I was at Shea last night for the first time this year thanks to my co-writer, and now co-star in a potential future episode of Mets Weekly. We were joined by two other swell guys, and we had a great time, the Mets looked resplendent, especially with the blue hats, matching 42 jerseys (anyone other than me remember Chuck Taylor?) and no names on the back. Sweet.

Worth noting was that the scoreboard identified the players by their assigned numbers but the Shea PA announcer introduced them all as No. 42. I'll address how to integrate this event into the database when I've had some time to think about it.

I missed the announcement pre-game so I was delighted to see Duaner Sanchez trot in from the bullpen for the the 9th inning. The quietly effective Carlos Muniz was shipped back to the minors to make room. Just an all-around terrific night.

6 p.m. Tonight, we're opening for Gary Carter at Bookends in Ridewood, N.J. Thursday at 7:30, I'll discuss the Mets and baseball with Metsgrrl and Spike Vrusho (author of Benchclearing) at Word Books in Greenpoint (beer and snacks to be served)!

The Mets on Tuesday will celebrate the pioneering efforts of Ron Hodges, who broke the Scrubeenie Barrier by lasting 12 seasons in a Mets uniform, the first 11 without even being considered a regular starting option.

To mark the historic occasion, every player on the Mets will be outfitted in the No. 42 jersey Ron made famous while rotting on the bench behind Grote and Dyer; then Grote and Stearns; and then Stearns and Grote; and then Stearns and Trevino; and then Trevino and Stearns; and then Stearns and Trevino again; and then Mike Fitzgerald. Relievers from Harry Parker to Wes Gardner found Hodges' target while warming up in the bullpen; and managers from Berra to Frazier to Torre to Johnson called on his left-handed bat to pinch hit in crucial situations, provided they had already used Kranepool, Staub or Jorgensen.

"Waiting around to be useful and occasionally contributing something worthwhile are attributes I want my guys to inhabit," explained manager Willie Randolph, who donned the 42 jersey at last year's event. "We need to go out there and show our fans that in each of us beats the heart of a lefthanded hitting reserve catcher, preferably a veteran."

For Hodges, 11 seasons of waiting around for a shot came to delicious fruition in 1983, when as a 34-year-old, he was the starting catcher in Tom Seaver's glorious, opening-day return to Shea Stadium. Hodges set career highs with 110 games played and 250 at-bats.

"As a lefthanded-hitting catcher with a reputation for strong defense, I understand that Ron Hodges was every bit the player I am," added the Mets' current starter behind the dish, Brian Schneider. "Ron's career reminds me of how blessed I am."

* * *

* Actually, all Mets are to wear 42 Tuesday to honor Jackie Robinson. The above wasn't meant to disparage his contributions, or Ron Hodges's, for that matter.

* Cultural omniblogger/librarian Mike Tubridy's "Boat Against the Current" blog has nice words on Mets by the Numbers and its launch party last week.

Sanchez, Acta & Santiago -- Updated (Feb. 28): Providing speedy responses to the inquiry posted here yesterday, Duaner Sanchez is indeed wearing No. 50 (thanks Matt and Kieran). Keiran in the meantime spied coach Manny Acta wearing No. 3, settling the issue of what number he wound up with after Sanchez swiped his former digits. The mystery of Jose Santiago's jersey remains. As pointed out by MBTN reader Brian, his No. 33 was re-issued this spring to prospect John Maine, and published rosters have either not been accurately updated or, in a likely foreshadowing the opening-day roster, leave him off completely.

Let us know what you find.

All Sevens: The Matsuituation (Updated Dec. 10)
Kazuo Matsui met the press this afternoon and tried on his jersey -- in a surprise, No. 25. That shirt was most recently worn by coach Don Baylor, who took it from Scott Strickland over last offseason.

Cone, as in Done (May 30): Leave it to the Mets to see a player retire -- and have him replaced by guy even older. That was the news today when 40-year-old worn-out warrior David Cone 16 called it a career and was replaced on the roster by 42-year-old rehabbed reliever John Franco 45. Good luck to David, who joins Mo Vaughn among pretty good players who seem to have spent their last days of their careers with the '03 Mets.

Injury Update du Jour (May 26): The Mets finally got around to disable-listing gimpy outfielder Timo Perez 6 and re-calling grumpy infielder Rey Sanchez 10. Meantime, David Cone 16 has re-joined the team, taking the place of lefty reliever Jaime Cerda 43, who was returned to Norfolk for the second time this year.

Komiyama Back: (April 30) Satoru Komiyama 17 was recalled to the Mets today and Pete Walker 43 returned.

Mo' Mo: (April 21) Mo Vaughn 42 returned from the disabled list today. To make room the Mets optioned Tony Tarasco 40 back to Norfolk.

