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2016 Numerical Roster (Bulldog Edition)

February 8, 2016 Met Mysteries 5 comments

Normally by this time of the year the Mets have published an updated roster at their official site but as alertly pointed out by Jetropolitans in the comments section below, some outlets have gone live with updated rosters. These places (CBS Sports and ESPN) typically wouldn’t use “original” reporting for this, so it was likely passed along to them, and their rosters align. I suppose the interns they have working over at Mets.com just haven’t gotten to it yet. Meantime I’m checking with sources.

Assuming what they are reporting is accurate, here’s how it looks this morning. Note the CBS and ESPN rosters do not include figures for the coaching and field staff, but it would appear some would be on the move as a result of player changes: Plawecki from 22 to 26 (unseating Tom Goodwin) and Bastardo at 59 (Dan Warthen). There are still a pile of NRIs to assign.

To be continued…. New issues denoted with a *

Number	Name	Notes
1	Vacant	was Eric Young
2*	Dilson Herrera	Herrera reclaiming 2 from Juan Uribe; last wore 16
3	Curtis Granderson
4	Wilmer Flores
5	David Wright
6	Pat Roessler?	was coach Pat Roessler
7	Travis d’Arnaud
8	Vacant	Uunassigned (Gary Carter)
9	Vacant	was Kirk Nieuwenhuis
10	Terry Collins?
11	Ruben Tejada
12	Juan Lagares
13*	Asdrubal Cabrera	was Jerry Blevins
14	Retired	Gil Hodges
15*	Matt Reynolds	was Bob Geren
16*	Alejandro De Aza	was Dilson Herrera
17	Vacant	unassigned (Keith Hernandez)
18	Tim Teufel?
19	Vacant	was Johnny Monell (NRI)
20*	Neil Walker	was Anthony Recker
21	Lucas Duda
22	Vacant	was Kevin Plawecki
23	Vacant	was Michael Cuddyer
24	Vacant	unassigned (Willie Mays)
25	Ricky Bones?	was Bones in 2015
26*	Kevin Plawecki	was Tom Goodwin
27	Jeurys Familia
28	Vacant	was Daniel Murphy
29	Eric Campbell
30	Michael Conforto
31	Retiring	Mike Piazza
32	Steven Matz
33	Matt Harvey
34	Noah Syndergaard
35	Logan Verrett
36	Sean Gilmartin
37	Retired	Casey Stengel
38	Vacant	was Vic Black
39*	Jerry Blevins	was Bobby Parnell
40	Bartolo Colon
41	Retired	Tom Seaver
42	Retired	Jackie Robinson
43	Addison Reed
44	Vacant	was Eric O’Flaherty
45	Zack Wheeler
46	Vacant	was Tyler Clippard
47	Hansel Robles
48	Jacob deGrom
49*	Josh Smoker	was Jon Niese
50	Rafael Montero
51	Vacant	was Jack Leathersich
52	Yoenis Cespedes
53	Vacant	(Coach here?)
54	Vacant	was Tim Stauffer (Coach here?)
55	Vacant	was Kelly Johnson (coach here?)
56*	Jeff Walters	was Matt Reynolds (DNP), Scott Rice
57	Kevin Long?	was Long
58	Jenrry Mejia
59*	Antonio Bastardo	was Dan Warthen
60	Vacant
61	Vacant
62	Eric Goeddel
63*	Gabriel Ynoa	vacant in 2015
64	Akeel Morris
65*	Robert Gsellman	was vacant in 2015
66	Josh Edgin
67*	Seth Lugo	was vacant in 2015
68	Dario Alvarez
69	Vacant	was vacant in 2015
70-76	Vacant
77	Brandon Nimmo
78-99	Unassigned

Bastardly

The Mets have called Dan Warthen their pitching coach since the famous Willie Randolph firing in June of 2008, and as such, he predates every man in uniform except for David Wright.

He’s quietly becoming a legend.

