Mets by the Numbers – Page 91 – Making it count since 1999

Julio for Duque; Soler Up; Bell Back; Lima Out

Updates over a busy few weeks — Cuban defectee Alay Soler makes his Major League debut tonight wearing No. 59. Soler was recalled after Omar Minaya designated a merciful end to the Jose Lima Experiment.Soler becomes only the second Met ever to wear No. 59, and the first since Ed Lynch made his Major League debut, in 1980.

Also today, the Mets traded struggling reliever Jorge Julio to Arizona for ancient ex-YankeeOrlando “El Duque” Hernandez. We assume El Duque will dress in his familiar No. 26 — currently available — when he arrives; until then, the team has recalled Norfolk yo-yo Heath Bell 19. This manuever may well serve to patch up the butt-end of a rotation sore with injuries, and Julio’s brief stay in Flushing won’t likely be missed, but it hardly makes the Kris Benson trade any less mysterious.

In between Lima’s whacking May 20 and Soler’s recall, the Mets enjoyed a phantom appearance from reliever Anderson Garcia, who wasn’t used and summarily returned to Norfolk. Rosters list Garcia as being assigned No. 58 but that hasn’t been eyewitnessed by us at least. Happy to hear from those who might confirm it.

On May 9, Heath Bell 19 was recalled as Fortunato was sent down. Days later, May 12, Bell was sent down as journeyman auditonee Jeremi Gonzalez was recalled. Gonzalez suited up in No. 32.

New No. 1

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)