When Black Friday Comes

Just like the Mets to have a solid game against the league’s best team on the same day that stories suggesting the org whack the manager (New York Sun) and pitching coach (Daily News) appear. But that’s the Mets.

Part of it could be a lift from the return of Moises Alou to the lineup, though I’d argue that the drag of anticipating his return was every bit as bad. They activated Alou by the way, by demoting Gustavo Molina while Brian Schneidershowed up in an emergency mode.

And don’t get me wrong — it’s great to see Jose Reyes driving the ball again, and I want to see a cycle as much as the next guy, maybe more, but Sandy Alomar Sr. is a horse’s ass for sending Reyes after the inside-the-parker with no outs. Not only was he out by a mile but he could have gotten hurt. And he certainly would have scored given the three bats in the lineup to follow him. Alomar got away with the same kinda boneheaded calls all last year and was never held accountable.

Worth noticing in the game was the fact they were in their black jerseys again… a get-up that to this point has been worn on each Friday of the season and only on Friday. A friend pointed out these jerseys do not include the Shea Stadium patch as their white ones do. Not sure offhand is that is peculiar only to the black jerseys or to black road jerseys. Do you know? Let us know.

Houston, Hello

So I did guest spot on a radio show the other day.

As part as the publicity around the MBTNbook, I’ve done a few of these in recent months, and while I still blurt out way too many “umms” and “yaknows” it feels like I’ve actually gotten better as I’ve gone along. My gameplan for these interviews has generally been to go up there with the idea of simply putting it in play: I might drive the right question to the gap and maybe leg out the extra base, but I’m mainly up there trying not to whiff.

At the risk of taking this tortured analogy any further, it was a rough first inning in Houston. I ably handled an introduction glitch before Richard Justiceof KGOW 1560 The Game (and the Houston Chronicle) surprised me with a first-pitch curve.

“What’s wrong with the Mets?” he asked.

If you listen in I mumbled something about an inconsistent offense and pitching issues that staffs typically encounter in April, but I’m not sure that’s it at all, necessarily. I mean, not all of it. The fact is this has been a remarkably average team over the last year (68-68 since last May 30, says this guy) and I’d argue that stretch of averageness actually proceeds it, goes back to September of 2006 and foretold the lethargic offense that more than anything else cost the Mets a chance to play in another World Series that year. And that resembles 2005, results-wise at least, when the Mets rested at .500 at more points than in any other year in team history but somehow looked better doing so.

So maybe that’s it. Being an OK team in a pretty good era is pretty much what they are under Willie and Omar. And while they’re capable of more the record shows early 2006 was the exception and not the rule. Their particular problems haven’t been quite the same every year, much less every night, beyond injuries and age.

When Justice got to the part about whether Randolph should be fired I pleaded pateience. Until Memorial Day, at least.

Anyway, in the interest of being better prepared next time, I put it to you readers: Tell me how you’d answer: What’s wrong with the Mets? Use the comments below.

*

Thanks to David Moore and Crooked Number for still more help with the web page, which continues to be a masterpiece in the making. You might notice that names on the player pages now read in in proper order. Mookie Wilson > Wilson, Mookie, don’t you think?

*

Moises Alou is rumored to rejoin the team in time for tonight’s opener in Phoenix but until I see18 in left field I’m not holding my breath. Not clear at this point whether Brian Schneider gets DL’ed or whatever. Not that I’m interested in starting a reputation for the guy or anything but Schneider’s had three separate injuries already and his next extra-base hit will be his first. Fitting right in.

*

Cool new book review published by Baseball America (pictured above) and featured, quiz-style, in the latest issue of Mets Inside Pitch.

Sons of Jim Marshall

Another injury to Brian Schneider this afternoon required the Mets to reach down to AAA and recall catcher Gustavo Molina, dressing him, appropriately enough, in No. 6. Brady Clark, who passed through undistinguishedly wearing No. 15 in 2004, may see his run in No. 44 this year similarly brief and forgettable: He was designated for assignment to make room for Molina (pictured at left thanks to MBTN reader Gordon).

