Mets by the Numbers – Page 97 – Making it count since 1999

We’re Back

Just like Richard Hidalgo, we took most of September off, but we’re back in time to wrap up the September moves. Thanks for hanging in there as we moved to new World Headquarters in Brooklyn.

Let’s plow through the September moves we missed (all updated now):
Sept. 1: Recalled Matt Ginter 13; Tyler Yates 33 and Craig Brazell 9 from Triple-A Norfolk.
Sept. 4: Called up veteran lefty Vic Darensbourg from AAA, and assigned him No. 39.
Sept. 8: Recalled Aaron Heilman 48.
Sept. 10: Sent Matt Ginter 13 to the 60-day DL and recalled AAA hitting machine Victor Diaz, who debuted the next day wearing No. 50.
Sept. 14: Sent Vance Wilson 3 to the disabled list and recalled catcher Joe Hietpas from AA Binghamton. An emergency catcher, Heitpas has somehow avoided emergencies since his recall and is still waiting to become the third No. 10 this season.
Sept. 24: The Mets finally get their table setters returned to them, Jose Reyes 7, who sat out with a broken bone, and Kazuo Matsui 25, resting a sore back.

Finally, let’s bid farewell and better times to manager Art Howe, who’ll be turning over his keys and the No. 18 jersey after the season, along with most of his coaching staff. Though we grant Art was little more than a caretaker and nobody’s idea of a brilliant strategist, we’re sure he did his earnest best and applaud his class and dignity as he takes the axe and unnecessarily absorbs three weeks of lame duckness for two teams that performed below expectations for reasons in, and often out, of his control. We were scratching our heads when he walked in the door, too. Good luck, Art!

As noted below, this was a weird year, even by Met standards, and we’re saddened that it ends with less promise than it began. The search for Art Howe’s replacement will kick off what ought to be a fascinating offseason and for the sixth straight year, join us for the soap opera here.

Piazza Back; DeJean DeSabled

The Mets got some of their missing offense back today when Mike Piazza returned from the disabled list. To make room for him the Mets designated recent pickup Brian Buchanan 10 for assignment. In the meantime the Mets placed reliever Mike DeJean 35 on the disabled list and recalled Heath Bell 19.

Wheeler Dealers

The Mets on Friday traded reliever Dan Wheeler to Houston for minor league outfielder Adam Suess (all the Howes in Howeville approved). Wheeler should have worn 18 but wore 39 instead. His spot on the roster will be taken over by Jae Seo 26 who returns from Norfolk with blonde hair.

Mets Sign Brian Buchanan

The Mets today addressed their absurdly weak hitting attack by acquiring recently released righthanded-hitting Padre corner outfielder Brian Buchanan (think:Shane Spencer without the drinking problem). Buchanan was given No. 10, most recently belonging to Jeff Duncan. To make room the Mets demoted Heath Bell 19, just a day after a successful Major League debut.

Bell Toll for Heilman

Within 24 hours on Monday, Aaron Heilman 48 was recalled, rocked and summarily banished to Norfolk. In his place the Mets recalled Tides closer Heath Bell,who throws hard and fashioned attractive numbers in AAA (67 K’s in 53.2 IP). He wears No. 19. Here’s hoping this Bell tolls clearer than his Met predecessors Gus 3, Derek 16 and Jay 44.

To make room for Bell on the 40-man roster, the Mets moved Orber Moreno 49 to the 60-day disabled list. Heilman’s recall sent Matt Ginter 13 back to Norfolk, where he remains.

Ginter Back; Brazell Down; Heilman en Route

Matt Ginter just won’t go away. He’s back in uniform 13 again, taking the start in San Francisco while Craig Brazell 9 flies back to Norfolk. Word is forgotten prospect Aaron Heilman will meet the Mets when they return to Shea to make Monday’s start. Heilman wore No. 48 when we last saw him; it is uncertain at this point whether Ginter will go down again or a certain well-rested lefthander announces his retirement.

4 Years and 10 Minutes in MBTN History

The Mets controversial trades last month are paying off in unpredictable ways. When Victor Zambrano 38 left his start Tuesday with elbow trouble, the Mets recalled the player received with him, reliever Bartolome Fortunato, who made his Met debut Friday wearing No. 43. Meantime, Joe McEwing 11 went down Thursday with a dirty-slide-induced broken leg and so the Mets recalled Jeff Keppinger, the throw-in infielder received in the Kris Benson deal.

Keppinger was issued No. 6 — for the fourth time this year and the 31st time in Met history. Both are records that may never be broken! (The Mets quietly last week traded catcher Tom Wilson, the third wearer of the 6 jersey this year. Ricky Gutierrez and Gerald Williams were the other two victims so far).

Expect plenty of wound-licking and hand-wringing this week if/when Scott Kazmir makes his debut with the Devil Rays and Jim Duquette submits his resume on Monster.com. This has been a very weird month, even for the Mets.

…And Down Goes Matsui

The Mets finally got around to disable-listing shortstop Kaz Matsui 25, leaving the Mets without any of their imagined starting infielders this year. In his place the Mets called up AAA slugger Craig Brazell, who will make his Met/Major League debut while wearing No. 9.

More Infielders

With the middle infield again hurting, the Mets dipped into Norfolk and recalled veteran scrubeenie Wilson Delgado, issued him No. 17, and hoped Reyes and Matsui felt better soon. To make room the Mets sent Matt Ginter 13 back to Norfolk presumably for for a short stay while Tom Glavine sees his dentist. They also sent Pedro Feliciano 55 down again and recalled Dan Wheeler 39.

The news got worse Friday when the Mets said Jose Reyes 7 would spend the next four-to-six weeks on the disabled list. Feliciano was recalled in his place.

Piazza DLed, Garcia Up

Struggling one-time superstar Mike Piazza 31 hit the disabled list last night to rest a bad knee. In his place the Mets recalled Danny Garcia 12, who’d been refining his game at Norfolk as multi-position player.