You Don’t Have to Call Me Johnson

16Catcher Rob Johnson is in uniform in Philly tonight and wearing the same No. 16 he had during Spring Training. As we’ll all remember for a long time, Jordany Valdespin was suddenly recalled to the Mets Monday when Ruben Tejada hit the disabled list, his home run capped a wild and memorable game during which Josh Thole was knocked silly in a collision with the Phillies’ Ty Wigginton — Wiggy was out — necessitating the Mets to invoke the new 7-day disabled list for concussion symptoms and recall Johnson.

Rob Johnson by the way would be the 7th Johnson to play for the Mets, and the third Robert Johnson: Bob D. Johnson and Bob W. Johnson preceded him.

Vinny for Schwinny

33A few Met changes to get caught up on that I missed over the weekend: First, there was the return of punching-bag starter Chris Schwinden to AAA after two miserable starts as Mike Pelfrey’s replacement. What makes the Mets think Miguel Batista represents much of an upgrade remains a bit of a mystery, as Batista hasn’t had much more than a good inning or two since spring training and is 41 years old, but that’s the price the Mets are paying for cutting every corner on depth as a means to service the Wilpon’s debt.

In Schwinden’s place the Mets recalled versatile reserve Vinny Rottino, who retains the No. 33 he rocked during spring training. The last Met to wear No. 33 was reliever Taylor Buchholz, who left the club last year battling depression (we know) but the 33 I can see Rottino resembling is Valentine era reserve Mike Kinkade, who like Rottino was a right-handed bench bat who could catch in an emergency.

Also this weekend, the Mets demoted Jordany Valdespin as reliever D.J. Carrasco returned from the disabled list. Valdespin struggled in limited plate appearances but his versatility could be an asset down the road. I’d consider Carrasco a possibility to take a starting role if this Batista thing doesn’t work out, and who really does.

Kirk’s Quirks

The way Kirk Nieuwenhuis has been playing it’s barely a relief today to see that Andres Torres has returned, but the team has adapted well so far so I’m hopeful they can keep it up (and continue to encounter the opposition on their bad days). To make room for the returning Torres, Nieuwenhuis has been shifted over to left field where someone named Jason Bay used to play and double-ear-flapped reserve Zach Lutz was returned to AAA Buffalo.

Now 100% Pel Free

63Just call him Tom Snyder… because he’s on after Carson. That’s Chris Schwinden, returning to the Mets tonight in Colorado and perhaps for a lengthy stay now that Mike Pelfrey’s sore elbom will be Tommy Johnned and Matt Harvey has been deemed not ready for prime time. Schwinden was activated and should be wearing the same he wore in four forgettable appearances late last year. He replaces reliever Robert Carson who was recalled from Class AA earlier this week, issued No. 73, but never made an appearance. Schwinden is still the only 63 ever to appear for the Mets.

Live at the Hofstra Conference

41retiredIf you’re planning to head out to the 50th Anniversary Mets Conference beginning this week at Hofstra University (and I hope you are) come see me! I intend on blowing minds with a brilliant and devastating analysis of the four Tom Seaver Transactions in a speech scheduled for Opening Night, a 6:45-8 p.m. session which also will include a presentation I’m dying to see about Dave Kingman and an analysis of sports business trends in the wake of the Midnight Massacre. Following my presentation there will be a screening of the film “Mathematically Alive.” I also intend to return to see some presentations on Saturday. Full details of the conference are available here. Hope to see you there!

Mets Do the Buffalo Shuffle

19What was looking like a happy and uneventful Mets season has suddently become anything but. A few poor starts and a little better competition has begun to expose big cracks in the Mets’ health and holes in their game. I don’t think I’ve seen a Met look as lost at the plate as Ike Davis does these days since Jeromy Burnitz in 2002. We’re really piling up the whiffs.

53As noted below, a few disabled-list assignments have brought some new players to the team. Monday’s doubleheader featured the Mets debut of Jeremy Heffner, who took the roster slot of disabled infielder Ronny Cedeno. Heffner, who wore No. 53 — the first since manager Jerry Manuel in 2010 — was farmed out again after the game when Jordanny Valdespin was activated. Valdespin, a hard-hitting prospect whom the Mets hope to use in a utility role, was assigned No. 1 (I’d have guessed 22, wrongly again). Today we got news that both Jason Bay and Mike Pelfrey were added to the disabled list. Bay’s spot on the roster will be taken over by Zach Lutz, a third baseman who can hit.

