So the Mets made it two of three from the Diamondbacks this afternoon, winning the rubber game behind a well-timed error by the bad guys, and while wearing the black unis for the first non-Friday of the year. Howie Rose told listeners on Saturday that the Mets had planned to wear black then also, only to be foiled when the Snakes at the last minute donned their black shirts. (For the record, they wore a different look in each game of the series, including the hideous solid-red tops today, indicating how out-of-control the whole unisphere is. Many people consider the red/gold thing an improvement for the Diamnondbacks, but I'm not one of them. I mean, the teal/purple thing was awful but it at least called to mind some of that Southwest painted-desert art).

Yes, and so the Mets improved to 4-1 in black this year. I meant to keep a running tally, and may still do so if I can reconstruct the season. Unless someone else already has and would like to share...

Anyway, I was visiting relataives in the Philly TV market and wound up seeing most of today's Phillies-Giants game. You've probably been told the Giants suck this year, which is true to an extent, but they can pitch. Like the Diamondbacks this weekend, they probably played a little better overall but lost 2 of 3. The West has excellent pitching; we're about to see more in LA.

Just like the Mets to have a solid game against the league's best team on the same day that stories suggesting the org whack the manager (New York Sun) and pitching coach (Daily News) appear. But that's the Mets.

Part of it could be a lift from the return of Moises Alou to the lineup, though I'd argue that the drag of anticipating his return was every bit as bad. They activated Alou by the way, by demoting Gustavo Molina while Brian Schneider showed up in an emergency mode.

And don't get me wrong -- it's great to see Jose Reyes driving the ball again, and I want to see a cycle as much as the next guy, maybe more, but Sandy Alomar Sr. is a horse's ass for sending Reyes after the inside-the-parker with no outs. Not only was he out by a mile but he could have gotten hurt. And he certainly would have scored given the three bats in the lineup to follow him. Alomar got away with the same kinda boneheaded calls all last year and was never held accountable.

Worth noticing in the game was the fact they were in their black jerseys again... a get-up that to this point has been worn on each Friday of the season and only on Friday. A friend pointed out these jerseys do not include the Shea Stadium patch as their white ones do. Not sure offhand is that is peculiar only to the black jerseys or to black road jerseys. Do you know? Let us know.

Got the following email recently from reader Steve:

I bought a Rawlings authentic jersey on eBay a few weeks ago. The seller listed it as a Jose Reyes jersey but I knew it couldn't have been because: 1) it's a Rawlings and 2) it just had the "7", with no player name, on the back. So, upon seeing it, I immediately thought it was a '99 Todd Pratt jersey (I was excited someone liked Pratt as much as I did, that they'd actually get a Pratt jersey). That all changed, however, when I got it in the mail.

For starters, the authentic tag is on the inside of the jersey, not the outside, which is where it is when players get them. It also has the "flag tag" hanging from it, indicating size "42", the Rawlings jerseys had tags in the collars with the size. Third, it has the MLB logo sewn on the back of the neck, which wasn't done until 2000. So, all these things made me very confused. So, I got to thinking that maybe this was a minor league issued jersey (maybe the B-Mets) but I just don't know. I was hoping there might be some way you could help. Was there someone on the B-Mets who was small enough to wear a "42" sometime after 2000 and before they started using Majestic?

As I explained to Steve, I'm not an expert at all when it comes to jersey make/models but as he did, I suspect he must have purchased a B-Mets jersey. But I don't know for sure, and I hope you might. To sum up, Steve is looking at a "game-worn" jersey that:

 

1) No. 7, no name on the back

2) Size 42

3) MLB logo on the back

4) Rawlings make

 

If you have some ideas as to the origin of this jersey, please share them in the comments section below.

***

Thanks to all who showed up at last night's event at Word Books, where I discussed Mets by the Numbers and Spike Vrusho told tales from his book on baseball brawls, flawlessly brought to life by Caryn of MetsGrrl (who I know must be saddened today by the passing of E- Streeter Danny Federici). The event was a lot of fun, and though we'd missed most of last night's regularly-scheduled Mets game to do the event, the Mets were kind enough to give us plenty of time for drinks and triumphant game-watching afterward at Red Star.

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)!

So this is turning out to be a better week than it looked like it might be back on Tuesday, what with an impressive debut starts from Mike Pelfrey and Nelson Figueroa; the first Metly appearance and contribution from Raul Casanova; and a continued MVP bid from Angel Pagan. There's something satisfying knowing that all these guys are one-time products of the maligned Mets farm system.

