou, and the 8 he wore most frequently (though never exclusively) in his career is itself in mothballs for Gary Carter. (The New York Post, you may recall, reported the Mets had designs to retire the number back in 2006 but never got around to it).
Either way, 8 has been conspicuously unissued since Desi Relaford cleared out in ‘01. At any rate, it’s good to see a new guy holding up a new jersey, even if Schneider isn’t exactly the answer to the prayers of those of us who recognized that the Met offense needed some work too this off-season. The Mets are still presumably in the hunt for pitchers Johan Santana and/or Eric Bedard should they get moved, and Kyle Lohse when he goes. More grip-and-grins to come.
Marlon wore #16 his first 3 seasons in Philly, before giving it up to Travis Lee and switching to #8 for the next few seasons. My guess is that he is assigned 16 (bye bye LoDuca) and 8 stays unofficially retired.
Comment by Matt :: December 21, 2007 @ 6:49 am
Personally, I think Carter shouldn’t have a retired number for the Mets… in my view, he’s the frachise’s third best catcher (behind Piazza and Grote).
Comment by Chris :: December 21, 2007 @ 7:31 am
I have to disagree with Chris about “The Kid”. Gary Carter was a sparkplug for the Mets in the 80’s, on and off the field. Great behind the plate and very good with the bat.
And 8 is such an archetypal catcher’s number (think Yogi), that the Mets would be wise to retire it.
There are as many arguments for retiring numbers as there are not retiring them (especially in the case of Grote, a skilled defensive catcher and great backstop for the likes of Seaver and Koosman, but not a total player by any stretch), but I still think Kid’s oughta be retired.
Comment by Dave :: December 21, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
I wish the Mets would retire # 17 for Keith. Why the refusal to do so? I cringe whenever I see someone like David Newhan wearing it. # 36 should be retired for Koosman as well.
Comment by Tom S. :: December 22, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I was not advocating for Grote to have a retired number… however, I think he had a better Met career than Carter. He may not have had Carter’s pop, but he was far from an easy out.
Comment by Chris :: December 24, 2007 @ 10:09 am
8 should be retired in Carter’s name. He brought that young staff together (very young!, look it up) and helped deliver the greatest memories most of us have about the Mets (see ‘86). Liked the point about Yogi. What’s new Jon?
Comment by Scott Pirrung :: January 6, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
Hey Scott! Nice to hear from you but I got to disagree…
It’s a slippery slope here. If you retire 8 then you gotta retire 17 and you oughta retire 1 and while you’re at it 4, 16, 18, 12 and 47. Don’t forget 42! Soon enough you’re in that terrible Yankee mindset where not retiring a number is akin to pissing on the guy’s baseball card and in a simple matter of taste I’m happy that the Mets seem above that.
That said, I’m certain the Mets at one time had designs to retire 8 (it was reported in the NY Post back in 04 if I recall they were planning a “Carter Day” though for some reason that never happened). Now I’m not sure what kind of relationship the Mets and Carter have anymore after rejecting him for the manager’s job in 05 despite Carter’s campaigning for it.
Carter seemed awfully quick to make a big deal about how prepared he was to work his way to a big-league managing job when he led the St. Lucie team but he balked at leaving Florida for Bingo.
You know what would be great? If/when they retire 8, they have Carter stand at home plate and read aloud from his book “A Dream Season” — the part where he talks about hugging and touching his teammates but that he’s totally not gay. Funniest passage ever.
Hi to Pippy!
Comment by admin :: January 7, 2008 @ 7:45 am
Pippy says hello.
You make a good point about the ‘relationship’ as it stands. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
As for the slippery slope, I have always credited Carter with helping that young staff mature. I’m sure others assisted, but Carter deserves much of the credit. That being said, in my opinion, the starting staff of that ‘86 team defined the season.
Does acquiring Pagan have anything to do with putting together a more enticing package for Santana/Bedard?
Throw me an e-mail when you get a chance, I’ve got some interesting personal stuff to fill you in on.
Comment by Scott :: January 10, 2008 @ 6:07 pm