| Mets by the Numbers // Est. 1999

Sanchez, Acta & Santiago

Providing speedy responses to the inquiry posted here yesterday, Duaner Sanchez is indeed wearing No. 50 (thanks Matt andKieran). Keiran in the meantime spied coach Manny Acta wearing No. 3, settling the issue of what number he wound up with after Sanchez swiped his former digits. The mystery ofJose Santiago’s jersey remains. As pointed out by MBTN reader Brian, his No. 33 was re-issued this spring to prospect John Maine, and published rosters have either not been accurately updated or, in a likely foreshadowing the opening-day roster, leave him off completely.

Let us know what you find.

Lima to 42, Not

February 20, 2006 Uncategorized No comments

For a guy who may very well wind up released in a few weeks, Jose Lima has sure created a lot of controversy. As previously detailed, Lima was assigned No. 99, gave it up Saturday for No. 42, and was back in 99 again on Sunday. His one day in Jackie Robinson’s number apparently didn’t sit well with some uptight columnists, who all but likened it to urinating on Robinson’s grave. Not courting controversy with this team (Carlos Delgado shall do as he’s told, says Jeff Wilpon), the Mets had Lima back in 99 Sunday. Not that this was ever a big deal. Robinson’s memory survived Butch Huskey, Ron Hodges and Mo Vaughan, and it will survive Lima Time too.

Nady, Chavez Swap

February 20, 2006 Uncategorized No comments

Thanks to MBTN reader Larry for pointing out another switch from Caravan week: Xavier Nady is wearing 22 (his previous number with the Padres) and Endy Chavez is wearing 10, not 22, in contrast to earlier published rosters. Also, Paul of Uni Watch notes the Mets this year are wearing what appear to beaerodynamic, two-tone batting helmets. Quoth Homer: “Mmmmm… speedholes.”

We also found a cool new blog: Getting Paid to Watch, by 1986 Met trainer Bob Sykes,who combines unique perspective on the 1986 Mets along with good writing.

Lima Time

February 17, 2006 Uncategorized No comments

The Mets got a new candidate for the rotation and gave away the highest number in camp to their newest Spring Training invitee, Jose Lima 99.

Maine Attraction

February 17, 2006 Uncategorized No comments

Of all the beat guys, nobody’s spring training dispatches get us in the mood quite like Marty Noble, who must know some readers, like us, are hopeless suckers for the insignificant detail. In today’s report at mlb.com, Noble informs us that newly arrived pitcher John Maine has a thing for No. 33, which he found dangling from a hanger in the clubhouse, rather than the 57 he wore at the Caravan a few weeks back. We like Maine, too, who says of his new digits: “It’s great. I guess it’s a good sign. And it’s a pitcher’s number; that’s the best part.”

Benson Burners and Other Updates

January 24, 2006 Uncategorized No comments

The Mets made a curious trade Jan. 21, sending Kris Benson 34 and his mouthy wife to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for relieverJorge Julio and pitching prospect John (Lobster) Maine. Whether this move portends a trade forBarry Zito or simply shifts the overpopulation problem from the starting rotation to the bullpen remains to be seen. Julio wore No. 50 last year with the Orioles while Maine in his brief appearances wore 61.

On Jan. 18, the Mets signed former Ham Fighter and Tokyo Giant Yusaku Iriki (You’re So Fine), who looks to compete for the longman job. Iriki wore No. 49 with the Ham Fighters and No. 20 with the Giants, research shows.

We overlooked the late December addition of lefty sidearmer Mike Venafro. He has a minor league contract and spring training invite.

Photos from the Mets Caravan revealed players in new unis including Julio Franco in 23, Paul LoDuca in 16 and Jose Valentin in 18. Newly arrived reliever Jorge Julio was wearing a jersey withno number on it. MBTN reader Rich reports: Chad Bradford appeared in No. 35, Duaner Sanchez in 40, and Mets.com is selling Bret Boone jerseys bearing No. 9.

Additional photos show Xavier Nady wearing No. 10 and Steve Schmoll in the dreaded No. 46.