Figueroa's victory last night marked the first appearance of the dreaded black unis all season (not to mention the first call for a tailor to get Figueroa's jersey to fit right. Looked like a size 44 wearing a 52). Correct me if I'm wrong, but we've yet to see pinstripes and/or the gorgeous all-blue Mets cap yet. Speaking as a neighbor of hundreds of young hipsters, the latter is becoming the new trucker cap around here: I'll try and gather photographic evidence and show you in a future post.

Nice to see the Mets honor Shea (that's my wife's maiden name, doncha know?) but leave it to the incomparable Paul Lukas to point out they did so while introducing unnecessary black dropshadows to the logo and accompanying retired numbers.

* Thanks to Eric Simon of Amazin' Avenue (and his readers) for the enthusiastic book review he published recently. See also a nice note from author, reviewer and Yankee fanatic Harvey Frommer. And Mark Lelinwalla of the NY Daily News did a short peice on the book's creation in The Score column last week.

* I'll be at two great independent bookstores next week to sign and discuss the book: On Wednesday, Bookends in Ridgewood, N.J.; and Thursday at Word Books in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Thanks as usual to a great readership we destroyed the Kingman Kontroversy in a matter of hours and moved on to still more mystery.

First up, on the right is a 1981 program showing a spring training photo of Dave Kingman (wearing No. 5, obscured by his bat) along with Rusty Staub. Both TommieCleon and SJR provided me with this image -- apparently published at least twice that season (once pre-strike, once post-strike).

On the left is a weird All-Star insert card provided by TommieCleon, also showing Kong with the partially obscured No. 5.

As detailed in the comments in the post below this, this controversy reminded me of another "false positive" Kingman spring. This one was 1975. Tonight I cracked open the '75 yearbook to find the below photo, showing the newly acquired Kingman in a St. Petersburg batting cage wearing No. 4 but with a roster, dated March 27, noting Kingman would wear 26 once the season began. Adding to this confusion were photos of Rusty Staub also wearing 4 -- but they dated to 1974. Staub that spring was wearing 10 for the first time -- he'd ditched 4 after Duffy Dyer was traded that winter.

Now things get really weird. When that 1975 season finally began, it was April 8, a Tuesday day game against the Phillies -- 33 years ago today. I was at Shea with my Dad, and Kingman hit a home run. We won 2-1 that day as Seaver outdueled Carlton.

Tonight I learned that today's disappointing home opener against the Phillies was attended by Dave Kingman.

I don't know what it means either. 

 * Before today's game, Matt Wise was placed on the disabled list with a stiff forearm. The surprise recallee, Carlos Muniz, pitched this after noon wearing No. 32. Muniz wore 38 last year before Wise arrived this winter.

MBTN reader Gordon passed the below photo along today along with this note:

I came across a picture at a flea market this weekend. It was labeled to be Dave Kingman (it looks like him). He's wearing uniform #5.

For whatever reason, this photo looks vaguely familiar to me but I can't place it. If indeed it's Kingman, and I agree on the blurry resemblance, the intersection of uniform style, Kong's tenure with the Mets, and availability of No. 5 places this picture as being taken sometime in 1981, obviously in a road game, and before September 11, when Mike Howard was issued No. 5.

My guess is, as often the case, it dates from spring training -- where photos exist of Kingman wearing No. 10 from his first tenure. But if you have a guess or happen to know something, please share in the comments section below.

* Thanks to my friends new and old who showed up at the MBTN book launch Sunday at Stout NYC and shared beer, wings, pretzels, burgers and the pain of realizing Luis Castillo is only in the 5th day of a four-year contract. The SNY crew didn't make it after all, but looks like we'll have an audience with them soon. Thanks also to the folks who made our appearance at Barnes & Noble Bayside a fun time on Saturday, especially Ashley who set it all up, and Mike, Mike and Lou. We left behind a short stack of autographed copies there -- get them while they last.

* We have a few more events on the calendar for next week, including an appearance at Bookends in New Jersey April 16 and a baseball writers event at Word Books in Brooklyn April 17 hosted by Caryn Rose of Metsgrrl and also featuring Spike Vrusho, author of Benchclearing: Baseball's Greatest Fights and Riots. No way can you miss that.

 

Leave it Yankee fans to find a way to interrupt my schafenfreude. After the Mets were rained out last night, I listened in with sick delight as the Rays dismantled the Yankees, 13-4. The beatdown was highlighted by a 6-run outburst against LaTroy Hawkins, the newly acquired veteran reliever off to a rotten start with the Yankees.

There's not a true Met fan out there who didn't chuckle to themselves when the Yanks made that acquisition, by the way. Hawkins was the pitcher who surrendered a 3-run, 9th-inning, game-tying bomb to Victor Diaz in the final week of the 2004 season, in a game that ultimately obliterated the Cubs' run for the playoffs and provided about the only Mets' highlight of that entire miserable year.

