Catching Up (Jan. 28): With Cliff Floyd's departure to Chicago, it may be interesting to see whether Willie Randolph alights in the now-vacant No. 30 or stays with the 12 he's worn as a Met player and manager (in his playing days, 30 belonged to Mel Stottlemeyer; Willie was 30 with the MF Yankees most of his career).

Alert MBTN reader Richard informs us that Mets.com is offering the Jose Valentin jersey in No. 22 -- the switch from 18 we expected following the Moises Alou signing earlier this off-season.

Hello to new arrivals and/or spring auditionees Scott Schoeneweis, Aaron Sele, Jorge Sosa and David Newhan.

Trach is Back (Aug. 23): The Mets today welcomed back Steve Trachsel 29, and slotted him in the rotation on Friday. The drama as to who would be sacrificed to make room for him was satisfactorily resolved when washed-up mop-up man Danny Graves 32 was designated for assignment. On Monday, beefy reliever Heath Bell 19 was recalled from Norfolk while Dae Sung Koo 17 was demoted. On Sunday, reserve catcher Mike DeFelice 33 returned to the active roster when the Mets got around to disabling catcher Mike Piazza 31. Meanwhile, a massive three-run homer in his debut turn at bat Sunday appears to have saved a job for Mike Jacobs 27, who's now your starting first baseman.

MBTN reader Mike from Tennessee points out that Jacobs became the fourth Met to hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat -- and that each of them had ascending uni numbers: Benny Ayala 18; Mike Fitzgerald 20; Kaz Matsui 25; and Jacobs 27. This is the kind of useless history MBTN was designed to capture.

Ring Rings (April 27): The Mets abruptly released veteran reliever Mike Matthews 27 on Monday and called up Norfolk lefty Royce Ring to the big club. Ring, who arrived in therefreshing 2003 trade that sent Roberto Alomar to the White Sox, suited up Tuesday in No. 22, which last belonged to lefty Al Leiter. As reported by Marty Noble at MLB.com, Ring said he won't be confused with his predecessor: "I don't have a cutter, I'll tell you that." Over the weekend, a sore muscle put starter Kaz Ishii 23 on the disabled list; in his place the Mets recalled Jae Seo, who remains in No. 26.

Bell Rings (April 19): After a comically tragic performance Monday in Philly the Mets disabled Felix Heredia 49 and recalled Heath Bell 19. Bell appeared tonight to wrap up a record-setting Met win. This team might be better than we thought.

Willie and the Boz (Feb. 26): Willie Randolph, as quoted by Bill Madden in the Daily News: "I'm gonna wear No. 12. Why? You remember Ken Boswell? Second baseman on the '69 team? He was my favorite player growing up. No. 12. It's a nice number."

We remember Ken Boswell too, and even if his sideburns might not fly in Willie's clubhouse, it speaks well of the new Met manager that he has a sense of his place in history. This is probably a natural result of the era we grew up, but 12 has always seemed more Boswellian to us than Kent-like or Alomarish. And as glorified ticket salesman Darryl Strawberry makes a grand reappearance at Shea this weekend, may it serve as a reminder of this team's horribly miscast former manager, who wore No. 18 but was no George Theodore either.

We found Madden's piece, by the way, from a link at the extraordinary new blog co-authored by veteran MBTN reader Greg -- highly recommended for fans of good writing and historical Metdom.

Mets Trade for Mientkiewicz (Jan. 26): Only hours after Carlos Delgado and his scheming agent left the Mets high and dry came word that Omar had traded promising ex-Cyclone Ian Bladergroen for spare Red Sock first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Minky brings an excellent glove but an average bat to his new job, but was probably the best among the consolation prizes. Mientkiewicz wore No. 16 for most of his career in Minnesota and No. 13 in Boston, but what might be most interesting is seeing whether the Mets manage to fit that unweildly last name onto the back of a jersey without dropping the leading: His 12-lettered name matches Isringhausen for the longest in Met history. Omar contends the offseason acquisition spree is all but done, but we'll believe it when 25 men depart from St. Lucie.