New Year Updates

January 4, 2006 Uncategorized No comments

Met fans were wondering again today whether Omar Minaya can be trusted at a swap meet, giving up underappreciated starter Jae Seo 26, along with lefty relieverTim Hamulack 46, in a trade for goggle-wearing Duaner Sanchez and his sidearm-throwing teammate, Steve Schmoll, both righthanded relievers for the Dodgers. We wish the best of luck to Seo, whose frequent bobs between New York and Norfolk resulted in three uniform numbers (he also wore 38 and 40). In case you’re also wondering, Sanchez wore No. 50 and Schmoll No. 40 in Chavez Latrine last season.

The Mets also invited veteran second baseman Bret Boone to camp with a minor league deal. Boone was released twice last year but according to Omar “knows how to win,” and will challenge incumbent Kaz Matsui for a job. Boone most often has worn No. 29.

Catching up with more winter moves, the Mets on Dec. 28 agreed to a one-year deal for freaky underhanded relief pitcher Chad Bradford, a hero of Moneyball and most recently, a patient with the Red Sox team doctors. He wore No. 53 for both teams.

On Dec. 23, former Met outfield prospect Endy Chavez was signed to a one-year deal. Chavez woreNo. 19 with Expo-Nationals and 47 when he was traded to Philadelphia late last year.

The Mets also released maddening lefthander Kaz Ishii 23, and invited journeymen Darren Oliver, Jose Parra and Pedro Feliciano to camp. We last saw Parra and Feliciano in Met uniforms 46 and 55, respectively, in 2004 (unless we vacationed in Japan in 2005).

Wagner Meets the Press

November 30, 2005 Uncategorized No comments

Hours after introducing new Met first baseman Carlos Delgado the Mets rolled out the podium to introduce new closer Billy Wagner, reeled in on a four-year contract by free-spending Met GM Omar Minaya. Wagner will wear his customary No. 13 jersey, most recently worn by Brian Daubach and more famously by infielder Edgardo Alfonzo and early-80s closer Neil Allen.

Delgado suiting up in 21, by the way, is actually a return to his original Blue Jays uniform and proves he’s a bigger man than Roger Clemens or Paul O’Neill, which granted, aren’t hard things to do. But as pointed out by MBTN reader Steve, Delgado took 25 only after Clemens arrived in Toronto in 1997. By contrast, O’Neill refused to surrender 21 when his jerkoff teammate arrived at Yankee Stadium in ’99. We sure like Delgado so far.

Delgado Takes 21

November 28, 2005 Uncategorized No comments

In meeting the press and Willie Randolph today, newly acquired first baseman Carlos Delgado said goodbye to jersey No. 25, and his beard, both of which he can no longer wear. Taking No. 21 instead, Delgado explained that 25 belongs to Kaz Matsui, though MBTN suggests you don’t spend all your Christmas money on a new Delgado jersey pending Matsui’s survival of this winter’s hot stove.

Delgado (Not Wilson … Carlos) to the Mets

November 22, 2005 Uncategorized No comments

The Mets today announced they would acquire slugging first baseman
Carlos Delgado and 7 million U.S. Dollars from the Marlins, giving up promising
young hitter Mike Jacobs 27 and alleged phenom pitcher
Yusmeiro Petit in return. That this is a dynamite deal for the Mets should be
obvious: Delgado fills the need for another threatening bat in the lineup
and they didn’t need to cough up Lastings Milledge to get him. This
of course isn’t the first time the Mets have picked up luxury goods on
the cheap in a Marlin liquidation: The 1998 sell-off produced
Dennis Cook 27, Al Leiter 22 and Mike Piazza 31, all key players in the last
respectable Met era.

Considering the strenous attempt to land Delgado last off-season, we expect the Mets will provide Delgado with all the comforts he deems necessary, which means
Kaz Matsui 25 might find a new jersey hanging in his locker this spring
(presuming it says “Mets” on the front, that is). We argued back in ’03
that Matsui should have been issued 77 and would still like to see it.

Speaking of Marlin giveaways, the Mets quietly provided X-Marlin lefty reliever
Matt Perisho with a minor league contract and invite to Spring Training.
Perisho wore 46 with the Marlins last season.

« Older Entries Recent Entries »

Sanchez, Acta & Santiago

Lima to 42, Not

Nady, Chavez Swap

Lima Time

Maine Attraction

Benson Burners and Other Updates

New Year Updates

Wagner Meets the Press

Delgado Takes 21

Delgado (Not Wilson … Carlos) to the Mets

Mets by the Numbers // Est. 1999

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