Lima Standard Time

17Veteran longshot pitcher Jose Lima arrived at Met camp boasting that he never wears the same suit twice. Apparently he’s applying the same rules of fashion to his Met jerseys.

Lima on Saturday suited up No. 17, his third different Met jersey this spring. Lima, you will recall, was issued No. 99 and then spent an afternoon in 42 before the Mets thought better of reissuing the mothballed Jackie Robinson uni and gave him 99 back. In the meantime the Mets sold Dae Sung Koo back to Korea, freeing up 17, in which Lima appeared most recently. For a guy the Mets are likely to bid “auf wiedersehen” to in a matter of weeks, he’s kept things interesting on the runway. (Thanks to MBTN reader Jason for the tip).

Jason also reports that coach Jerry Manuel appeared in No. 35, solving the mysery of what number he fled to after Chad Bradford claimed his 53 (below). What number remains for World Baseball Classic-exiled reliever Jose Santiago is still unknown (as is the question of whether he’s actually coming back after the tournament is complete). Santiago earlier this spring lost his assigned number 33 to teammate John Maine.

Geographical/Numerical Spring Roster

Regularland

1 Anderson Hernandez INF

2 Sandy Alomar (coach)

3 Manny Acta (coach)

4 Chis Woodward INF

5 David Wright 3B

6 Jeff Keppinger 2B

7 Jose Reyes SS

8 vacant (semi-retired/reserved for guest instructor Gary Carter)

9 vacant (was Bret Boone 2B)

10 Endy Chavez OF

11 Ramon Castro C

12 Willie Randolph (manager)

13 Billy Wagner P

14 vacant — retired

15 Carlos Beltran OF

16 Paul Lo Duca C

 

Keischnicksville

17 Dae Sung Koo Jose Lima P

18 Jose Valentin (perhaps guest instructor Darryl Strawberry also) INF

19 Heath Bell P

20 Victor Diaz OF

21 Carlos Delgado 1B

22 Xavier Nady OF

23 Julio Franco 1B

24 vacant/guest instructor Ricky Henderson

25 Kazuo Matsui 2B

26 Tike Redman OF

27 Darren Oliver P

28 Juan Padilla P

29 Steve Trachsel P

30 Cliff Floyd OF

 

Twirlerburg

31 vacant, presumably awaiting retirement for Piazza/Franco

32 Jeremi Gonzalez P

33 John Maine P

34 Jorge Julio P

35 Jerry Manuel (coach)

36 Matt Perisho P

37 vacant — retired

38 Victor Zanbrano P

39 Pedro Feliciano P

40 Joe Heitpas C

41 vacant — retired

42 vacant — retired

43 Bartolome Fortunato P

44 Royce Ring P

45 Pedro Martinez P

46 Steve Schmoll P

47 Tom Glavine P

48 Aaron Heilman P

49 Yusuku Iriki P

50 Duaner Sanchez P

 

Coach Acres

51 Rick Peterson (coach)

52 vacant — Santiago??

53 Chad Bradford P

54 Rick Down (coach)

55 Tom Nieto (coach)

56 Guy Conti (coach)

 

Bordertown

57 Juan Perez P

58 Anderson Garcia P

59 Mitch Wylie P

60 Mike Venafro P

New Studville

61 Brian Bannister P

62 Phillip Humber P

63 Juan Tejeda IF

64 Julio Ramirez OF

65 Lastings Milledge OF

66 Mike Pelfrey P

67 Matt Lindstrom P

68 Henry Owens P

69 vacant — family friendliness

North Norfolk

70 Sandy Martinez C

71 Jesus Flores C

72 Alay Soler P

73 Todd Self OF

74 Bobby Estalella C

75 Rafael Cova P

76 Tim Lavigne P

Longshot Gardens (under development)

77 vacant — Santiago??

78 vacant

79 vacant

80 vacant

81 vacant

82 vacant

83 vacant

84 vacant

85 vacant

86 vacant (was Juan Perez P)

87 vacant

88 Jose Parra P

89 Brett Harper 1B

 South Backstop

90 Zac Clements C

91 Jason Scobie P

92 Andrew Butera C

93 Aaron Hathaway C

94 Andy Wilson C

95 Jeremy Hill P

96 vacant

97 vacant

98 vacant

99 vacant (was Jose Lima P)

Guess the Number

More updates and intrigue from St. Lucie: Weepy veteran Bret Boone yesterday turned in his No. 9 jersey and retired. As pictured at left, Chad Bradford was spotted wearing 53, not 35 he was initially issued: That makes sense given his previous stops in Boston and Oakland, but it means a change for coach Jerry Manuel — only to what we’re not sure (thanks Matt for the photo). Readers also checked in with their best guesses as to Jose Santiago’s elusive jersey number: Using the process of elimination, one enterprising guy guessed either 52 (though we wouldn’t be surprised if Manuel shows up with that one now) or 87 — all others with the exceptions of 8, 24, 31 and 69 have been issued, with three of those numbers in semi-hibernation. One possibility we’ve realized by now is Santiago in the 35 we previously thought belonged to Bradford.

