So we all knew Mets did a poor job of keeping the fact they would have a few new uniform looks in 2013 a secret but all the same was anyone as shocked as me by how softly they revealed them today given the potential for the new look to spark a retail renaissance and maybe sell a few tickets? Couldn’t they have asked Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum to come along for a big runway show instead of unceremoniously Tweeting the news that these new looks are available?

Come on Mets, you don’t need geeks like me to tell you there are thousands of fans who eat this kind of stuff up. I mean, new unis is something the Yankees never get to do, why the sudden soft sell? And why do you suppose when they showed this rather handsome new road-blue jersey they showed it with … Ronny Cedeno’s number? (never mind, I get that now. Sheesh).

Those curious asides aside, I think we’ve got a handsome jersey, particularly the return of the silvery letters that last appeared on the Mets’ jerseys the last time they were blue. I’m not necessarily sold on the piping but at the same time welcome the orange back to the color scheme. My other critique, such as it is, is that the shade of blue is much darker than it was 30 years ago, as though someone dumped half a bottle of purple into the royal shade of yesteryear. I guess black dies hard.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not one of those Howie Rose types who bemoans every moment the Mets aren’t outfitted in baggy wool pinstripes: I like that things can change from time to time and I believe the Mets could easily and successfully get away with going further in this change: How about an alternate hat with a Mr. Met logo? As I mentioned above it’s something the Mets have on the Yankees, at least when they do it right. Here I think they have a good looking alternate, and it’s weird that they’re keeping it to themselves.

As a longtime critic of the Mets’ questionable senses of fashion and self-awareness I feel obligated to tip my (blue-and-orange only) cap to what appears so far to be a thoughtful and tasteful approach to the team’s 50th anniversary as revealed yesterday. Uni fans know the info by now I’m sure, but they’re dropping the black drop shadows and black hats for 2012 (hopefully the butt-ugly two-toned batting helmets go along with them, as I’ve long felt nothing looks any worse). They said they’d use the black alternate jerseys for selected away games only; and introduced a series of events dedicated to acknowledging team history including a return ofBanner Day, decade-themed bobblehead giveaways, and the anniversary patch/logo pictured above. Let’s Go Mets.

My friend Dave reports the buzz on the Intenets suggests the Mets will unveil their new uniform designs on Friday, Nov. 27. For those of you dreading the worst, that day is also known as “Black Friday” and the official kick off to the Holiday shopping season. It’s also a week before the Winter Meetings get underway.

That the home pinstripe unis will shift from a bright-white to cream color is the worst kept secretof this event. What might be more interesting to track is whether those jerseys will retain the unnecessary black accents that the current jerseys do, and whatever other changes might be in store.

I’ve been tipped off that certain influential people in the Mets organization are strongly in favor of a new alternate look — that is, to balance to the “retro” look of the cream pinstripes — as well as subtle chages to the current ensemble including the removal of piping on the plackets of the home whites. That would allow the Mets to further resemble to Dodgers, but if you’re going to copy an NL team, you could do worse. Do you think this addition might mean they cashier the all-black look or would they dare mix and match four looks? I dunno. And I wish they’d come to realize the two-tone hat is just awful and derserved to die years ago already.

Pictured here are a few of the alterna-prototypes the Mets asked season-ticket holders to consider earlier this year. What do you think?

Many of you are probably aware the Mets will take the field against the Giants this weekend wearing “throwback” jersey that pay tribute to the Mets’ National League predecessors. The cream-colored jerseys with the oversized NY logo recall the New York Giants unis of 1904-1907 and invite fans to imagine Bobby Parnell and Jerry Manuel as if they were Christy Matthewson and John McGraw.

I have no problem with the Mets playing a game or two each year with a commemorative jersey, it’s the kind of thing the team doesn’t do nearly enough of which is surprising given the opportunity for merchandising that fuels the Wilpon powerplant. The Mets have also made a point to inform fans they finally got around to Metting up the new place, hanging up a few new photos and banners. I wonder how the Great Wall of Famous Former Met Signatures is coming along? I will see on Monday.

Anyhow, while you peruse the throwbacks this weekend, keep in mind the near certainty that a new look is en route next season, and that this outfit, though seemingly a throwback, is also a likely barometer of the future. Remember that the Mets asked fans about a cream-colored home jersey, removing trim on the placket, and an oversized NY logo on the breast (check, check and check). I would not be surprised to see all three elements incorporated in some fashion next season — at least one influential Met insider I know of is strongly in favor of it.

This is also a good time to point out a running tabulation of Met results by Uni Style as tracked from across the Atlantic by Checked Swing. Home whites/blue caps are killing the competition, trim or — bet on it next year — no trim.