MBTN is thrilled to welcome its newest fan, Ivan James!
Hospital Update
Well, John Maine didn’t last long as a Met, hitting the disabled list just days after his May 1 debut. His spot was grabbed by Bartolome Fortunato, back in No. 43 for the first time since 2004. Things got hairier on Saturday, when sadsack starter Victor Zambrano 38 walked off the field and into a season- and possibly, Met-career-ending elbow injury. Maine’s start, and Zambrano’s space on the roster, was covered, barely adequately, by clownish righthander Jose Lima, and with Bannister and Maine still missing, more changes are certain to come. Lima by the way became the 29th guy to wear No. 17 for the Mets — only No. 6 has been issued more often. (34 has also been worn by 29 guys)
Maine & Bannister
John Maine will make a start today for the Mets, taking Brian Bannister’s spot in the rotation. You may recall maine made a to-do in spring training about favoring No. 33, and that’s what he’ll be wearing tonight. Victor Diaz 20 was sent back down to Norfolk to make room for him.
Matsui & Hernandez
Kaz Matsui 25 made his return as the Anderson Hernandez Experiment ended due to injury, not an inability to hit.
Diaz & Feliciano
Underutilized stick Victor Diaz 20 was told to play all he wants — in Norfolk. LeftyPedro Feliciano 39 takes his place on the roster.
Still finishing extensive site update. Thanks for your patience…
Opening Day 2006
MBTN.net officially welcomes the following 12 players to the All-Time Met roster:
10 Endy Chavez
13 Billy Wagner
16 Paul LoDuca
18 Jose Valentin
21 Carlos Delgado
22 Xavier Nady
23 Julio Franco
27 Darren Oliver
34 Jorge Julio
40 Brian Bannister
50 Duaner Sanchez
53 Chad Bradford
And appearing in new numbers: Coach Manny Acta, in No. 3.
Thanks to the many fans who reported Brian Bannister indeed upgraded his uniform to Major League status: He’ll make his MLB debut this week in No. 40, leaving aside No. 61. The final composition of the roster came together when veteran Darren Oliver 27 got the nod overPedro Feliciano 39 to be the bullpen lefty. The decision appears to speak as much to the Mets’ state of mind concerning the starting rotation than it does Oliver or Feliciano. On balance though, we were happy to see the Mets limit themselves to 6 bullpenners and provide a job for sluggy outfielder Victor Diaz 20, and though our expectations probably aren’t as sky-high as the new TV channel would have you believe, we’re looking forward to a better year, like we do every year at this time.
Up the Bannister
So the Mets yesterday interestingly if somewhat cruelly relegated Aaron Heilman to the bullpen and hope to make a 5th starter out of rookie Brian Bannister. The debate this raises, of course, is whether Bannister ought to also be afforded a dignified uniform number signifying his ascension. Bannister is wearing No. 61 currently. There are historical precedents for any outcome: When Dwight Gooden earned a roster spot in 1984, he went from 64 to 16; but when Eric Valent unexpectedly made the 2004 Mets, he kept his St. Lucified 57.
Should Bannister wish to pay tribute to his dad Floyd, a cursory check through the baseball cards reveals he wore Nos. 19 and 38 in his career: Neither is available except in the case Heath Bell fails to make the roster or is traded — both possibilities we’ve read in the last week. Perhaps too, numbers don’t matter particularly to Bannister: It appears he wore 25 in Binghamton and 43 at Norfolk; 17 with Team USA and oddly, 3 at USC.
In other news it appears that Anderson Hernandez 1 will get the starting job at second base: Whether he won a competition, or is there to stay, are matters of debate.
Turns out our efforts to confirm Jose Santiago’s uni number were worthless — it appears the Mets either never invited him back and/or actually did then quietly released him before the spring.
Lima Standard Time
Veteran longshot pitcher Jose Lima arrived at Met camp boasting that he never wears the same suit twice. Apparently he’s applying the same rules of fashion to his Met jerseys.
Lima on Saturday suited up No. 17, his third different Met jersey this spring. Lima, you will recall, was issued No. 99 and then spent an afternoon in 42 before the Mets thought better of reissuing the mothballed Jackie Robinson uni and gave him 99 back. In the meantime the Mets sold Dae Sung Koo back to Korea, freeing up 17, in which Lima appeared most recently. For a guy the Mets are likely to bid “auf wiedersehen” to in a matter of weeks, he’s kept things interesting on the runway. (Thanks to MBTN reader Jason for the tip).
