At Lastings (May 30) Sobering word that outfielder Xavier Nady 22 is shelved with an appendectomy is accompanied today by the exciting news that prospect Lastings Milledge is in Flushing to take over while he's gone (and maybe longer). Word is Milledge will dress in the reserved-for-African-American-sluggers No. 44 (and not 6, which is what we might have rooted for to bridge the homegrown power alley between Wright 5 and Reyes 7). We wish Nady the best for a speedy recovery and that young Mr. Milledge (we won't ever get used to referring to him as Lastings, we don't think) doesn't wind up overwhelmed by the "can't miss prospect" pressures felt by previous Met inhabitants of his uni -- Jay Payton and Ryan Thompson.
 
 

Gone-zalez (May 25): Journeyman Jeremi Gonzalez 32 packed his bags after being reassigned following his start on Thursday, and the Mets announced they had traded for former Pirate & Red left Dave Williams, spotted most recently wearing No. 52 for the Reds. Williams, acquired for minor leaguer Robert Manuel & cash, was assigned to Norfolk. Gonzalez' reassignment likely clears space for Orlando Hernandez, penciled to start on Sunday. Update May 30: Good for Gonzalez, who caught a ride to Milwaukee instead of Norfolk: The Mets swapped him on his way out for Mike Adams, a slender one-time Brewers relief prospect of some upside but limited big-league success.

Most Wanted (May 25): We've finally got around to updating (most of) MBTN's Most Wanted page, including the addition of cool, rare video captures like these -- Bob Heise & Amos Otis in 1967 and Dick Selma in 1965! Many thanks to readers (especially Paul C, Mike & Jason) who've hung in there and helped out: The list of mysteries is narrowed to 13.

Julio for Duque; Soler Up; Bell Back; Lima Out (May 24): Updates over a busy few weeks -- Cuban defectee Alay Soler makes his Major League debut tonight wearing No. 59. Soler was recalled after Omar Minaya designated a merciful end to the Jose Lima Experiment.Soler becomes only the second Met ever to wear No. 59, and the first since Ed Lynch made his Major League debut, in 1980.

Also today, the Mets traded struggling reliever Jorge Julio to Arizona for ancient ex-Yankee Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.  We assume El Duque will dress in his familiar No. 26 -- currently available -- when he arrives; until then, the team has recalled Norfolk yo-yo Heath Bell 19. This manuever may well serve to patch up the butt-end of a rotation sore with injuries, and Julio's brief stay in Flushing won't likely be missed, but it hardly makes the Kris Benson trade any less mysterious.

In between Lima's whacking May 20 and Soler's recall, the Mets enjoyed a phantom appearance from reliever Anderson Garcia, who wasn't used and summarily returned to Norfolk. Rosters list Garcia as being assigned No. 58 but that hasn't been eyewitnessed by us at least. Happy to hear from those who might confirm it.

On May 9, Heath Bell 19 was recalled as Fortunato was sent down. Days later, May 12, Bell was sent down as journeyman auditonee Jeremi Gonzalez was recalled. Gonzalez suited up in No. 32.

Hospital Update (May 8): Well, John Maine didn't last long as a Met, hitting the disabled list just days after his May 1 debut. His spot was grabbed by Bartolome Fortunato, back in No. 43 for the first time since 2004. Things got hairier on Saturday, when sadsack starter Victor Zambrano 38 walked off the field and into a season- and possibly, Met-career-ending elbow injury. Maine's start, and Zambrano's space on the roster, was covered, barely adequately, by clownish righthander Jose Lima, and with Bannister and Maine still missing, more changes are certain to come. Lima by the way became the 29th guy to wear No. 17 for the Mets -- only No. 6 has been issued more often.(34 has also been worn by 29 guys)

Updates (May 1): 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.