Yet his No. 59 could be under siege now that reports are trickling out that the Mets have come to an agreement with lefthanded reliever Antonio Bastardo, a 59 both in Pittsburgh and in Philadelphia. I learned long before Warthen got here not to expect a whole lot from free-agent relievers while also believing the more the merrier. A Mets team with Bastardo is a little more formidable than one without him, so it gets my approval.

I’m rooting for Warthen to stay in 59 but wouldn’t be surprised if he gives it up.

Grody to the Max

January 10, 2016 Met Mysteries, Useless Milestones No comments

I anticipate it will still be a week or so before the Mets reveal updates to their roster and assigned uni numbers, but this morning I stumbled across what would be among be the first such published updates in club history. The below clip (see the second item) was published in the Milwaukee Sentinel on Feb. 22, 1962.

Can’t help but think had this column published today it would be called “GRODY TO THE MAX” rather than the “THE SPORTS WHIRL’D.” Grody was a longtime columnist at the Sentinel best known as a boxing writer.

As for those Mets numbers, we’re anticipating issues to new 40-man residents Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, Josh Smoker, Jeff Walters and Brandon Nimmo; minor league guys who’ve been invited to spring training like Ty Kelly, Stolmy Pimental and Jim Henderson; potential reassignments for guys like Darrell Ceciliani; new bench coach Dick Scott; and newly added players like Alejandro De Aza and Jerry Blevins (Neil Walker in 20 and Asdrubal Cabrera in 13 are the only sure things at this point).

Stay tuned!

Make Way for Team UnSexy

December 22, 2015 Met Mysteries One comment

The Busiest Mets Offseason Without Any Sex Appeal Ever continued Tuesday when the Mets reportedly reached a 1-year contract agreement with free agent outfielder Alejandro De Aza.

The lefty swinging De Aza, already a veteran of 5 other organizations, is expected to platoon with incumbent center fielder Juan Lagares and was chosen above other prospective jobbers like Will Venable. I’m not even going to guess what number De Aza is issued but will note that 19 is newly available upon Johnny Monell‘s release from the 40. He previously wore 7, 11, 30, 12, 31 and 45. Actually I’ll guess he takes 30 while Michael Conforto, as discussed below, takes 15.

Being one of those fans who tries hard to understand, if not rationalize, what the Mets tend to do and think we can say that De Aza is a cost-effective solution providing the same general “skill-set” of a Denard Span at a fraction of the cost or commitment and is less likely to miss half a season with a hip injury, and continues an overarching strategy to build on last year’s pennant winning club by minimizing the chances they are as debilitated by injury — rather, by overcoming those injuries — as they were a year ago. That said you have to wonder whether the best strategy might have been instead to trade Curtis Granderson and take your chances re-upping Yoenis Cespedes, entering the Jason Heyward fray or otherwise competing for the top talent.

Those ships however have sailed. Ready or not, these are our guys.

Glad Tidings from New York

December 15, 2015 Met Mysteries, Uni Controversies 4 comments

Neil Walker on Tuesday crashed the Mets’ annual holiday party at Citi Field, showing off what appears to be his new uni number, 20. Walker would be the first second baseman to wear 20 since 2000 Mets legend Kurt Abbott. Uh, yeah. Anthony Recker wore 20 last but as you may have heard the handsome backup catcher signed a deal with the Indians following the season.

Walker by the way said he wore 20 to honor his dad, Tom Walker, who as you can see here wore the same for the Montreal Expos. Neil reached the big leagues with the Pirates only to learn 20 had been retired for Pie Traynor.

Later on Tuesday, the Mets and erstwhile lefty stopper Jerry Blevins agreed on a new deal for 2016. Blevins you may recall arrived at the eve of the ’15 season and did an all-around super job getting the Bryce Harpers and Freddie Freemans of the league out before fracturing an arm the same day that Travis d’Arnaud went down with an injury. Only Blevins never made it back to the team by suspiciously re-breaking the same arm shortly before his expected return.

If that’s not enough reason by itself to surrendered No. 13 the rule requiring all Venezuelan shortstops wear No. 13 trumped it.

