With exactly one week left before the starting gun fires, the Met pitching staff is still under construction. Another subpar outing this afternoon by Jae Seo 38 could give additional hope to one or more of Grant Roberts 36; Aaron Heilman 48; Scott Erickson 89 and Tyler Yates 33. In the bullpen, Orber Moreno 49 and Dan Wheeler 39 are looking to secure jobs.The lineup looks complete unless (or until) the starting infielders cease getting hurt.
More From St. Lucie
New pitching coach Rick Peterson has been spied wearing No. 51 and Shane Spencer in 43. Among those wearing a different number than their previous appearances in a Met uniform: Pat Strange in 34 and Jeff Duncan in 10. More whacky numbers available only for a limited time: outfielder Kenny Kelly 0; infielder Victor Diaz 13; catchers Danilo Reynoso 85 and Tony Piazza 91; longshot pitchers Shawn Sedlacek 86; James Baldwin 88 and Scott Erickson 89.
Pitchers, Catchers and Numbers
The 2004 Mets next week will be arriving in Port St. Lucie for Spring Training and goofy numbers aplenty are expected. According to the official (but not always accurate) Mets website, here’s what to expect: Pat Strange, whose 38 was taken by Jae Seo when Seo’s 40 was given to Braden Looper (whose 41 was unavailable)… is listed in No. 34. As expected, veteran returnee Todd Zeile was issued No. 27. Karim Garcia in the meantime was issued No. 20, with Prentice Redman switching to No. 5. Catcher Mike Jacobs has been issued the highest uni number among the 40-men in camp, at 71. See more at the official site.
Zeile, Spencer Sign
The Mets, as expected, inked yet another pair of Yankee castoffs, Todd Zeile and Shane Spencer. Though we haven’t spied either in uniform yet, Zeile looks likely to wind up in No. 27. Spencer has worn No. 47 — that number belongs to Tom Glavine — and as a nonroster invitee, could be issued an offensive-line number in camp.
Seo Back in 38, Looper to 40
Photos from the Met Caravan in New York this week revealed potential number-switching for 2004. Jae Seo arrived at Grand Central wearing No. 38 and Braden Looper in No. 40. This represents a bit of a switch — Seo actually made his Met/MLB debut in No. 38 back in 2002 but that number was subsequently issued to Pat Strange, who wore it last year as well as Seo took No. 40.
Looper in the meantime appeared earlier this month at the Met Minicamp in No. 46, but perhaps due to our warnings below, thought better of it. (Thanks to Phillip for the tip!)
Zeile Returning; Karim Filling
The Mets are expected to announce one-year contracts for infielder Todd Zeile and outfielder Karim Garcia in the next few days. The left-handed hitting Garcia has failed to nail down a regular job with several clubs so far and so fits right in to the Mets’ right-field situation. His presence seems to suggest a righty-swinging platoon partner is on the way. Garcia wore No. 28 for the Yankees last year but is unlikely to want to remind us or himself of that in Queens.
Zeile, whom the Mets strenuously disposed of just two years ago will re-join the team as a reserve and pinch-hitter, roles Met fans who recall 2001 are reasonably sure he’s ready for. It will be interesting to see whether Zeile resurfaces in his old Met No. 9 jersey (currently belonging to Ty Wigginton) or takes the available No. 27 he wore most frequently in his career. Zeile by the way would become the 28th player in team history to re-join the Mets after playing MLB elsewhere.
Vald en Route?
Few would have guessed that Vlad Guererro would still be looking for work when January arrived, much less in Flushing, but here we are. Jim Duke’s courageous procrastination on the right-field front and the rotten baseball economy has allowed the Mets to make an offer to the superstar free agent, whose customary No. 27 is available provided the Mets don’t do an even nuttier thing and invite Mike Glavine back to camp. Go Duke!
(Updated Jan. 11): Hey, Vlad! BOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Ya Gotta Bereave
1944-2004
Sooper
The Mets have come to an agreement with former Marlins bullpenner Braden Looper, pending a physical and his willingness to surrender his traditional uniform number. Looper wore No. 41 for the Marlins, which ain’t for sale in Flushing, but that’s not all he’ll need to change: Until now, he’s always been a Met-killer. Update Jan. 6: Looper met the press today wearing the dreaded No. 46.
Ka-Blammeron
Once again, Jim Duquette got his man, overcoming heavy competition and filling a gaping hole in center field by signing Mike Cameron to a 3-year deal. Cameron is likely to suit up in No. 44 for the Mets, digits most recently belonging to the mercifully retired Jay Bell, as well as former Met center fielders Jay Payton, Ryan Thompson and John Cangelosi.
