The Coste is Clear

Add another potential starting point for Ruben Tejada now that the Mets waived, and subsequently lost, veteran backup catching candidate Chris Coste to the Nationals today. Coste was wearing No. 3 this spring (remember Alex Cora switched to lucky 13), seemed destined for Buffalo anyhow and still smelled like a Phillie; he’s no great loss. I know the guys the Mets plan to run out there this year aren’t destined to make anyone forget Mike Piazza, but for whatever reason I’ve developed warm fuzzies for both Rod Barajas and Henry Blanco even with the latter’s douchy forearm tattoos. I dunno. It might have been that article by David Waldstein of the Times a few weeks ago.

It’s looking more and more like Frank Catalonotto will claim a bench role and a jersey that hasn’t been worn by a Mets player in 15 years — No. 2. Can you name that player without looking it up? I couldn’t. Nor could I name the two guys preceeding him. No. 2 in 1996 went to manager Bobby Valentine, and since then then to coaches Gary Pettis and Sandy Alomar.

Steven Z. wrote to say he’s put together an all-time best-by-number list at his blog, Mets Fan Forever (check out also his “best-by-letter” list. You’re welcome to debate or disagree with him there!

One Step Beyond

Hi, we’re back with the new setup. I did this mainly because the latest upgrade of the content management system we use wouldn’t support the old layout, but the upgrade also provided some small upgrades in capability that make the site better and easier to use. For one thing the lists of yearly numerical rosters now progress sequentially and not in that irritating 1, 11, 12. It also allowed me to bust out Superba Graphics‘ terrific alternate logo and provided an excuse to update the records, links, bios and archives through last year (they’re much better organized, particularly the ancient history, though it’s still a work in progress). Some of the comments on recent stories were cut-and-pasted into the new stories, but everything else is just how it used to be. Big thanks to David Moore at Crooked Number for all the web help.

Anyway while this work was going on I kind of  slowed down on on the posts right in the middle of what has to be the most interesting spring training, number-wise, we’ve had in a while. A lot of the numbers assigned back in February have gone back up for grabs (3, 22, 32, 36, 43) while guys wearing 76, 78, 79 and 94 have emerged as real threats to take jobs, if not right away then down the road. And more could arrive any minute.

Despite all appearances, I still think the Mets will ultimately send Jennry Mejia to the minors, but I’m not one of those pretend scouts threatening to riot if they don’t. People tend to give way too much credit (or blame) to the manager; I think a man will become what he becomes no matter what his address is when he’s 20. Would he keep No. 76? Unusual but so again is he, and the the temptation to subtly suggest he’s one step beyond Francisco Rodriguez might be too powerful to resist.

Anyway, that’s just one thing worth keeping an eye on as camp winds down. We’ll rap about more soon!

Kiko the Jams

94While we wait for the final peices to fall into place for the big move, we noticed Kiko Calero has been signed to a minor league deal and outfitted in No. 94. He threw a scoreless but shaky inning today. You probably know this already but the Mets got permission to back out of the waiver deal they’d made with the Athletics for Jay Marshall, who was previously assigned 94 (and before that, 47) but never made it to camp as a result of an injury.

Like Marshall, Calero is an ex-Oakland reliever (also a cursed former Cardinal and Marlin) but I like that he’s got more whiffs than inningsand a pretty good careeer ERA, with the caveat that all relievers are crazy crapshoots, especially middling, sometimes injured veteran ones.

Bat Boys, Bat Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do

A few quick notes before I head out of town to spend some time at the home of the band whose song is referenced in the title of today’s post:

1) Several readers including David reminded me that I (and the mets.com roster I ripped off) left Jenrry Meija (I had to have spelled that name wrong) off the spring training roster where he should be noted to be wearing No. 76.

2) I neglected to mention this website recently passed its 11th birthday on Feb. 22. That’s in part because I made such a wreck of the 10th birthday bash, neglecting to make it all the way down the ‘top 10’ countdown as promised. Shameful. But I haven’t stopped doing this. Shortly after I return next week, the website will be freshly updated with a new look & feel I’d been working on for the last month with the crack team at Crooked Number. The changes — necessitated mainly by an upgrade of the operating system that would make the current look go kablooey — may look plain at first, but is much more powerful beneath the hood and is only a start.