Dear Santa: You can give my #13 to Asdrubal Cabrera. He signed with the @Mets first. I will figure out what number to wear.

— Jerry Blevins (@jerryblevins) December 15, 2015

What will Blevins return in? Only a guess but 15 is available now that Bob Geren is going.

In other news the Mets have invited Buddy Carlyle to go after a third assignment with the team and possibly, a third uni number. He’s been 44 then 43 so far.

Abra-Cabrera

December 10, 2015 Met Mysteries, Uni Controversies, Useless Milestones 7 comments

Interesting day out in Nashville, no?

No sooner had Ben Zobrist left the Mets at the altar they turn around and score with a lookalike in Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker, then go out and buy another infielder, Asdrubal Cabrera.

Interestingly enough, Walker, like Zobrist, is a longtime wearer of the No. 18 jersey so little changes with regard to the prediction that coach Tim Teufel needs to find another number. The Cabrera signing in the meantime would seem to portend an end to Ruben Tejada‘s Mets career — a moment I mentally prepared for at least two years ago — which would free up Teufel’s playing-career No. 11 should he want it.

Walker as you know cost the Mets their all-time No. 49, Jon Niese, in a deal that also essentially ends the Mets lifetime for their all-time No. 28, Daniel Murphy. I strongly associate the two of them (and Bobby Parnell, also a likely goner) as the best remainders of the Omar Minaya Era, all three adequate major league players jettisoned before they got too expensive.

In their defense, that also describes Walker and Cabrera, a new middle infield combination likely to outhit their predecessors, and maybe out-field them too. I say “maybe” because I haven’t found much supporting Cabrera’s D even though I can’t recall ever having watched him closely myself, while there’s been rumblings from Pirates fans over Walker’s limited range at second base. If so, the Mets are giving me something less than I’d hoped while patching up the team: that is, give themselves a better chance through better fundamental play at key spots. At least they’ll hit more.

Cabrera you won’t be surprised to learn is a Venezuelan shortstop who favors No. 13: That jersey is technically available while Jerry “I broke my arm twice” Blevins tests the free agent market.

Two for 2

September 7, 2015 Met Mysteries, Uncategorized, Uni Controversies 7 comments

Well the moment is upon us and someone’s going to pay the price for the Mets having played fast and loose with uni number assignments.

Dilson Herrera, along with Logan Verrett and Johnny Monell, were recalled following this afternoon’s smashing victory at Washington. While we can expect Verrett to wear 35 and Monell 19 as they had earlier this year, Hererra will be wearing something. That’s because the Mets rather inelegantly issued Juan Uribe Herrera’s No. 2 while Herrera was away rehabbing and playing for AAA Las Vegas.

The Mets roster as of late last Monday night, still lists the two of them wearing No. 2.

As noted previously, I’ve given this matter some thought and suggested
0 could be a solution. Other swipes from the uncalled-for, like Vic Black’s 38 or Danny Muno’s 16, are also possibilities. Then I realized poor Dilson also wore 2 in Las Vegas this season and wondered if he wouldn’t pull a Benito Santiago and alight in 02. Santiago, for you youngins, was a catcher with San Diego who famously rocked No. 09 — he wanted space between the digits for the strap holding his chest protector.

Great win today!

Standing O

August 5, 2015 Met Mysteries No comments

Newly arriving reliever Eric O’Flaherty is reportedly suiting up in No. 44 and as my pal Greg says, let’s hope he’s tougher on lefties than his predecessor in that jersey, the late John Mayberry Jr.

To make room for Flaherty, who was acquired last night for a Player To Be Named Later, the Mets designated Alex Torres and his gigantic hat for assignment, a move freeing up No. 54 for the next guy who wants it.