Jason also reports that coach Jerry Manuel appeared in No. 35, solving the mysery of what number he fled to after Chad Bradford claimed his 53 (below). What number remains for World Baseball Classic-exiled reliever Jose Santiago is still unknown (as is the question of whether he’s actually coming back after the tournament is complete). Santiago earlier this spring lost his assigned number 33 to teammate John Maine.
Geographical/Numerical Spring Roster
Regularland
1 Anderson Hernandez INF
2 Sandy Alomar (coach)
3 Manny Acta (coach)
4 Chis Woodward INF
5 David Wright 3B
6 Jeff Keppinger 2B
7 Jose Reyes SS
8 vacant (semi-retired/reserved for guest instructor Gary Carter)
9 vacant (was Bret Boone 2B)
10 Endy Chavez OF
11 Ramon Castro C
12 Willie Randolph (manager)
13 Billy Wagner P
14 vacant — retired
15 Carlos Beltran OF
16 Paul Lo Duca C
Keischnicksville
17 Dae Sung Koo Jose Lima P
18 Jose Valentin (perhaps guest instructor Darryl Strawberry also) INF
19 Heath Bell P
20 Victor Diaz OF
21 Carlos Delgado 1B
22 Xavier Nady OF
23 Julio Franco 1B
24 vacant/guest instructor Ricky Henderson
25 Kazuo Matsui 2B
26 Tike Redman OF
27 Darren Oliver P
28 Juan Padilla P
29 Steve Trachsel P
30 Cliff Floyd OF
Twirlerburg
31 vacant, presumably awaiting retirement for Piazza/Franco
32 Jeremi Gonzalez P
33 John Maine P
34 Jorge Julio P
35 Jerry Manuel (coach)
36 Matt Perisho P
37 vacant — retired
38 Victor Zanbrano P
39 Pedro Feliciano P
40 Joe Heitpas C
41 vacant — retired
42 vacant — retired
43 Bartolome Fortunato P
44 Royce Ring P
45 Pedro Martinez P
46 Steve Schmoll P
47 Tom Glavine P
48 Aaron Heilman P
49 Yusuku Iriki P
50 Duaner Sanchez P
Coach Acres
51 Rick Peterson (coach)
52 vacant — Santiago??
53 Chad Bradford P
54 Rick Down (coach)
55 Tom Nieto (coach)
56 Guy Conti (coach)
Bordertown
57 Juan Perez P
58 Anderson Garcia P
59 Mitch Wylie P
60 Mike Venafro P
New Studville
61 Brian Bannister P
62 Phillip Humber P
63 Juan Tejeda IF
64 Julio Ramirez OF
65 Lastings Milledge OF
66 Mike Pelfrey P
67 Matt Lindstrom P
68 Henry Owens P
69 vacant — family friendliness
North Norfolk
70 Sandy Martinez C
71 Jesus Flores C
72 Alay Soler P
73 Todd Self OF
74 Bobby Estalella C
75 Rafael Cova P
76 Tim Lavigne P
Longshot Gardens (under development)
77 vacant — Santiago??
78 vacant
79 vacant
80 vacant
81 vacant
82 vacant
83 vacant
84 vacant
85 vacant
86 vacant (was Juan Perez P)
87 vacant
88 Jose Parra P
89 Brett Harper 1B
South Backstop
90 Zac Clements C
91 Jason Scobie P
92 Andrew Butera C
93 Aaron Hathaway C
94 Andy Wilson C
95 Jeremy Hill P
96 vacant
97 vacant
98 vacant
99 vacant (was Jose Lima P)
Guess the Number
More updates and intrigue from St. Lucie: Weepy veteran Bret Boone yesterday turned in his No. 9 jersey and retired. As pictured at left, Chad Bradford was spotted wearing 53, not 35 he was initially issued: That makes sense given his previous stops in Boston and Oakland, but it means a change for coach Jerry Manuel — only to what we’re not sure (thanks Matt for the photo). Readers also checked in with their best guesses as to Jose Santiago’s elusive jersey number: Using the process of elimination, one enterprising guy guessed either 52 (though we wouldn’t be surprised if Manuel shows up with that one now) or 87 — all others with the exceptions of 8, 24, 31 and 69 have been issued, with three of those numbers in semi-hibernation. One possibility we’ve realized by now is Santiago in the 35 we previously thought belonged to Bradford.