Komiyama to DL; Yates, then Walker Up: (April 17) Unfamiliar with garage doors in his new country, Satoru Komiyama's carport accident sent No. 17 to the 15-day disabled list. The Mets called up Tyler Yates from Norfolk, issued him No. 32, but he never appeared in a game before being sent down Wednesday for the now-rested Pete Walker. Walker will wear No. 43.

Holy Mo-ly (Dec. 30): The rebuilding continued as the Mets completed a trade sending Kevin Appier 17 to the Angels for hefty slugger Mo Vaughn. The trade brings an unexpected return of No. 42 to Met history. Retired by MLB a few years back (for Jackie Robinson, not Ron Hodges), most of us figured Butch Huskey would have been the last No. 42 in Met history. Appier might have known he was on the block when the Mets assigned his No. 17 to Satoru Komiyama a few days earlier. This probably also means the end of the line for No. 9, Todd Zeile, who if nothing else was a real mensch.

In other news, the Mets signed local product John Frascatore to a minor league deal and purchased Gary Matthews Jr. from Pittsburgh. Frascatore wore No. 52 most recently with the Blue Jays. Matthews most recently wore Al Leiter's No. 22. Those figures happen also to belong to heavily rumored Juan Gonzalez. Stay tuned.

In other news, the Mets non-tendered Rick White 51, leaving the burly baldy free to pursue employment elsewhere.

Meet the Mets! (Dec. 18): Four of the six newly acquired Mets showed up at Shea Stadium today to try on their jerseys. As expected Robbie Alomar took No. 12. The 19 controversy (see below) was settled when Mark Guthrie took No. 35 and Roger Cedeno dropped to No. 18. Curiously, Satoru Komiyama tried on No. 17, which indicates perhaps a change is afoot for Kevin Appier. Either Ape is changing shirts or another trade is coming. David Weathers and Shawn Estes were unable to attend.

On a side note, we at MBTN don't consider these press corps grip-and-grins an indication of record -- we'll wait for the regular season to make anything "official." We in fact recall Roger Cedeno trying on No. 11 at one of these things two years ago, only to appear come the regular season wearing No. 19.

Sayonara! (Dec. 17): The Mets pulled yet another trade Sunday (and promised more), sending Tsuyoshi Shinjo 5 and Desi Relaford 8 to San Francisco in exchange for lefty starter Shawn Estes. This trade hurts, since we'll miss Shinjo-san's flair, style and gigantic orange sweatbands. Estes by the way wore No. 55 with the Giants -- should he remain with the Mets through the end of the week (no sure bet anymore) the number would be available, having not been worn since Orel Hershiser in 1999.

Product 19 (Dec. 14): The Mets Thursday signed X-Met Roger Cedeno to a four-year contract, creating not only a logjam in the outfield but a potential controversy over No. 19. That jersey currently belongs to Lenny Harris, himself as two time Met. Harris occupied No. 19 before Cedeno (1998) and after him (2000-present). On Friday, the Mets traded David Justice to Oakland for Mark Guthrie -- who wore No. 19 with the A's! We'll keep you updated on this breaking controversy.

Also on Thursday, the Mets created another possible conflict by signing David Weathers to a contract. The ex-Cub, ex-Yankee and ex-Brewer is most often seen wearing No. 49, digits currently belonging to Armando Benitez.

Trader Steve Strikes Again (Dec. 12, 2001): The Mets today pulled a shocking trade for Tribe second baseman Roberto Alomar, giving up outfielders Matt Lawton 23, Alex Escobar 25 and pitcher Jerrod Riggan 38. Alomar's familiar No. 12 is available. The Mets also received a minor league outfielder and lefty pitcher Mike Bascik, who wore 51 briefly with the Indians last year. Those digits currently belong to Rick White.

Goodbye Robin. Hello Batman? (Dec. 7, 2001): In a move showing mucho cojones, the Mets swapped Robin Ventura to the Yankees today for Dave Justice. We'll miss No. 4 who was a tough guy fallen on hard times. Should Justice actually suit up for the Mets, the No. 28 he wore with the cross-town bums is available. Most likely, this is only the first domino falling for the Mets -- stay tuned!

Komiyama Over (Dec. 2, 2001): The Mets signed Japanese League veteran righthander Satoru Komiyama, late of the Yokohama BayStars and Bobby Valentine's former Chiba Lotte team. After some dogged Internet research, we've determined that Komiyama favors No. 27, most recently worn by Mark Corey. In other news, the Mets have re-upped No. 47, Super Joe McEwing, and picked up the option on No. 5, Tsuyoshi Shinjo.