Toe, Knee, Arm, Ass

After a solid half-season rehabbing his career in AAA, the Mets rewarded Tony Armas with his first big-league appearance of the year. Tonight’s start in St. Louis (off to a shaky start as I write) is designed to provide a bit of rest for a stretched-out rotation, after which it is expected Armas will stay with the club filling the long-relief role previously filled by Claudio Vargas, Nelson Figueroa and Jorge Sosa. Armas appears tonight in No. 44 — the same jersey he wore this spring that was later issued to Brady Clark when Clark when the trip north and Armas did not.

Leave it Greg Prince of Faith & Fear in Flushing to point out the last time No. 44 appeared on the back of a Mets pitcher it was the Mercury Mets and Jason Isringhausen — who made his last appearance for the Mets wearing that jersey in July of 1999. That and a lot more.

Meantime, MBTN reader Paul C., aka King Of All Screen Capturers, delivers the above image of Isringhausen’s unique Mercury Mets look — condensed fonts don’t exist in the future, doncha know.

To make room for Armas the Mets designated infielder Andy Phillipsfor assignment — easy come, easy go — and are gambling a short bench won’t bite them in the butt before Moises Alou makes a return. Yes, they’re counting on that again. Yes, the Met offense is collapsing under the anticipation of his return once again.

Talkin’ baseball: Join me in Flushing this coming Monday, July 7, as I appear along with Greg Spira, co-editor of Meet the Mets, in a discussion about the Mets, baseball, books and anything else. We will have books for sale and/or signature (including Matt Silverman’s Mets Essential and 100 Things), and afterward, I’ll be happy to join you for a beer to watch the Mets-Phillies game.

Details: 6 p.m., Monday July 7 at the Queens Library — Flushing , 41-17 Main Street, (718) 661-1200.

A Hard Day’s Night

Just like the Mets to eviserate the momentum of their resounding day-game victory (and series sweep) at Yankee Stadium with a stinker against a sack of crap making what is likely to be his only effective start of the year. Tyler Clippard? Dwight Gooden? No, this time, it’s Sidney Ponson. Kill me.

Thanks for hanging in during the break — I spent an almost entirely Metless week in the wildnerness — dim nighttime radio reception brought me bits of two horrifying losses to Seattle and pretty good reception of a Binghamton Mets game in which their manager was ejected and suspended (for what? I dunno). Reading up on the transactions and comments, I see the Mets designated Claudio Vargas for asignment and recalled reliver Carlos Muniz.

They also acquired infielder Andy Phillips via waivers and added him to the active roster while sending down pointless third catcher Robinson Cancel. Phillips was issued No. 29 — the third time that number was issued this season.

Oh, and Willie Randolph was fired again — this time by the NL All-Stars. Ouch.

New and Improved

While so many of his colleagues spent the past week hysterically fermenting fake outrage and making a martyr of deposed manager Willie Randolph, beat writer Adam Rubin of the Daily News gets the real story on the complicated unraveling of the Willie Randolph Era, revealing not only Willie’s wild paranoia and churlishness, but the politicking that could make Tony Bernazard the new king of Metland before long. As always, the real story is considerably more nuanced than a 144-point headline would indicate.

As I’ve said before, I felt bad for Willie right up until the end but I have begun to think that the Mets very much did him a favor by firing him as “controversially” as they did, since it detracts from the very strong argument for having done it in the first place. Three games in and I’m thrilled with the Jerry Manuel Era.

Manuel is the 19th manager in Mets history, and the first to wear No. 53: Following is a list of all Met managers and their uni numbers:

Manager Years Number
Casey Stengel 1962-65 37
Wes Westrum 1965-67 9
Salty Parker 1967 54
Gil Hodges 1968-71 14
Yogi Berra 1972-75 8
Roy McMillan 1975 51
Joe Frazier 1976-77 55
Joe Torre 1977-81 9
George Bamberger 1982-83 31
Frank Howard 1983 55
Davey Johnson 1984-1990 5
Bud Harrelson 1990-91 3
Mike Cubbage 1991 4
Jeff Torborg 1992-93 10
Dallas Green 1993-96 46
Bobby Valentine 1996-2002 2
Art Howe 2003-2004 18
Willie Randolph 2005-2008 12
Jerry Manuel 2008 53

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

UPDATES: Manuel stays in 53: Oberkfell wearing 55 (formerly belonging to Nieto); Aguayo in 51(formerly Peterson) and Warthen in 59 (most recently belonging to … oh my). Meantime, looks like the same old Mets are back.I may wanna do that myself

If the smoke ever clears from the debate of what level of “class” was exhibited in the late-night canning of Willie Randolph, we just might before too long see it wasn’t such a bad decision after all.

For as bad as Randolph’s firing looked, and for as excrutiatingly pitiful as Omar Minaya’s attempt at spin this evening was, Jerry Manuel’s introductory press chat that followed was every bit as encouraging.

After years of hearing Met executives improvising earnest but evasive nonanswers and mindless platitudes about getting on the same page and winning, I’m pretty sure I heard Manuel say four things I only dreamed Willie ever would:

* The bullpen needs more rigid structuring of roles.

* Running and bunting are strategies to be employed judiciously.

* The regulars look worn out and could use a break.

* Sandy Alomar shouldn’t be coaching third base.

How hard was that? While the clamoring for his head no doubt turned Willie into a sympathetic figure as his clock wound down — particularly with me — and as much as in my heart I believe the team could somehow have found the effort to successfully grind it out even with him on board, I don’t think Willie’s stubbornness would ever soften to a point where those simple objectives could be achieved.

