Cliff Hanger

30The Mets today introduced Cliff Floyd to the press and presented him with the seldomly issued No. 30 jersey. Floyd becomes just the 12th man in team history to be issued No. 30; the number owes its unpopularity not to any longtime wearers but a to 10-year gap between Mike Torrez in 1984 and Doug Linton in 1994. Jorge Luis Toca was the most recent occupant.

On Friday 12/20, came word that third baseman Norihiro Nakamura isn’t coming after all. No word on how many NAKAMURA 5 jerseys went into the incinerator.

Welcome, Yankee Refuse

The Mets today signed ex-Yankee and ex-Brave Mike Stanton to a frighteningly long 3-year contract. Stanton is familiar to New Yorkers as the lefty who wore No. 29 for Satan’s Minions. His arrival seems to portend a conflict with the current 29, Met starter Steve Trachsel. Dec. 18 Update: Stanton posed for photographs today wearing a No. 32 jersey.

Rey Hits the Road

0The Mets on Sunday “traded” shortstop Rey Ordonez (at a third of his salary) to the Devil Dogs for a few PTBNL’s including backup infielder Russ Johnson. Johnson wore 25 in Tampa. While we won’t miss Rey’s bat, we regret a player bought so high was sold so low and admit that Rey was a lot of fun to watch, especially back when he wore No. 0.

Thanks for all the Fish

While the Mets were asking Alfonzo to beat it, they also decided against arbitration offers to John Valentin 4, Mark Guthrie 53, Jeff D’Amico 18 and Steve Reed 39, most likely ending their careers with the Mets. And they re-signed the boring-but-effective Steve Trachsel 29.

Goodbye, Fonzie

13The Mets’ slavish devotion to market forces and their utter disregard of the wishes of their fans and their own sense of history this week results in the heartbreaking news that the club’s all-time No. 13, Edgardo Alfonzo, will suit up in some other team’s uniform in 2003. This is the saddest player personnel move in years for the Mets and represents the willful shedding of a homegrown player so rare as to be on pace to set all-time team marks in a half-dozen or more offensive categories and who still ranks among the best at his position in either league. It plain sucks, and we at MBTN can only hope the team manages enough dignity not to issue this number to the next fly-by-night piece of patchwork that stumbles into town on a salary swap.

Tom … Terrific?

47The Mets pulled a mild shocker today by signing veteran enemy lefty Tom Glavine to a laughably rich deal. Hey, they’re better than they were yesterday. The Mets’ first free-agent splash of the season also brings the first legitimate Uni-Controversy of the year: Glavine has spent his entire career wearing Number 47, digits that also hold significance for longtime Met mascot Super Joe McEwing. (Dec. 10 Update: As Glavine meets the press it comes as no surprise that sweatshops around the Tri-state area are busy stitching together GLAVINE 47 jerseys in time for the Holiday shopping season. McEwing was meanwhile spotted asking a department-store Santa for a new Uni number. Stay tuned).

Howe Now

Here’s former A’s and Astros manager Art Howe accepting the No. 18 jersey to manage the Mets next year. Howe will take over for the victimized and jobless Bobby Valentine 2, whom the Mets whacked the day after the season ended. (Coaches Charlie Hough 54 and Tom Robson 57 summarily left of their own accord). The move temporarily leaves Jeff D’Amico numberless, although he may wind up jobless as well. Howe becomes the 17th Met manager (and the first to wear No. 18). See more at MBTN’s All-time Coaches & Managers list.

Strange but True

The Mets today called up promising minor league pitcher Pat Strange and issued him No. 38. Strange got the call as an emergency reliever in light of Steve Trachsel’s injury yesterday. Jae Wong Seo served the same purpose earlier this year, also wearing 38. Also: Grant Roberts 36 is back from the DL.

Just Arriving

Long-sought after pitcher Jason Middlebrook has finally joined the Mets, and is in uniform No. 27 awaiting a start later this week. Heretofore, Middlebrook was a “Phantom Met” acquired from, and lost to, the waiver wire in 2000. On Monday, the Mets announced that outfielder Brady Clark was named as the fourth and final prize of the Shawn Estes bounty. He was expected to join the big club this week wearing No. 15.