Willie and the Boz

Willie Randolph, as quoted by Bill Madden in the Daily News: “I’m gonna wear No. 12. Why? You remember Ken Boswell? Second baseman on the ’69 team? He was my favorite player growing up. No. 12. It’s a nice number.”

We remember Ken Boswell too, and even if his sideburns might not fly in Willie’s clubhouse, it speaks well of the new Met manager that he has a sense of his place in history. This is probably a natural result of the era we grew up, but 12 has always seemed more Boswellian to us than Kent-like or Alomarish. And as glorified ticket salesman Darryl Strawberry makes a grand reappearance at Shea this weekend, may it serve as a reminder of this team’s horribly miscast former manager, who wore No. 18 but was no George Theodore either.

We found Madden’s piece, by the way, from a link at the extraordinary new blog co-authored by veteran MBTN reader Greg — highly recommended for fans of good writing and historical Metdom.

Mets Trade for Meintkiewicz

Only hours after Carlos Delgado and his scheming agent left the Mets high and dry came word that Omar had traded promising ex-Cyclone Ian Bladergroen for spare Red Sock first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Minky brings an excellent glove but an average bat to his new job, but was probably the best among the consolation prizes. Mientkiewicz wore No. 16 for most of his career in Minnesota and No. 13 in Boston, but what might be most interesting is seeing whether the Mets manage to fit that unweildly last name onto the back of a jersey without dropping the leading: His 12-lettered name matches Isringhausen for the longest in Met history. Omar contends the offseason acquisition spree is all but done, but we’ll believe it when 25 men depart from St. Lucie.

Spotted at the Met Caravan this week: New manager Willie Randolph has indeed returned to his Met No. 12, as reported by MBTN reader Keith, and the photo above appears to showDanny Garcia accomodating by taking No. 1. The Met roster lists Miguel Cairo (next to Diaz) in No. 3 and reliever Dae Sung Koo (next to Brazell in the top row) in No. 60; but we haven’t confirmed either by eyewitness. We’re unsure who that guy is in the back row between Looper and Bell (DeJean?), as well as the dude on the farthest right on the top row.

Updates: The guy in No. 52 is is new bullpen coach Guy Conti,  not Jerry or Charlie Manuel as we incorrectly guessed here. Thanks to readers Matt and Sean for pointing it out! Also today, we discovered that Victor Diaz has been given the more dignified No. 20 — he was a rookieish 50 last year.

People All Over the World, Join Hands

15Today Carlos Beltran will be introduced as a New York Met. He’ll be presented with jersey No. 15. Arriving with the richest contract in team history and practically guaranteed to stay for seven years, here’s hoping Beltran will do his jersey at least as proud as predecessors Al Jackson and Jerry Grote,and hopefully better than George Foster.

On top of this news comes word that 2004’s top draft pick Phillip Humber has agreed to a deal after a lengthy negotiation. No doubt about it: Omar is on fire.

Cairo, Koo In; Vance Out

Last week came word the Mets had traded veteran backup catcher Vance Wilson 3 to Detroit for minor league infielder Anderson Hernandez;signed veteran backup infielder Miguel Cairo; and signed lefthanded reliever Dae-Sung Koo. That Wilson was the Met to go was surprising but, in our estimation, the right choice to make seeing as Jason Phillips 23 is younger, a better receiver and possesses more of an upside, notwithstanding his lousy sophomore year. One thing certain about Cairo is that you won’t see him in his customary No. 41: That’s unavailable. Aquiring Koo was a coup in that newspapers hinted he, like Beltran, was simply assumed to be a future Yankee. Heh. Said to have a sneaky arm that will trouble lefthanded hitters, Koo wore No. 15 with Orix of the Japan Pacific League — that will belong to Beltran for awhile.

You’re Invited

The Mets yesterday announced that nine players had been signed to minor league contracts and been invited to Spring Training. They include ancient slugger Andres Galarraga, who will turn 44 this summer — younger than The Francos at least (thanks Paul). It’s possible that the Big Cat makes the team, perhaps as the righthanded swinging half of a first base platoon, but he won’t be wearing his familiar No. 14 here. That’s retired.

