Sorry for the lack of updates last week: I had a story about the bullpen woes and Omar's future on the unemployment line loaded and ready to blast a week ago, but then they started accomplishing good things, and I decided maybe it was best to give it the "no-hitter treatment" while it lasted.

But the forthcoming addition of Luis Ayala to the Met scrolls, and Billy Wagner's latest setback, are noteworthy enough to briefly interrupt my winning streak silence.

Though Ayala has been worked pretty hard -- he's in Heilman/Feliciano territory as far as appearances are concerned -- I like this deal if only because anything could help and he came so cheap.

One only needs to look at the uni numbers to see Anderson Hernandez had no future here. As a late-season callup in 2005 and opening day starter at second-base in 2006, Anderson wore No. 1, but he was stripped of that by the time the Mets acquired Luis Castillo and reappeared in No. 4. That number was subsequently issued to Robinson Cancel, and then to Argenis Reyes: Losing two numbers, to three guys, in less than a year, is a condition rarely recovered from. As for Ayala, he's No. 56 with Nationals: That uni currently belongs to Mets' bullpen pitcher Juan Lopez.

The update we didn't record was the unsurprising demotion of Carlos Muniz for John Maine last Wednesday.

 

The 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.

The Mets on Wednesday placed Raul Casanova on the bereavement list and in what figures to be a sort-term solution, called beefy AAA catcher Robinson Cancel to the big club to take his place. Cancel last played Major League ball nine years ago with the Brewers and was signed by the Mets system a year ago out of the Northern League.

Mets.com lists Cancel as wearing No. 4, which if true (I missed pictures from todays game) means the Met tailors worked pretty hard stitching a few yards of fabric to the No. 4 jersey from its most recent occupant, bantamweight infielder Anderson Hernandez. Cancel is wishfully listed at 190.

Will the indignities ever end for Ben Johnson? Here's a guy who, a year ago at this time, was optimistically looked upon as an up-and-comer with a shot at stealing at least a part-time job in the Mets outfield. While visions of another Xavier Nady were a stretch, Johnson, like Nady, was a young outfielder with some nascent skills acquired in a trade with the Padres. His chances of making the team last spring were reflected in his slot on the 40-man roster and the dignified uni number, 4.

But after a year spent mainly nursing injuries in AAA and flubbing what seldom chances he got with the Mets (5 hits in 27 at-bats), the Mets assigned No. 4 to weak-hitting infielder Anderson Hernandez and Johnson was released this winter. Heath Bell, the relief pitcher traded to San Diego for Johnson, had in the meantime had established himself as one of the league's top set-up men, not that the Mets could have used one of those last season. Cough.

Recently re-signed to a minor league deal by the Mets, Johnson is reporting to camp this week in No. 92. Not that we've ever kept these kinds of records but if there's a larger drop from one camp the next than 88 digits, we'd like to know.

With the New Orleans Zephyrs swept out of the AAA playoffs over the weekend, representatives of the losers arrived in time to see — and participate — in the worst display of Met baseball since the Art Howe Era.

Soft-tossing righty Brian Lawrence 54 stepped in and registered what we can only hope would be the last outing of his Mets career, coughing up a 4-run lead to Washington. Joe Smith 35 is back, but the velocity he sidearmed with earlier this year apparently didn’t come along with him. Ramon Castro 11 didn’t have the health to stick through short-season games with Brooklyn but is back here anyway. Weak-hitting utilityman David Newhan? Yes, he’s back too, still torturing Keith Hernandez in No. 17.

Perhaps the only interesting returnee from a unicentric standpoint is infielder Anderson Hernandez, who we last saw wearing No. 1 in July. Hernandez was recalled only to discover the Mets had issued No. 1 to Luis Castillo during Hernandez’ stay in New Orleans. No. 4 was hanging in his locker this time around. When he gets into a game, he’ll become the Mets’ 14th 15th player to wear No. 4, and the first since Chris Woodward a year ago Ben Johnson earlier this year. (Props to Gene, below for the correction).

Only time will tell whether this latest stumble is just another stumble or the beginnings of an historic collapse, but you can bet we’ll be here hating ourselves for watching every minute of it!