3) I first got this question a few years ago, and didn’t know what to say then or now: What will the Bat Boys be wearing in 2010? As I recall the history, Met bat boys went numberless until 1986 (maybe 85?) and have in most years worn the figure of the year — except in 1999 when they skipped ahead to 00 so as not to mess with Turk Wendell’s mojo. Despite the second-straight curious spring training issue to Andy Green, it seems as if No. 10 will be available this year, but I’m thinking maybe 00 might be better. I’ve never been a fan of the ‘BB’ designation some teams use and I’d hate to see it here. Thoughts?

4) I’m again happy to have been asked to contribute an article for the 2010 Maple Street Press Mets Annual, which is arriving on area newsstands now. My contribution — a look at 2009’s injuries and their place in team history, got a terrific boost from longtime MBTN contributor Jason E., whose comprehensive history of the Mets disabled list made it all work. Did you know who the all-time leader for separate trips to the disabled list is? What body part has been injured most often? Who was the first Met ever to go on the DL? Then pick this thing up now. Also, there’s good articles.

5) We’re scheduling another Amazin’ Tuesday March 23 at Two Boots Tavern on the Lower East Side. Deets to come.

For the Record

If recent dispatches from Port St. Ledger are any indication, David Waldstein of the Times seems determined to wrest the title of Uni Number Beatwriter Champion from Marty Noble.

3Today he gets Hisanori Takahashi on the record discussing what we’d already reported here — he’s got eyes for the vacant No. 21 jersey, and not the 47 they’ve outfitted him in already. The other day Waldstein explored whether Jerry Manuel would consider changing his jersey number to 3 so as to mimic the Yankees’ Joe Girardi and his pretentious switch from 27 to 28 this spring. As if Joe shouldn’t really get to the point and change his jersey number to 208 million.

That piece sparked an even dumber post on the Bats blog where Jim Luttrell tries to zing the Mets by demonstrating he hasn’t realized the 21-day disabled list is long since dead and once again raises the issue of retiring Mets jerseys (Harrelson?)

Happy New Year

47Pitchers and catchers report today. I’ll be honest, I’m not one of those people who swoon over this news; if anything, it tends to make the coming weeks drag. The Mets probably have a little more than usual to solve during this one at least, but don’t be surprised to see it come down in the end to a matter of options and not performance. Have I crapped on your new year’s celebration yet? It does beat the alternative.

Anyway, here’s an updated roster, with contributions from Adam Rubin of the Daily News and other sources. Interestingly, Egbert’s trip to waiverland (he resurfaced on a minor-league contract) did cost him his uni number 35. That’s now with Mike Jacobs. Also worth noting is Hisanori Takahashi listed in 47, with Jay Marshall tumbling all the way to 94. (Edited to add Riggans, Warthen and Hernandez as pointed out by readers. Thanks!)

New players in bold. * indicates non-roster invitee.

 

1 Luis Castillo, 2B

2 Frank Catalonotto*, INF-OF

3 Chris Coste, C

4 Henry Blanco, C

5 David Wright, 3B

6 Nick Evans, OF

7 Jose Reyes, SS

8 vacant

9 Omir Santos, C

10 Andy Green*, INF (was 29 last year)

11 Anderson Hernandez, INF

12 Jeff Francoeur, OF

13 Alex Cora, INF (was 3 last year)

14 Retired

15 Carlos Beltran, OF

16 Angel Pagan, OF

17 Fernando Tatis, INF-OF

18 Ryota Igarashi, P

19 Gary Matthews, OF

20 Howard Johnson, Hitting Coach

21 vacant (was Delgado)