The Mets have assigned Lutz No. 19, which if you’re Danny Herrera can’t be encouraging. The little lefty we received for Francisco Rodriguez last season is already off the 40 and out for the year with arm trouble. It’s unlikey we see him again. Pelfrey’s spot — for the moment — will be occupied by lefty reliever Robert Carson, who’s been assigned No. 73, at least according to the Mets roster.

Mets Throw Changeup

9In 13 years of chronicling Mets uni numbers I’ve been wrong lots of times but rarely when accompanied by the confidence with which I predicted Kirk Nieuwenhuis would show up in No. 22 I made below. It just seemed like a logical intersection of his minor league digits and current availability. Anyway, if you happen come across an inkling of the significance of No. 9, if there is any, please let me know. I should say by the way I have very little against 9 and think it looks great on an outfielder. The Mets in general look great without the black, don’t they? I don’t mean to get all Howie Rose on you.

In the meantime, I’ve been informed by mbtn reader Jason that bullpen catcher Dave Racianello is back wearing 54, which he’s had for years now. Not sure what that 79 thing was all about.

Beam Him Up

Now that Andres Torres has evoked memories of Ken Henderson — that of the veteran outfielder acquired in an offseason trade who hurts himself almost immediately — the Mets, short on outfielders to begin with, look to recall Kirk Nieuwenhuis from AAA while Torres rehabs his calf. Again.

Depending on whether the Mets’ seamstresses can fit NIEUWENHUIS on the back of a shirt — at 11 letters, it ties SCHOENEWIES and is one behind all-time leader ISRINGHAUSEN — the Mets will also need to put a number on it. It’s likely that number would be 22, which is not only currently vacant on the Mets’ roster but is also Kirk’s current digits at Buffalo. I have to think the Mets were holding in in reserve for him, especially that he’s on the 40. Welcome to the show, Kirk!

On a related note, how great do those numbers and NOBs look now that they’re free of the cursed black dropshadow? Looking good so far Mets!

Anything Can Happen

50The Mets begin their 50th anniversary season Thursday amid modest expectations befitting a squad with thin starting pitching, shaky defense and Jason Bay in the middle of the lineup, but if everything goes right, they might also be fun to watch too. I’m optimistic of a good start at any rate. It’s the Mets’ 50th season and MBTN’s 13th.

As I’m sure you all know by now, the banged up foursome of Andres Torres, David Wright, Scott Hairston and Tim Byrdak all healed in time to answer the bell and comprise a squad of 25 we probably could have predicted back in December. It’s further encouraging to see Ike Davis and Johan Santana are among them.

And so today we welcome the returnees back, and the new ones the best of luck. Officially joining the All-Time Numerical Roster for the first time are players Andres Torres 56, Ronny Cedeno 13, Frank Francisco 48, Ramon Ramirez 52 and Jon Rauch 60; and coaches Bob Geren 7, Ricky Bones 25, Tom Goodwin 26 and batting practice pitcher Eric Langill 78. Returning in new numbers are Mike Nickeas, now wearing 4; Tim Teufel, now coaching and wearing No. 18 and bullpen catcher Dave Racianello, in 79. I’ll be updating the rosters shortly please let me know if you come across any errors.

Let’s Go Mets! Anything can happen!

Close to the Edge

54Been meaning to write a few things about this Mets team but their play this Spring has all but beaten the enthusiasm from me. We knew going in that the lack of depth and fielding would be the death of this team, I just didn’t think it would be before March was out. The fact that the offense and the relief pitching have joined the above-mentioned atrocities in their pursuit of suck is also a concern. If the Mets are going to do anything this year, they’re going to have to score a bunch and relieve very well. Mike Pelfrey is on our side after all.

Injuries to alleged keys to the season such as Ruben Tejada, David Wright and Tim Byrdak have hardly helped matters — not to mention the fact that the owners go on trial this week trying to prove they were too stupid to have know Bernie Madoff was a fraud. That ought to be easy but the Mets will find a way to screw that up too.

In the meantime it’s perhaps worth mentioning that the Mets have provided lefty longshot Josh Edgin with jersey No. 54 — totally legit by the standards of this squad — after he first arrived in camp wearing No. 87. The latter figure was the highest among campers at least according to the roster posted online. Edgin’s a stocky lefty with a strong track record — as long as you consider Class A a track — who looks like he might assume Byrdak’s role when the team goes North. That’d be something to get behind.

Go, Edgie. Go.