In a curious move, the Mets have recalled Triple A terror Mark Johnson 20 to the big club and designated Darren Bragg 56 for assignment. This news comes just moments after our friends at the Ultimate Mets Database passed along this nugget: Bragg, a Connecticut native and big-time NY Giants fan, wore 56 in honor of Lawrence Taylor. LT hit for more power. Bragg wound up on the Yankees. Loser.
Maydays
The Mets have sent ineffective relief pitcher Donne Wall 33 to the DL and recalled Jerrod Riggan 38.
(May 22): Disgusted with another revolting effort from Steve Traschel 29, the Mets demoted him to Norfolk and welcomed back ace Al Leiter 22. They also made a minor trade with Cleveland resulting in a brief uniformed pass-through for Justin Spier, who wore 46 for a few hours en route to Norfork. Raw but talented rookie reliever Jerrod Riggan 38 is also back in Norfolk these days.
Dicky-Thon
The Mets have called up young Dicky Gonzalez to take Al Leiter’s turn in the rotation while No. 22 rests his sore elbow. Gonzalez wears No. 39 and easily has the best name in a Mets 39 jersey since Nino Espinosa. Jerrod Riggan 38 was sent to Norfolk, but came right back May 2 when the Mets disabled Rick White 51 for the second time this year.
Miller Time
The Mets have swapped Timo Perez 6 and Darryl Hamilton 18 with disabled list assignments. Brent Hinchliffe was sent back to Norfolk to lick his wounds.
(April 26): The Mets’ disastrous visit to Milwaukee this week featured forgettable debuts by new Met hurlers Brent Hinchliffe 32 and Tom Martin 34. All very despressing even considering the return a few days earlier of Benny Agbayani and Rick White to the roster at Nos. 50 and 51, respectively. In the inbetween, say goodbye to Brian Rose 23, lost on waivers to Tampa Bay; and at least temporarily, to Mark Johnson 20, who had few good words to say on his way back to Virginia Beach. Like he’s got room to talk.
Bragging Rights
The Mets today called up outfielder Darren Bragg from Norfolk, and returned phenom Alex Escobar 25. Bragg, a former Red Sox, Mariner, Rockie and Cardinal, was tearing it up down there and hopefully will provide relief for an injury-battered outfield. We only hope he plays better than the last No. 56, Brian “Baseball Tonight” McRae.
Over the weekend, the Mets disabled ineffective lefty reliever Tom Martin 34, and briefly, called up AA catcher Jason Phillips. Phillips, like Jerry Moses in 1975, was issued a number — 3 — but did not appear in a game. Darry Hamilton has also returned from the disabled list and will wear No. 18.
Bad News, Good News
Jay Payton’s freakish bad luck continued yesterday when a pulled hammy sent him to the disabled list. While No. 44 recovers, the Mets have called up Alex Escobar to take his place. Escobar, who will wear No. 25, is perhaps the most highly touted Met outfield prospect since Darryl Strawberry donned No. 18 for the first time — 18 years ago this week!
Opening Day 2001
A largely uneventful, but quite successful, Spring Training yields a mere six new players to the Mets this year: MBTN officially welcomes Tsuyoshi Shinjo 5, Desi Relaford 8, Kevin Appier 17, Brian Rose 23, Steve Trachsel 29 and Donne Wall 33 to the All-Time Numerical Roster.
Still More
The rebuilding Mets have officially surpassed MBTN’s ability to keep up the changes, but here goes another round.
The newly acquired Pedro Astacio was issued jersey No. 34.
The massive 11-player trade with Colorado and Milwaukee looks like this:
* Jeromy Burnitz was No. 5 in his first go-round with the Mets — that’s free now with Shinjo gone. However, he wore No. 20 in Milwaukee, which currently belongs to Mark Johnson, who, ironically, is also a former Met No. 5.
* Lou Collier was 16 in Milwaukee — available.
* Mark Sweeney was No. 33 with Milwaukee — available now that Donne Wall is gone.
* Craig House was a 48 in Colorado — available and a potential straight-up uni swap for Glendon Rusch.
* Jeff D’Amico was No. 13 with Milwaukee — which indicates he’s quirky and will be hunting for a new number soon, if Edgardo Alfonzo has anything to say about it.
* With Lenny Harris gone, it is quite possible Roger Cedeno will take the now-vacant No. 19. (see below)
Matt’s All
The return of Darryl Hamilton from the disabled list tonight means a bittersweet reassignment for Matt Franco, expertly described by The Village Voice earlier this year as “even beginning to look like Rusty Staub.” No. 15 hits the road as the Mets’ third all-time leader in pinch hits behind Rusty and Ed Kranepool. We’ll miss him. In case you forgot, Hamilton is still wearing No. 18.
Trade Winds
Wow. The Mets today fleeced Baltimore in a trade for shortstop Mike Bordick. Bordick, whose familiar No. 14 is retired for Gil Hodges, will instead wear No. 17. The Mets parted with good guy Melvin Mora — opening No. 6 for a potential record 26th issue? — as well as No. 33, Mike Kinkade, and two minor leaguers.
The Mets then sent No. 11, Jason Tyner, and Paul Wilson, to Tampa Bay for Rick White and Bubba Trammell. White already has an excellent chance to become the team’s greatest No. 51 of all time — his chief competition being Mel Rojas. Trammell took jersey No. 33. Best of all, this move allowed the Mets to designate Rich Rodriguez and his cursed No. 46, for assignment.