Sanchez, Acta & Santiago

Providing speedy responses to the inquiry posted here yesterday, Duaner Sanchez is indeed wearing No. 50 (thanks Matt andKieran). Keiran in the meantime spied coach Manny Acta wearing No. 3, settling the issue of what number he wound up with after Sanchez swiped his former digits. The mystery ofJose Santiago’s jersey remains. As pointed out by MBTN reader Brian, his No. 33 was re-issued this spring to prospect John Maine, and published rosters have either not been accurately updated or, in a likely foreshadowing the opening-day roster, leave him off completely.

Let us know what you find.

Lima to 42, Not

For a guy who may very well wind up released in a few weeks, Jose Lima has sure created a lot of controversy. As previously detailed, Lima was assigned No. 99, gave it up Saturday for No. 42, and was back in 99 again on Sunday. His one day in Jackie Robinson’s number apparently didn’t sit well with some uptight columnists, who all but likened it to urinating on Robinson’s grave. Not courting controversy with this team (Carlos Delgado shall do as he’s told, says Jeff Wilpon), the Mets had Lima back in 99 Sunday. Not that this was ever a big deal. Robinson’s memory survived Butch Huskey, Ron Hodges and Mo Vaughan, and it will survive Lima Time too.

Nady, Chavez Swap

22Thanks to MBTN reader Larry for pointing out another switch from Caravan week: Xavier Nady is wearing 22 (his previous number with the Padres) and Endy Chavez is wearing 10, not 22, in contrast to earlier published rosters. Also, Paul of Uni Watch notes the Mets this year are wearing what appear to beaerodynamic, two-tone batting helmets. Quoth Homer: “Mmmmm… speedholes.”

We also found a cool new blog: Getting Paid to Watch, by 1986 Met trainer Bob Sykes,who combines unique perspective on the 1986 Mets along with good writing.

Maine Attraction

33Of all the beat guys, nobody’s spring training dispatches get us in the mood quite like Marty Noble, who must know some readers, like us, are hopeless suckers for the insignificant detail. In today’s report at mlb.com, Noble informs us that newly arrived pitcher John Maine has a thing for No. 33, which he found dangling from a hanger in the clubhouse, rather than the 57 he wore at the Caravan a few weeks back. We like Maine, too, who says of his new digits: “It’s great. I guess it’s a good sign. And it’s a pitcher’s number; that’s the best part.”

Benson Burners and Other Updates

The Mets made a curious trade Jan. 21, sending Kris Benson 34 and his mouthy wife to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for relieverJorge Julio and pitching prospect John (Lobster) Maine. Whether this move portends a trade forBarry Zito or simply shifts the overpopulation problem from the starting rotation to the bullpen remains to be seen. Julio wore No. 50 last year with the Orioles while Maine in his brief appearances wore 61.

On Jan. 18, the Mets signed former Ham Fighter and Tokyo Giant Yusaku Iriki (You’re So Fine), who looks to compete for the longman job. Iriki wore No. 49 with the Ham Fighters and No. 20 with the Giants, research shows.

We overlooked the late December addition of lefty sidearmer Mike Venafro. He has a minor league contract and spring training invite.

Photos from the Mets Caravan revealed players in new unis including Julio Franco in 23, Paul LoDuca in 16 and Jose Valentin in 18. Newly arrived reliever Jorge Julio was wearing a jersey withno number on it. MBTN reader Rich reports: Chad Bradford appeared in No. 35, Duaner Sanchez in 40, and Mets.com is selling Bret Boone jerseys bearing No. 9.

Additional photos show Xavier Nady wearing No. 10 and Steve Schmoll in the dreaded No. 46.

New Year Updates

Met fans were wondering again today whether Omar Minaya can be trusted at a swap meet, giving up underappreciated starter Jae Seo 26, along with lefty relieverTim Hamulack 46, in a trade for goggle-wearing Duaner Sanchez and his sidearm-throwing teammate, Steve Schmoll, both righthanded relievers for the Dodgers. We wish the best of luck to Seo, whose frequent bobs between New York and Norfolk resulted in three uniform numbers (he also wore 38 and 40). In case you’re also wondering, Sanchez wore No. 50 and Schmoll No. 40 in Chavez Latrine last season.

The Mets also invited veteran second baseman Bret Boone to camp with a minor league deal. Boone was released twice last year but according to Omar “knows how to win,” and will challenge incumbent Kaz Matsui for a job. Boone most often has worn No. 29.

Catching up with more winter moves, the Mets on Dec. 28 agreed to a one-year deal for freaky underhanded relief pitcher Chad Bradford, a hero of Moneyball and most recently, a patient with the Red Sox team doctors. He wore No. 53 for both teams.

On Dec. 23, former Met outfield prospect Endy Chavez was signed to a one-year deal. Chavez woreNo. 19 with Expo-Nationals and 47 when he was traded to Philadelphia late last year.

The Mets also released maddening lefthander Kaz Ishii 23, and invited journeymen Darren Oliver, Jose Parra and Pedro Feliciano to camp. We last saw Parra and Feliciano in Met uniforms 46 and 55, respectively, in 2004 (unless we vacationed in Japan in 2005).