As readers of this site know well, no number in Mets history has been issued as often as No. 6. Molina, if and when he makes his official Mets debut, would be the number’s 34th occupant and the first since Ruben Gotay, who was designated for assignment and claimed by the Braves shortly before the season began. No. 6’s colorful and scrubbily insignificant history includes three issues in the team’s maiden season of 1962 (Jim Marshall, Cliff Cook and Rick Herrscher); three issues in 1990 (Mike Marshall, Alex Trevino, Darren Reed) and a mind-boggling four giveaways in 2004 (Ricky Gutierrez, Gerald Williams, Tom Wilson and Jeff Keppinger).

Even the number’s longest-term occupants (Al Weis and Wally Backman) owned reputations as guys who overachieved their way to prominence: Weis was a light-hitting backup infielder for the 1969ers who masde a strong case to be MVP of the 1969 World Series; Backman, of course, overcame doubts early in his career and the need for a platoonmate throughout it, to carve out a nine-season run in No. 6 on pure grit.

Below is a list of the most popular issues in Met jersey history through April 25 2008, and including Molina:

No.       No. of Players to wear it          Notes

6          34         Issued a team-record four times in 2004.

34         30         Longest tenure: Danny Frisella (1970-72).

17         30         20 position players; 10 pitchers.

19         28        Current occupant: Ryan Church

35         28         Longest tenure: Rick Reed (5 years).

38         27         12 players in 9 years between Roger Craig (1963) and Buzz Capra (1971)

11         27         26 position players, 1 pitcher.

33         27         14 pitchers; 13 position players.

43         26         Issued twice in ’66, ’97, ’98 and ‘02

26         26         One All-Star starter: Dave Kingman (1976)

29         26         Best player to wear it gave it up too soon: Ken Singleton

1          25         Everyone wants to be No. 1; most should think twice

 

Third Time’s A Harm

Aging pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson 9 in 2008: .067 and a broken batis expected to get his first start of the year Tuesday afternoon as the Mets wrap up a quick visit to Wrigley, and hopefully, jump-start a bat that’s been slumbering for much of the early going.

The start would also be Anderson’s first while wearing No. 9 — he changed into it this offseason after the Mets acquired Brian Schneider, who received 23. Anderson wore 18 in his go-round with the Mets in 2005 but that number now belongs to Moises Alou.

23 in 2007: .319/.355/.551 in 69 ABsAnderson is the 23rd player to wear at least 3 different Met uniform numbers and if 9 turns out to be the worst of the three he won’t be alone:David Cone (16); Ron Darling (15) and Kevin Elster (15) are right there with him among players whose third uniform was their worst. And though .067 is a tiny sample, Anderson at the moment looks a lot like the guy released by the Dodgers a year ago.

On the other hand, for Hubie Brooks (7), Cleon Jones (21) and even the patron saint of multple jersey wearers, Jeff McKnight (7) the third time was a charm.

eBay Met Mystery

Got the following email recently from reader Steve:

I bought a Rawlings authentic jersey on eBay a few weeks ago. The seller listed it as a Jose Reyes jersey but I knew it couldn’t have been because: 1) it’s a Rawlings and 2) it just had the “7”, with no player name, on the back. So, upon seeing it, I immediately thought it was a ’99 Todd Pratt jersey (I was excited someone liked Pratt as much as I did, that they’d actually get a Pratt jersey). That all changed, however, when I got it in the mail.

For starters, the authentic tag is on the inside of the jersey, not the outside, which is where it is when players get them. It also has the “flag tag” hanging from it, indicating size “42”, the Rawlings jerseys had tags in the collars with the size. Third, it has the MLB logo sewn on the back of the neck, which wasn’t done until 2000. So, all these things made me very confused. So, I got to thinking that maybe this was a minor league issued jersey (maybe the B-Mets) but I just don’t know. I was hoping there might be some way you could help. Was there someone on the B-Mets who was small enough to wear a “42” sometime after 2000 and before they started using Majestic?