22 Jolbert Cabrera*, INF-OF

23 Chris Carter, INF-OF

24 vacant

25 Pedro Feliciano, P

26 Fernando Martinez, OF

27 Nelson Figueroa, P

28 Daniel Murphy, 1B

29 Tobi Stoner, P

30 Josh Thole, C

31 vacant

32 Arturo Lopez, P

33 John Maine, P

34 Mike Pelfrey, P

35 Mike Jacobs*, 1B

36 R.A. Dickey*, P

37 retired

38 Fernando Nieve, P

39 Bobby Parnell, P

40 Eddie Kunz, P

41 retired

42 retired

43 Josh Fogg*, P

44 Jason Bay, OF

45 Kelvim Escobar, P

46 Oliver Perez, P

47 Hisanori Takahashi, P

48 Pat Misch, P

49 Jon Niese, P

50 Sean Green, P

51 Chip Hale, 3rd base Coach

52 Razor Shines, 1st base coach

53 Jerry Manuel, Manager

54 Dave Racaniello, Bullpen Catcher

55 Randy Niemann, Bullpen Coach

56 Dave Jauss, Bench Coach

57 Johan Santana, P

58 vacant

59 Dan Warthen, pitching coach

60 vacant

61 Clint Everts, P

62 Jesus Feliciano*, OF

63 Shawn Bowman, INF

64 Elmer Dessens*, P

65 Russ Adams*, INF

66 Mike Hessman*, OF

67 Mike Cervenak*, INF

68 Bobby Livingston*, P

69 vacant

70 Carlos Muniz*, P (was 32 in last appearance with the Mets, 2008)

71 Mike Nickeas*, C

72 Kai Gronauer, C

73 Shawn Riggans*, C

74 Francisco Pena*, C

75 Francisco Rodriguez, P

76 vacant

77 Eric Niesen*, P

78 Ike Davis*, 1B

79 Ruben Tejeda*, INF

80 Luis Hernandez*, INF

81-89 vacant

90 Travis Blackley*, P

91 Kirk Nieuwenhuis*, OF

92 Jason Pridie, OF

93 Jack Egbert*, P (was 35)

94 Jay Marshall*, P (was 47)

More Mets

The Mets are hitting the leftovers like the day after Thanksgiving. Only hours after posting the numerical roster below, one number, 35, came available again when the Mets claimed outfielder Jason Pridie from Minnesota with a waiver claim and designated pitcher Jack Egbert for assignment. Egbert joined the Mets roster late last season when they claimed him off waivers from the White Sox, fulfilling the destiny of all baseball players on the downside of their careers from the tri-state area.

Anyway, Pridie, a potential challenger for innings in center field, is in and not yet assigned a number.

The Mets were hardly done, it turned out, signing former Met Mike Jacobs to a minor league deal and a chance to pressure incumbent Daniel Murphy at first base. There’s been some speculation that Jacobs would take his old No. 27 and leave Nelson Figueroa to search for a new uni, but I doubt that comes to pass. Jacobs hasn’t really earned any equity in 27 and I think he’s a longshot to be anything more than a Buffalo Soldier this year, as attractive as ability to punish mistakes by righthanded pitchers is. He could really help his cause by taking up catching again, though. My guess is he takes Egbert’s 35.

Also new to the NRIs is Tokyo Giants lefty Hisanori Takahashi (no relation to Ken as far as I know). This Takahashi could land in the vacant No. 21, that was his jersey back East. Ex-Rays catcher Shawn Riggans, like Jacobs a shaky defensive player with power, accepted an invite and looks to me destined for 73 or 76.

Yo, That’s Fresh

Thanks to Dave Mackey in the post below who pointed out new assignments as per the Mets.com roster. I’ll rap more about these later, but here’s the pertinent info. Hats off to outfielding prospect Kirk Nieuwenhuis, with the highest digits assigned so far.

Of interest: Alex Cora moving to 13 and new catcher Chris Coste taking over 3.

New players in bold. * indicates non-roster invitee.

