Thanks to readers Gene and Matt for pointing it out.

Also worth noting: Coach Jerry Manuel is back in No. 53, with spring training invitee Aaron Sele in 35. Manuel, you may recall, was assigned 53 last spring but switched jerseys when Chad Bradford -- who'd been assigned 35 -- preferred the latter. This restores at least some orderliness on the coaching bench: Sandy Alomar Sr. is still waddling around in No. 2, but the rest of the staff are nice and Rube Walkerly in the 50s -- Rick Peterson 51; Hojo 52; Manuel 53; Rick Down 54; Tom Nieto 55; and Guy Conti 56.

Other sightings at Spring Training, as reported by various witnesses: Carlos Gomez in 88 and Fernando Martinez in 67. There have been several photos of recently signed ancient catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. floating around the Met but none in a jersey we've seen yet. Let us know if find something.

Marty Noble on the Jose Valentin/Moises Alou "controversy" (I use quotes here because I strongly suspect Valentin has more affection for 22, his number for many years, than for 18, his number for just one. But good Nobling here nonetheless:
 

On with 'The Show' (Feb. 15): Newsday's David Lennon on Scott Schoeneweis: as for the No. 60, he's been stuck with it ever since his rookie year with the Angels in 1999. The Mets tried to finally correct the injustice this spring -- issuing him No. 36 -- but Schoeneweis chose instead to stay with his old jersey. "My first five minutes as a Met, I was high maintenance," Schoeneweis joked.

Told ya.

Park Effects (Feb. 9): The Mets reportedly made an incentive-heavy deal with free-agent pitcher Chan Ho Park, who'll challenge a million other guys for a starting job this spring but figures to encounter little competition for uniform number 61.

New Roster Posted (Feb. 5): Thanks to Matt for the tip -- Mets.com has posted a new roster page, assigning numerals to the 40 men on the 40-man. Though these lists have proven unreliable in the past, they're usually fun and sometimes surprising. Right off the bat, we're surprised to see Damion Easley be assigned No. 3 when he's more often associated with No. 2 (even though the latter belongs to Sandy Alomar); and Scott Schoeneweis listed in 36 rather than his customary 60. We wouldn't be surprised to see either change before the bell rings on the new season.

Other new guys and their alleged numbers:

Jon Adkins 39
Adam Bostick 72
Ambiorix Burgos 40
Jorge Sosa 29 (goodbye, Steve Trachsel)
Jason Vargas 43
Ruben Gotay 6 (poifict!)
Carlos Gomez 61
Ben Johnson 4
David Newhan 17