As I explained to Steve, I’m not an expert at all when it comes to jersey make/models but as he did, I suspect he must have purchased a B-Mets jersey. But I don’t know for sure, and I hope you might. To sum up, Steve is looking at a “game-worn” jersey that:

 

1) No. 7, no name on the back

2) Size 42

3) MLB logo on the back

4) Rawlings make

 

If you have some ideas as to the origin of this jersey, please share them in the comments section below.

***

Thanks to all who showed up at last night’s event at Word Books, where I discussed Mets by the Numbers and Spike Vrusho told tales from his book on baseball brawls, flawlessly brought to life by Caryn of MetsGrrl (who I know must be saddened today by the passing of E- Streeter Danny Federici). The event was a lot of fun, and though we’d missed most of last night’s regularly-scheduled Mets game to do the event, the Mets were kind enough to give us plenty of time for drinks and triumphant game-watching afterward at Red Star.

Carter Country

Had a good time last night in New Jersey, where Mets by the Numbers was sucked into the awesome gravitational pull of Gary Carter, whose new book pictured here was the featured attraction at Bookends book store.

In addition to us, Dan Reilly, the original Mr. Met, was selling/signing his book as was George “Shotgun” Shuba, the ex-Brooklyn Dodger and Montreal teammate of Jackie Robinson. Both Dan — who was a Shea ticket salesman picked to become the first live-action costumed mascot and knows that Ed Kranepool was originally assigned No. 21 — and George were great, and we all owe one to Gary Carter for being Macy’s to our Spencer’s Gifts. I also got to meet longtime MBTN contributor Gordon for the first time after years of exchanged scorecards and emails.

After the crowd thinned out some we had a chance to make a gift of our book to Gary, who just as you might expect, was polite and charming and promised to read it. You can catch up to Gary at 12:30pm today at the Barnes & Noble at 46th & 5th Ave.

Tonight, the MBTN World Tour continues with a stop in my backyard, Word Books in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at 7:30 pm. The event includes Spike Vrusho, author of Benchclearing: Baseball’s Greatest Fights & Riots and is moderated by Caryn Rose of Metsgrrl. Word is located on Franklin Street at Milton, a short walk form the Greenpoint Ave. stop on the G.

Jackie Blue

I was at Shea last night for the first time this year thanks to my co-writer, and now co-star in a potential future episode of Mets Weekly. We were joined by two other swell guys, and we had a great time, the Mets looked resplendent, especially with the blue hats, matching 42 jerseys (anyone other than me remember Chuck Taylor?) and no names on the back. Sweet.

Worth noting was that the scoreboard identified the players by their assigned numbers but the Shea PA announcer introduced them all as No. 42. I’ll address how to integrate this event into the database when I’ve had some time to think about it.

I missed the announcement pre-game so I was delighted to see Duaner Sanchez trot in from the bullpen for the the 9th inning. The quietly effective Carlos Muniz was shipped back to the minors to make room. Just an all-around terrific night.

6 p.m. Tonight, we’re opening for Gary Carter at Bookends in Ridewood, N.J. Thursday at 7:30, I’ll discuss the Mets and baseball with Metsgrrl and Spike Vrusho (author of Benchclearing) atWord Books in Greenpoint (beer and snacks to be served)!

Happy Ron Hodges Day

The Mets on Tuesday will celebrate the pioneering efforts of Ron Hodges, who broke the Scrubeenie Barrier by lasting 12 seasons in a Mets uniform, the first 11 without even being considered a regular starting option.

42To mark the historic occasion, every player on the Mets will be outfitted in the No. 42 jersey Ron made famous while rotting on the bench behind Grote and Dyer; then Grote and Stearns; and then Stearns and Grote; and then Stearns and Trevino; and then Trevino and Stearns; and then Stearns and Trevino again; and then Mike Fitzgerald. Relievers from Harry Parker to Wes Gardner found Hodges’ target while warming up in the bullpen; and managers from Berra to Frazier to Torre to Johnson called on his left-handed bat to pinch hit in crucial situations, provided they had already used Kranepool, Staub or Jorgensen.

“Waiting around to be useful and occasionally contributing something worthwhile are attributes I want my guys to inhabit,” explained manager Willie Randolph, who donned the 42 jersey at last year’s event. “We need to go out there and show our fans that in each of us beats the heart of a lefthanded hitting reserve catcher, preferably a veteran.”