1 Luis Castillo, 2B

2 Frank Catalonotto*, INF-OF

3 Chris Coste, C

4 Henry Blanco, C

5 David Wright, 3B

6 Nick Evans, OF

7 Jose Reyes, SS

8 vacant

9 Omir Santos, C

10 Andy Green*, INF (was 29 last year)

11 Anderson Hernandez, INF

12 Jeff Francoeur, OF

13 Alex Cora, INF (was 3 last year)

14 Retired

15 Carlos Beltran, OF

16 Angel Pagan, OF

17 Fernando Tatis, INF-OF

18 Ryota Igarashi, P

19 Gary Matthews, OF

20 Howard Johnson, Hitting Coach

21 vacant (was Delgado)

22 Jolbert Cabrera*, INF-OF

23 Chris Carter, INF-OF

24 vacant

25 Pedro Feliciano, P

26 Fernando Martinez, OF

27 Nelson Figueroa, P

28 Daniel Murphy, 1B

29 Tobi Stoner, P

30 Josh Thole, C

31 vacant

32 Arturo Lopez, P

33 John Maine, P

34 Mike Pelfrey, P

35 Jack Egbert, P

36 R.A. Dickey*, P

37 retired

38 Fernando Nieve, P

39 Bobby Parnell, P

40 Eddie Kunz, P

41 retired

42 retired

43 Josh Fogg*, P

44 Jason Bay, OF

45 Kelvim Escobar, P

46 Oliver Perez, P

47 Jay Marshall, P

48 Pat Misch, P

49 Jon Niese, P

50 Sean Green, P

51 Chip Hale, 3rd base Coach

52 Razor Shines, 1st base coach (thanks for the correction)

53 Jerry Manuel, Manager

54 Dave Racaniello, Bullpen Catcher

55 Randy Niemann, Bullpen Coach

56 Dave Jauss, Bench Coach

57 Johan Santana, P

58 vacant

59 vacant

60 vacant

61 Clint Everts, P

62 Jesus Feliciano*, OF

63 Shawn Bowman, INF

64 Elmer Dessens*, P

65 Russ Adams*, INF

66 Mike Hessman*, OF

67 Mike Cervenak*, INF

68 Bobby Livingston*, P

69 vacant

70 Carlos Muniz*, P (was 32 in last appearance with the Mets, 2008)

71 vacant

72 vacant

73 vacant

74 Francisco Pena*, C

75 Francisco Rodriguez, P

76 vacant

77 Eric Niesen*, P

78 Ike Davis*, 1B

79 Ruben Tejeda*, INF

80-89 vacant

90 Travis Blackley*, P

91 Kirk Nieuwenhuis*, OF

Unaccountable

Not to toot my own horn here but the latest JJ Putz flap only goes to support the idea expressed way back when that the Mets cared not about the results when they committed five guys and $10 million to get Putz, only the illusion that they’d boldly gone out and created some kind of impenetrable bullpen.

That said, I think there’s more room for debating whether the team treated JJ Putz’s injuries properly than whether an impenetrable bullpen really exists. In other words, the Mets screwed up no matter how Putz’s health turned out.

A look at the Mets roster will tell you how unspectacular this offseason’s been by contrast. A little more than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report, and 11 men on the 40-man roster have yet to be officially assigned numbers, and a couple of them (Eddie Kunz, Tobi Stoner) are no locks to return in what we saw them wear last (40 and 29, respectively).

Behold the unassigned:

Jack Egbert, P

Kelvim Escobar, P (probably 45)

Clint Everts, P

Ryota Igarashi, P (probably 18)

Arturo Lopez, P

Jay Marshall, P

Henry Blanco, C

Chris Coste, C

Shawn Bowman, INF

Chris Carter, INF-OF

Gary Matthews, OF

Also invited to camp on minor-league deals:

R.A. Dickey, P

Elmer Dessens, P (wore 64 last year)

Bobby Livingston, P

Russ Adams, INF

Jolbert Cabrera, INF-OF

Mike Cervenak, INF

Andy Green, INF (wore 10 29 last year)

Mike Hessman, OF

Jesus Feliciano,OF

Frank (Smithtown’s Own) Catalonotto, INF-OF