Brady Clark is wearing 93.

Meantime, the conspicuous availability of No. 20 indeed seems to indicate hitting coach Howard Johnson may inherit the jersey before long. We're still awaiting word of what uni newly named coach Sandy Alomar Jr. suits up in, but it wouldn't come as a surprise to see Sandy take Hojo's 52, though 54 is also vacant.

Update: See comments! 

The expected recall of Lastings Milledge for tonight’s second half opener accompanied the unexpected release of Julio Franco 23, the Mets’ elderly pinch hitter. It’s not like Franco had earned his slot this season, it’s just that, as with the pending Henderson story, the Mets tend to have more tolerance for struggles with track-record holding veterans and figureheads as they’ve shown recently. I guess this is life in the Omar Era. Milledge by the way returned wearing No. 44 and in possession of the same nice swing he first impressed with a year ago during Spring Training. This phrase has been uttered an aweful lot this season but perhaps that’s just the spark we need.

Speaking of sparks, Jose Valentin 22 was wearing a cast on his pinky and couldn’t play tonight, allowing Ruben Gotay 6 to further his case as the best option at the keystone. Mets officials say the injury came as the result of intervening in “an altercation” while The Internet appears to believe he broke it in a punching a wall. Let’s call it a Wall-tercation and perhaps, a karmic comeuppance for Valentin who a year ago was the guy the stealing the starting second base job from an underperforming and injured incumbent.

Thanks to readers Gene and Matt for pointing it out.

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.
 
 

Willie and the Boz (Feb. 26): Willie Randolph, as quoted by Bill Madden in the Daily News: "I'm gonna wear No. 12. Why? You remember Ken Boswell? Second baseman on the '69 team? He was my favorite player growing up. No. 12. It's a nice number."

We remember Ken Boswell too, and even if his sideburns might not fly in Willie's clubhouse, it speaks well of the new Met manager that he has a sense of his place in history. This is probably a natural result of the era we grew up, but 12 has always seemed more Boswellian to us than Kent-like or Alomarish. And as glorified ticket salesman Darryl Strawberry makes a grand reappearance at Shea this weekend, may it serve as a reminder of this team's horribly miscast former manager, who wore No. 18 but was no George Theodore either.

We found Madden's piece, by the way, from a link at the extraordinary new blog co-authored by veteran MBTN reader Greg -- highly recommended for fans of good writing and historical Metdom.

Mets Trade for Mientkiewicz (Jan. 26): Only hours after Carlos Delgado and his scheming agent left the Mets high and dry came word that Omar had traded promising ex-Cyclone Ian Bladergroen for spare Red Sock first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Minky brings an excellent glove but an average bat to his new job, but was probably the best among the consolation prizes. Mientkiewicz wore No. 16 for most of his career in Minnesota and No. 13 in Boston, but what might be most interesting is seeing whether the Mets manage to fit that unweildly last name onto the back of a jersey without dropping the leading: His 12-lettered name matches Isringhausen for the longest in Met history. Omar contends the offseason acquisition spree is all but done, but we'll believe it when 25 men depart from St. Lucie.

Deck Chairs Rearranged (June 29): The Mets swapped outfielders with Norfolk on Saturday, demoting Tsuyoshi Shinjo 5 and recalling Raul Gonzalez 21. On Sunday, they called back Jaime Cerda 43 and returned Jeremy Griffiths to Norfolk, yet another casualty of the dreaded No. 46.

Heilman Up: (June 28): The Mets on Thursday welcomed 2001's top draft pick, Aaron Heilman to the Big Leagues and he made his debut in No. 48. Mike Bascik 33 was demoted to make room.

Wheeler Dealers (June 18): The Mets today called up pitcher Dan Wheeler, late of the Devil Ray and Atlanta organizations, and dressed him in the unremarkable No. 39 (If Art Howe had a sense of humor, he'd surrender his uni number so we could have an 18 WHEELER -- thanks gf!). To make room they demoted pitcher Jason Roach 57, who was uh, smoked in his only appearance.

Bugged Out (June 15): The Mets debuted Jason Roach unsuccessfully on Saturday in Anaheim. Roach was issued No. 57, making him the first player ever to wear that number in a regular-season game. Pointlessly acquired X-Yankee reliever Mike Stanton 32 was meanwhile scheduled to hit the operating table.

MBTN is pleased in the meantime to welcome new GM Jim Duquette to the mix, and wish his contributions to the All-Time Roster are good ones.

Jose Reyes Era Begins (June 10): With Rey Sanchez 10 onto the disabled yet again, the Jose Reyes era is getting an early start. The heralded Met shortstop prospect will make his Major League debut tonight, a day before his 20th birthday, wearing No. 7. The Mets also also welcomed back Timo Perez 6 and returned Raul Gonzalez 21 to Norfork.

Waits: 54 (June 10) The mystery of bullpen coach Rick Waits has been solved. Waits was spied in No. 54 last night by MBTN reader Andrew. He changed shirts when Tony Clark took his 52. Update (June 28): Waits was in 54 all season, corrects MBTN coach-list keeper Jason.

Stanton, Bell return (June 6): Mike Stanton 32 and Jay Bell 44 have returned from their respective DL assignments, relegating replacements Pat Strange 38 and Marco Scutaro 26 to Norfolk.

Clark, Mr. Met settle differences (June 5) Tony Clark appeared in Thursday's doubleheader wearing No. 52, changing from 00, explaining the former belonged to mascot Mr. Met. "A lot of kids have expressed their opinion that there's only one double-zero in their heart," Clark said. That may be true today but a uniform number is a recent development for the largeheaded one, who represented for years without one. Clark in the meantime just keeps on making history: He was the first Met player to wear 00 and now, the first to wear 52.

Jeremy Griffiths also made his major league debut Thursday, wearing the dreaded No. 46.

More injury shenanigans (June 1): Two more Met vets hit the trainer's room this weekend: Mike Stanton 32 and Pedro Astacio 34. Stanton was disabled Saturday and was replaced by lefty starter Mike Bacsik 33. That move made more sense when the Mets revealed Sunday that Astacio will hit the DL. In his place, they've recalled Jeremy Griffiths, who will be making his first big-league appearance and is listed as wearing No. 65 (but would appear in 46).

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.