But back to last night. Yankee fans being Yankee fans, it's not enough for them to be disgusted with, and unsupportive of, their players while they struggle. No, they have to hate Hawkins on a level beyond that for having the temerity to struggle while wearing (hush now) Paul O'Neill's venerated No. 21. So while Hawkins was out there scuffling last night, he did so to a chorus of unsportsmanlike "Paul O'Neill!" chants.

Mets fans, don't act like that.

Never mind the fact that Hawkins explained he's wearing the number in honor of Roberto Clemente. That in itself ought to be reason enough to leave his choice alone. But somehow the Yankees and their fans have allowed the whole idea of re-issuing popular players' numbers to become an affront to the former player's dignity and an invitation to their fans to act disgracefully. The Yankees' organizational habit of dubiously retiring numbers (Howard, Maris, and Jackson to name three) no doubt has conditioned fans to sniff out disrepect behind innocunous or even well-intentioned re-issues, while demanding they honor any or every pretty good but not great player who came through the organization and was fortunate enough to be a part of a championship team.

DISCLAIMER: Not all Yankee fans are like the guy above. Many don't smoke. 

* The Mets' rain-out last night sets up a delicious Santana-Glavine matchup for Sunday's game, which we'll be watching at Stout NYC (133 W. 33rd St.) for the Mets by the Numbers launch/viewing party. I'm told SNY's Mets Weekly crew may be on hand. Hope to see you there too!

* I'll be warming up for that event with a talk and book signing today (Saturday) at Barnes & Noble in Bayside, 3 p.m.

 

 

Seen here is a video still from yet another regrettable moment in Mets uniform history as captured by the remarkable Paul C. Yes that's mercifully deposed announcer Fran Healy, along with Howie Rose, showing off their custom Mercury Mets jerseys during the schlocky promotion on July 27, 1999.

Paul sent this beaut along after reading in our interview published recently that Howie prefers No. 14 (reader Steve R. in the meantime recalled Howie telling the story of wearing No. 36 at a Met fantasy camp). So why 21? Just guessing here, but you may recall the whole turn-ahead-the-clock jersey fiasco was a marketing trainwreck hatched by the geniuses at realty company Century 21. The game, they wanted us to imagine, took place in the Year 2021 (wow! That far ahead?)

Until now the best photo we'd had of Mercury Mets attire came from Dave Murray, aka Mets Guy in Michigan, who this week declared Mets by the Numbers to be "the best book ever written." Aw... Thanks!

And speaking of the greatest blogger of all-time, joining Dave on the links column to the left is No No-Hitters, a site devoted to the New York Mets’ dubious streak of having never pitched a no hitter in franchise history. Personally I find no-hitters just random enough events to not-so-secretly hope this streak continues for another 46 years. I was relieved when Glavine choked one away in 2004. Glavine? In 2004? Go, Kit Pellow!

Still you gotta admire the obsessiveness and attention to detail that site exhibits

We should know for sure how things shake out soon, but thought I'd forward a few ideas on the bench in case they'd like to check with me first.

Raul Casanova, wearing No. 30, looks like he's going to start the year as the backup catcher to Brian Schneider. I don't mind this. Casanova’s not as bad hitter and he switch hits. Ramon Castro has missed large parts of the last two seasons with back injuries and will miss the start of this year. I like my scrubeenos more reliable than Castro’s been, and hope for the sake of competition, and for the sake of having a lousy hitter as our No. 1 catcher, that Casanova makes his case.

I thought when Olmedo Seanz was canned the righthanded-hitting reserve job would go to Jose Valentin, but he’s hurt and may retire. Instead the Mets appear to be wavering between veterans Brady Clark 93 and – surprise! – Fernando Tatis. With Angel Pagan likely to be the starter in left while Moises Alou heals, and Endy Chavez the all-around defensive replacement, it may very well be Tatis, whose outfield experience is weak but who could also serve as a 3rd base and 1st base reserve. Tatis seems to be have been given a better chance than I'd anticipated given a dignified uni number (17) and fact he's from early-90s Texas Ranger stock -- USDA Prime as Omar is concerned.

Marlon Anderson (2B, 1B, corner OF) and Damion Easley (the only emergency shortstop) are the collective veteran lefty-righty pinch hitting tamdem. Let’s hope they survive the season unscathed.

Also:
* Pat Jordan fulfills the fantasy of every journalist who ever dealt with a difficult subject by blasting Jose Canseco out of the park. What a shot!

* I’ll be appearing with co-author Matthew Silverman at a book signing Saturday April 5, 3 p.m., at the Barnes & Noble in Bayside Queens.