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.
 
 

April 20: Kaz Matsui 25 made his return as the Anderson Hernandez Experiment ended due to injury, not an inability to hit.

April 17: Underutilized stick Victor Diaz 20 was told to play all he wants -- in Norfolk. Lefty Pedro Feliciano 39 takes his place on the roster.

Still finishing extensive site update. Thanks for your patience...

Opening Day! (April 3):MBTN.net officially welcomes the following 12 players to the All-Time Met roster:

Trach is Back (Aug. 23): The Mets today welcomed back Steve Trachsel 29, and slotted him in the rotation on Friday. The drama as to who would be sacrificed to make room for him was satisfactorily resolved when washed-up mop-up man Danny Graves 32 was designated for assignment. On Monday, beefy reliever Heath Bell 19 was recalled from Norfolk while Dae Sung Koo 17 was demoted. On Sunday, reserve catcher Mike DeFelice 33 returned to the active roster when the Mets got around to disabling catcher Mike Piazza 31. Meanwhile, a massive three-run homer in his debut turn at bat Sunday appears to have saved a job for Mike Jacobs 27, who's now your starting first baseman.

MBTN reader Mike from Tennessee points out that Jacobs became the fourth Met to hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat -- and that each of them had ascending uni numbers: Benny Ayala 18; Mike Fitzgerald 20; Kaz Matsui 25; and Jacobs 27. This is the kind of useless history MBTN was designed to capture.

Santiago Up, Bell Down (July 16): The Mets arrived in Denver tonight with journeyman righthander Jose Santiago wearing No. 33. Santiago was recalled from Norfolk Sunday when Heath Bell 19 was demoted and informed he needs to develop a change-up. No. 33 was issued earlier this year to backup catcher Mike DiFelice.

Mientkiewicz Returns, Padilla Arrives (July 16): The Mets announced Friday that first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz 16 has returned from a rehab stint and that cobwebby pinch-hitter Brian Daubach 13 was returned to Norfolk. They also promoted Norfolk closer Juan Padilla and returned lefty Royce Ring 22 to the farm. Padilla comes to the Mets having had an excellent half-season at Norfolk and Ring's demotion seems to suggest that infuriating starter Kaz Ishii 23 will get a look in the pen. Padilla was assigned No. 28, which for two years sat patiently awaiting the return of Scott Strickland.

Mientkiewicz to DL; Jose Offerman Arrives (June 26): When Doug Mientkiewicz' attempt to revive his season was interrupted Saturday by a hamstring tear, the Mets fished the Norfolk waters and reeled in fossilized utilityman Jose Offerman. Offernman, just .167 in 36 turns at bat for the Tides, suited up Sunday night in No. 35, recently cashiered by Mike DeJean. Truth be told, the elderly switch-hitting Offerman wasn't that bad as a pinch-hitter for the Twins last year.