Tag Archive for Brian Bannister

Right Back Atcha, Banny

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Cancel That Update

40The Mets prior to Friday’s game recalled catcher Robinson Cancel (again) and designated Chris Aguila for assignment (again). This facilitates more pinch-hitting opportunities for Ramon Castro but invited a new uni controversy as Cancel returns only to find the No. 4 jersey occupied by twitchy new infielder Argenis Reyes. Reyes appeared in the game wearing 4 — and readers Rich and Zach report seeing Cancel warming up Muiniz in the bullpen wearing No. 40 (“guess they FINALLY gave up on Burgos wearing a Jersey anytime soon,” sez Rich). Cancel would become the first position player to wear 40 since the infamous Tony Tarasco in 2002. Most recently, 40 was exchanged between Brian Bannister to Ambiorix Burgos when they were exchanged for one another. Seven in a row, and once again, we prevailed vs. the other guy’s ace. Willie was right after all — these guys are all winners! Sorry to hear about Bob Klapisch: Maybe not the favorite writer of Mets fans, but his Worst Team Money Can Buy is the prematurely definitive story of a sorry era in Mets history, and probably more interesting today than it was back then, if only as a relic of Old Media.

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Hojo Returns, Bannister Traded

For the second winter in a row, the Mets traded a soft-tossing starter who wore No. 40 for a hard-throwing young reliever who wears No. 50. While last year it was Jae Seo to Los Angeles for Duaner Sanchez, this time it’s Brian Bannister  to Kansas City in exchange for Ambiorix Burgos.(Yes, we know Seo’s turn in No. 40 was a few changes ago, but we couldn’t resist all the spooky parallels). We’ll wish good luck to Bannister, who showed a lot of heart in an unexpected rookie campaign with the Mets, and hope that Burgos can cut down on those home runs allowed and wild pitches.

The Winter Meetings also brought word that ex-Met Howard Johnson would serve as the first-base coach next season, with Sandy Alomar crossing the diamond to third base to take the place of the departed Manny Acta. We’ll be watching to see which jersey Hojo turns up in, noting that his former No. 20 belongs today to outfielder Shawn Green.

More Numbers Confirmed: Thanks again to Gordon, who mailed along a scan of a scorecard from the opening series of the 1977 season including the listing of Ray Sadecki wearing No. 33. While this number wasn’t especially difficult to remember (that Sadecki wore 33 is in fact about the only thing we can recall of the guy) finding independent confirmation was a bit ornery and so we’re thankful to have it.

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Meaningful Games in September

Now that September has arrived, the Mets are reportedly looking to promote several minor leaguers, in addition to Heath Bell 19 and Royce Ring 43, who were activated Friday.

Considering Sunday’s performance by Mike DiFelice 6, there’s little doubt catcher Kelly Stinnett will be among them: Stinnett is a returning Met who was last seen wearing No. 33 in 1995 (that number currently belongs to John Maine). Also slated to return, reports say, are Lastings Milledge 44, Mike Pelfrey 34, Brian Bannister 40, Ricky Ledee 9, and newly arriving prospect Phillip Humber.Humber, should he see action, would become the 799th man to play in a Met uniform: Barring any additional shenanigans, that means we’re likely to see the 800th Met on opening day next year.

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Never Before Has a Boy Wanted More

46As expected, the Mets swapped Norfolk pitchers Brian Bannister and Oliver Perez as part of the makeshift weekend rotation against the Phillies. Perez is on the mound tonight in No. 46, which places him in the company of such luminaries as  Willie Blair, Terry Bross and Jeremy Griffiths. We’ve got hopes however he once again becomes the kind of guy you’d trade Scott Kazmir for.

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Maine & Bannister

John Maine will make a start today for the Mets, taking Brian Bannister’s spot in the rotation. You may recall maine made a to-do in spring training about favoring No. 33, and that’s what he’ll be wearing tonight. Victor Diaz 20 was sent back down to Norfolk to make room for him.

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Up the Bannister

So the Mets yesterday interestingly if somewhat cruelly relegated Aaron Heilman to the bullpen and hope to make a 5th starter out of rookie Brian Bannister. The debate this raises, of course, is whether Bannister ought to also be afforded a dignified uniform number signifying his ascension. Bannister is wearing No. 61 currently. There are historical precedents for any outcome: When Dwight Gooden earned a roster spot in 1984, he went from 64 to 16; but when Eric Valent unexpectedly made the 2004 Mets, he kept his St. Lucified 57.

Should Bannister wish to pay tribute to his dad Floyd, a cursory check through the baseball cards reveals he wore Nos. 19 and 38 in his career: Neither is available except in the case Heath Bell fails to make the roster or is traded — both possibilities we’ve read in the last week. Perhaps too, numbers don’t matter particularly to Bannister: It appears he wore 25 in Binghamton and 43 at Norfolk; 17 with Team USA and oddly, 3 at USC.

In other news it appears that Anderson Hernandez 1 will get the starting job at second base: Whether he won a competition, or is there to stay, are matters of debate.

Turns out our efforts to confirm Jose Santiago’s uni number were worthless — it appears the Mets either never invited him back and/or actually did then quietly released him before the spring.

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