It’s one thing to talk a good game and quite another to execute on these goals. And it’s entirely possible those goals are acheived and the team continues to disappoint. But I have to admit it: I am encouraged.

Let’s Go Mets!

Mets Whack Willie

Pitching coach Rick Peterson too and because they can, first-base coach Tom Nieto.

And just when I’d begun to tune out all the rumors.

Stay tuned for the press conference today to see whether Ken Oberkfell, promoted from Norfolk to the big league staff along with pitching coach Dan Warthen and infield coordinator Luis Aguayo, alights again in No. 0, and whether Jerry Manuel’s first move as interim manager is to shed No. 53.

“37!! My ballteam gave out 37 six!!”

“In a row?”

Trot Nixon, 37th No. 6 in Mets history, and fourth this year, tying its own record from 2004 for the most times issued in a single season and extending 6’s dominance as the most frequently issued Mets jersey.

But based on pure velocity of the turnover, 2008 has been the sixiest season in Mets history. Consider that in 2004, 6 hadn’t been issed for the third time by time Nixon slipped on his new outfit. Chris Aguila was optioned back to AAA to make room for Nixon, illustrating the missed opportunity of handing him 6 as well.

I’d like to wish all you fathers out there a happy birthday. The Mets gave me a double header to accompany installation of a new bathroom vanity. This could be a very long day.

Hot to Trot

Word came late this evening that the Mets had traded with the D-backs Tucson farm club to acquire veteran outfielder Trot Nixon. It’s unclear at the moment when Nixon might arrive or for whom; but you can be sure they are covering a helmet in scuzz for his arrival.

Nixon, who I read once grew up a Met fan enamored of the ’86ers, is most associated with No. 7, his uni in Boston for many years. More recently he wore 33 in Cleveland (and in Tucson), but neither of those figures are available presently. Gene in the comments section argues for No. 47 — what’s not to like about that? — but we’ll be satisfied with the No. 4 Robinson “Brilliant But” Cancel turns in if/when he’s demoted again. Cancel you may have heard got the call Friday when the Mets officially returned Moises Alouback to his rightful homeland of the Disablican Republic.

Have you noticed by the way the offense completely tanks every time Alou threatens to return to the team, and then again during that “limbo period” when he may or may not be available? For a team with as many mental problems as this one has, asking it to rely on a player who’s not there for them is just unfair. They’re wanting enough as it is.

I don’t care that much if they fire Willie or not. But if its Wagner who gets him fired I pray he’s next. The Yankees seem to be in need of an egomaniacal setup man. Give us Austin Jackson and we’ll call it a deal.

Exit Light

13I don’t want to pretend I saw this day coming years ago but I always thought the Mets took the coward’s way out when, faced with the task of choosing a new closer they simply threw the most money at the biggest name out there and considered it done.

It was after all the most defensible position they could have taken. Having a Brand Name out there in the bullpen takes a lot of pressure off the manager by avoiding the kind of Quarterback Controversy the so-called bullpen-by-committee invites; and it certainly fits the bill for a Win Now team, which the Mets are forever convinced they are.

With that said, in a matter of taste I’d have preferred to see them try something a little more creative. They certainly could have handed the closer’s role to Aaron Heilman and saw what happened. Braden Looper should have taught them that anyone with a decent arm can fake it as a closer, as he did in 2004; instead they got spooked by Looper’s rotten 2005 – injury related of course – and went out and gave way too much job security to Billy Wagner, who, it should be noted wore out his welcome with two previous employers and continues to talk like a player confident he’ll outlast his manager.

And he will!

* * *

I’ve tried to be modest about begging you to buy the book based on the website but I shouldn’t turn down the opportunity to let you know you can get a free one.

That said if you haven’t picked up a copy of MBTN for your Dad yet what are you waiting for. Do what Neil Best tells you to do!

No Surprises

It wouldn’t surprise me to see this afternoon’s AAA callup, Chris Aguila, show up at Shea tonight inheriting the same No. 6 jersey that belonged last to pointless infield acquiree Abraham Nunez and before that to overmatched outfielder Nick Evans, and before that to obscure, briefly visiting catcher Gustavo Molina.

7 p.m. UPDATE: Aguila is wearing No. 29, last seen on the back of Jorge Sosa. Guess we’re surprised after all.

And it wouldn’t surprise me if the Mets losing streak reached the same No. 6 tonight, seeing as Mike Pelfrey opposes Brandon Webb. And it would come as no surprise if the Mets might lose as a result of getting entirely too cautious with a lead, as they’re in the dreadful habit of once again.

Catching up with moves from Tuesday, they activated Moises Alou, along with Marlon Anderson, from the disabled list, while designating third catcher Raul Casanova to for assignment. Not surprisingly, Alou couldn’t make it through the rain delay last night. Anderson in the meantime, was welcomed back despite doing nothing while healthy to have helped this club so far. That’s also not a surprise.

Thanks to a note from Joey we know Casey Hodges was snapped up by the Braves in the 23rd round of the amatuer draft. Boo!

Get Their Heads Examined

The aftereffects of Ryan Church‘s concussion have now kept him out of the lineup for nearly three weeks, but the Mets are taking it day by day. Perhaps, when Church sees a neurologist this week, Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph accompany him: I suspect an examination won’t reveal much.

Raul Casanova is back in No. 30 and Robinson Cancel is reporting back to AAA unless he gets claimed by someone else. Sure. Cancel grounded out in his first turn at bat in nine years Friday night.

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Meet those men inside my brain: The Mets Police.
Nice review from Steve Reynolds of Zisk Magazine: It’s like getting thrown out at home by great writing!