Rehabbing Met bullpen veterans Grant Roberts 36 (photo at right by David Whitham); Scott Strickland 28 and Orber Moreno 49 were also retained with minor league contracts, as was outfielder Gerald Williams 21. Bringing back Williams would seem more pointless than usual, but for the news that Mike Cameron 44 is having surgery and will likely miss the first month of the year.

Also joining the mix to spell Cameron will be speedy backup Kerry Robinson, notable here for the fact he used to wear No. 0 while with the Cardinals. (Former Expo Ron Calloway,signed to a Major League deal earlier this week, will also be in the outfield mix.Calloway woreNo. 22 in Montreal/San Juan).

Other signees include pitcher Juan Padilla, a minor league vet who’s had coffee with the Yankees and Reds; Luis Garcia, a first baseman-outfielder who hit 32 HRs last year in the rare air of the PCL with the Dodgers’ organization; catchers Andy Dominique, a chunky minor league vet who made his debut last year with the Red Sox while Varitek served a suspension for getting in A-Rod’s girlish grill; and Ramon Castro, the former Marlins backup fighting a rape charge. Along with the news the Mets had re-signed veteran catcher Vance Wilson 3 to a 2005 contract, it appears a deal or two involving Jason Phillips 23 or That Piazza Guy may happen sooner or later.

Finally, there’s Marlon Anderson, No. 8 on your old Cardinal and Phillie rosters, a utility backup in the mold of Desi Relaford.

These guys will all report when Spring Training begins in six long weeks or so. Till then,Happy Holidays!

Pete’s Sake

The Mets are expected today to introduce Pedro Martinez at a press grip-and-gin and present him with jersey No. 45, which he’ll try on over a suit as flashbulbs pop. Whether the Mets really ought to be fooling again with these kind of high-risk moves is debateable, but we have little doubt that Pedro will provide some excitement. His taking of No. 45 likely solidfies John Franco’s bid to be the first player in Met hstory to warm up a jersey number for two future Hall of Famers.

One Pitcher Leiter

So long and good luck to Al Leiter 22 and all his grunts, broken bats and full counts. It may have been time to part ways but we’ll remember Al as the pitching soul of brief but fun few years in Met history and realize that even as his skills declined, he still gave his team a chance to win most nights. The Mets also failed to offer arbitration or a new contract to streaky rightfielder Richard Hidalgo 15 and reliever Ricky Bottalico 20, leaving Omar Minaya with the frightening mandate to make a flurry of deals this weekend at the Winter Meetings. They did reach agreement with Mike DeJean 35, who pitched pretty well in New York at least until a broken leg sidelined him.

Heredia In, Stanton Out

The Mets made their first trade of the offseason Friday, swapping disliked lefthanded relievers with the Yankees. Old and overworked Mike Stanton 32 is back in the Bronx, where he belongs, and battered ex-Yankee Felix Heredia comes to Shea. Few Mets fans ever warmed to Stanton, perhaps because they got tired of seeing him pitch nearly every day, and with a no-trade contract and a big salary, it’s a miracle the Mets got anything for him. Let’s hope Heredia can be used judiciously and effectively. Felix wore 45with the MFYs, and that number is technically available, but…

Shea Hey Willie

Omar Minaya’s first move with Full Autonomy (Full autonomy?! Full autonomy!) was to name X-Yankee/X-Met and New Yorker Willie Randolph as the team’s 18th manager. Willie posed for blasphemous photos at Shea yesterday wearing Mookie Wilson’s No. 1, but it’s likely he’ll be wearing another number the next time he suits up. Willie was No. 30 for most of his Yankee career, but wore 12 while with the Mets in 1992. Taking his customary number would require Cliff Floyd to change jerseys but there’s speculation that Minaya will do what he can to change what it says on the front of Cliff’s shirt this winter anyhow. Danny Garcia is the current No. 12.

Though we think Bobby Valentine might have been a better choice, we’re willing to give Willie a shot. Thankfully, he didn’t arrive with the ridiculous contract his predecessor did.