In the meantime, keep your eye on the Mets’ starting rotation, which is expected at this time to slot in a 6th starter next time around. Speculation in the radio booth last night said it could be minor league teammates Dillon Gee and Logan Verrett competing for that — and next issue of No. 35. I’d guess at this point that Gee has the inside the inside track to the start, while Verrett, as a member of the 40-man roister, has a rightful claim on 35. But still it would weird to see Gee wearing 54. Baseball’s a funny game.

Goggle Up

July 28, 2015 Met Mysteries 6 comments

Don’t look now but the Mets are trying to make the playoffs.

On Monday they dealt with Oakland for veteran reliever Tyler Clippard, who I’ve hated ever since he Subway Seriesed us as a punk Yankee rookie way back when, and on through several excellent years with the Nationals. Now that he’s on our side I’m naturally terrified he’ll continue to screw us only in a different way but I get that he’d be a good addition to the team, particularly seeing Parnell, Alex Torres and Familia struggle in recent games and Jenrry Mejia be unavailable for the playoffs. He came at the cost of Casey Meisner, a minor league project who might one day make us look bad but is no concern at the present.

The concern as always is what uni number Clippard will wear with his geeky goggles, seeing as his customary 36 is occupied by Sean Gilmartin and his previous No. 19 belonging to recently demoted catcher Johnny Monell.

But as we’ve seen twice this year already, there’s little they won’t do. There was the Logan Verrett 35 thing, then more recently they simply gave No. 2 to Juan Uribe without even notifying Dilson Hererra (that we know of). So the prediction here, suggested by a reader below actually, is that Clippard gets 36 and Gilmartin takes the vacant 44. Playoffs is serious business!

Woke up this morning to the stunning Tulowitzski news and allowed visions of a Jose Reyes reunion to colonize my mind for a bit but I don’t think it can, or necessarily should, happen. How about Lagares and a pitching prospect to Milwaukee for Carlos Gomez?

Later afternoon update — Clippard’s been issued No. 46. So much for more vicious speculation.

Take a Number

July 25, 2015 Met Mysteries, Useless Milestones 8 comments

No sooner had I suspected Sandy would deal than he dealt: Two longshot minor league pitchers to the Braves for veteran journeymen Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson. While the pundits figure out what that means to a lineup desperate to corral them (bench Flores? Duda?! Trade Murphy? … yes to all three?!?) a still larger challenge could be figuring out where they’ll fit within the confines of a decreasing supply of viable uni numbers.

Assuming every man on the 40-man roster retains their assignment, and coaches and existing players don’t switch, and the mothballed numbers (8, 17, 24) remain in limbo the available choices are 0, 00, 44, 46, 55-57, 60-61, 63, 65, and 67-99. That’s not a whole lot of variety! (44 by the way was just torn from the back of disappointing alleged lefty-masher John Mayberry Jr., who was released to make roster space for the incoming duo).

The histories of Uribe and Johnson give us little to go on: I associate Uribe with No. 5 from his time with the Giants; and Johnson, I have no idea. The Mets will be his 9th team in a 10-year career. If it’s up to me I outfit them in 0 and 00, though I don’t know if that will fly with Mr. Met. More like, I predict one of then (Uribe) takes the No. 6 currently belonging to assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, Johnson takes 44, and Roessler moves to something like 55. Or maybe Uribe takes 55? What’s your prediction?

Kelly Johnson, by the way, will be the 8th Johnson (and 3rd Kelly) in Mets history, tying the Jones boys (Barry, Bobby J, Bobby M, Chris, Cleon, Randy, Ross and Roadblock) for the all-time Mets surname record. The Johnsons now include Kelly, Ben, Bob L, Bob W, Howard, Lance, Mark and Rob, not to mention the manager Davey.

Los Siete Hernandezes (Anderson, Keith, Livan, Luis, Manny, Orlando and Roberto) are third.

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Archive for Met Mysteries

2016 Numerical Roster (Bulldog Edition)

Bastardly

Grody to the Max

Make Way for Team UnSexy

Glad Tidings from New York

Abra-Cabrera

Two for 2

Standing O

Goggle Up

Take a Number

Mets by the Numbers // Est. 1999

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