For Hodges, 11 seasons of waiting around for a shot came to delicious fruition in 1983, when as a 34-year-old, he was the starting catcher in Tom Seaver’s glorious, opening-day return to Shea Stadium. Hodges set career highs with 110 games played and 250 at-bats.

“As a lefthanded-hitting catcher with a reputation for strong defense, I understand that Ron Hodges was every bit the player I am,” added the Mets’ current starter behind the dish, Brian Schneider. “Ron’s career reminds me of how blessed I am.”

* * *

* Actually, all Mets are to wear 42 Tuesday to honor Jackie Robinson. The above wasn’t meant to disparage his contributions, or Ron Hodges’s, for that matter.

* Cultural omniblogger/librarian Mike Tubridy’s “Boat Against the Current” blog has nice words on Mets by the Numbers and its launch party last week.

Almost Like Homemade

So this is turning out to be a better week than it looked like it might be back on Tuesday, what with an impressive debut starts from Mike Pelfrey and Nelson Figueroa; the first Metly appearance and contribution from Raul Casanova; and a continued MVP bid from Angel Pagan. There’s something satisfying knowing that all these guys are one-time products of the maligned Mets farm system.

Great job, wrong size jerseyFigueroa’s victory last night marked the first appearance of the dreaded black unis all season (not to mention the first call for a tailor to get Figueroa’s jersey to fit right. Looked like a size 44 wearing a 52). Correct me if I’m wrong, but we’ve yet to see pinstripes and/or the gorgeous all-blue Mets cap yet. Speaking as a neighbor of hundreds of young hipsters, the latter is becoming the new trucker cap around here: I’ll try and gather photographic evidence and show you in a future post.

Nice to see the Mets honor Shea (that’s my wife’s maiden name, doncha know?) but leave it to the incomparable Paul Lukas to point out they did so while introducing unnecessary black dropshadows to the logo and accompanying retired numbers.

* Thanks to Eric Simon of Amazin’ Avenue (and his readers) for the enthusiastic book review he published recently. See also a nice note from author, reviewer and Yankee fanatic Harvey Frommer. And Mark Lelinwalla of the NY Daily News did a short peice on the book’s creation in The Score column last week.

* I’ll be at two great independent bookstores next week to sign and discuss the book: On Wednesday, Bookends in Ridgewood, N.J.; and Thursday at Word Books in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

All the King’s Men

Thanks as usual to a great readership we destroyed the Kingman Kontroversy in a matter of hours and moved on to still more mystery.

First up, on the right is a 1981 program showing a spring training photo of Dave Kingman (wearing No. 5, obscured by his bat) along with Rusty Staub. Both TommieCleon and SJR provided me with this image — apparently published at least twice that season (once pre-strike, once post-strike).

On the left is a weird All-Star insert card provided by TommieCleon, also showing Kong with the partially obscured No. 5.

As detailed in the comments in the post below this, this controversy reminded me of another “false positive” Kingman spring. This one was 1975. Tonight I cracked open the ’75 yearbook to find the below photo, showing the newly acquired Kingman in a St. Petersburg batting cage wearing No. 4 but with a roster, dated March 27, noting Kingman would wear 26 once the season began. Adding to this confusion were photos of Rusty Staub also wearing 4 — but they dated to 1974. Staub that spring was wearing 10 for the first time — he’d ditched 4 after Duffy Dyer was traded that winter.

Now things get really weird. When that 1975 season finally began, it was April 8, a Tuesday day game against the Phillies — 33 years ago today. I was at Shea with my Dad, and Kingman hit a home run. We won 2-1 that day as Seaver outdueled Carlton.

Tonight I learned that today’s disappointing home opener against the Phillies was attended by Dave Kingman.

I don’t know what it means either.

* Before today’s game, Matt Wise was placed on the disabled list with a stiff forearm. The surprise recallee, Carlos Muniz, pitched this after noon wearing No. 32. Muniz wore 38 last year before Wise arrived this winter.