Though we think Bobby Valentine might have been a better choice, we're willing to give Willie a shot. Thankfully, he didn't arrive with the ridiculous contract his predecessor did.

Piazza Back, DeJean DeSabled (Aug. 30): The Mets got some of their missing offense back today when Mike Piazza returned from the disabled list. To make room for him the Mets designated recent pickup Brian Buchanan 10 for assignment. In the meantime the Mets placed reliever Mike DeJean 35 on the disabled list and recalled Heath Bell 19.

Wheeler Dealers (Aug. 28): The Mets on Friday traded reliever Dan Wheeler to Houston for minor league outfielder Adam Suess (all the Howes in Howeville approved). Wheeler should have worn 18 but wore 39 instead. His spot on the roster will be taken over by Jae Seo 26 who returns from Norfolk with blonde hair.

Mets Sign Brian Buchanan (Aug. 25): The Mets today addressed their absurdly weak hitting attack by acquiring recently released righthanded-hitting Padre corner outfielder Brian Buchanan (think: Shane Spencer without the drinking problem). Buchanan was given No. 10, most recently belonging to Jeff Duncan. To make room the Mets demoted Heath Bell 19, just a day after a successful Major League debut.

Bell Tolls for Heilman (Aug. 24): Within 24 hours on Monday, Aaron Heilman 48 was recalled, rocked and summarily banished to Norfolk. In his place the Mets recalled Tides closer Heath Bell, who throws hard and fashioned attractive numbers in AAA (67 K's in 53.2 IP). He wears No. 19. Here's hoping this Bell tolls clearer than his Met predecessors Gus 3, Derek 16 and Jay 44.

To make room for Bell on the 40-man roster, the Mets moved Orber Moreno 49 to the 60-day disabled list. Heilman's recall sent Matt Ginter 13 back to Norfolk, where he remains.

Ginter Back; Brazell Down; Heilman en Route (Aug. 22): Matt Ginter just won't go away. He's back in uniform 13 again, taking the start in San Francisco while Craig Brazell 9 flies back to Norfolk. Word is forgotten prospect Aaron Heilman will meet the Mets when they return to Shea to make Monday's start. Heilman wore No. 48 when we last saw him; it is uncertain at this point whether Ginter will go down again or a certain well-rested lefthander announces his retirement.

4 Years and 10 Minutes in MBTN History (Aug. 21): The Mets controversial trades last month are paying off in unpredictable ways. When Victor Zambrano 38 left his start Tuesday with elbow trouble, the Mets recalled the player received with him, reliever Bartolome Fortunato, who made his Met debut Friday wearing No. 43. Meantime, Joe McEwing 11 went down Thursday with a dirty-slide-induced broken leg and so the Mets recalled Jeff Keppinger, the throw-in infielder received in the Kris Benson deal.

Keppinger was issued No. 6 -- for the fourth time this year and the 31st time in Met history. Both are records that may never be broken! (The Mets quietly last week traded catcher Tom Wilson, the third wearer of the 6 jersey this year. Ricky Gutierrez and Gerald Williams were the other two victims so far).

Expect plenty of wound-licking and hand-wringing this week if/when Scott Kazmir makes his debut with the Devil Rays and Jim Duquette submits his resume on Monster.com. This has been a very weird month, even for the Mets.

...And Down Goes Matsui (Aug. 15) The Mets finally got around to disable-listing shortstop Kaz Matsui 25, leaving the Mets without any of their imagined starting infielders this year. In his place the Mets called up AAA slugger Craig Brazell, who will make his Met/Major League debut while wearing No. 9.

More Infielders (Updated Aug. 14) With the middle infield again hurting, the Mets dipped into Norfolk and recalled veteran scrubeenie Wilson Delgado, issued him No. 17, and hoped Reyes and Matsui felt better soon. To make room the Mets sent Matt Ginter 13 back to Norfolk presumably for for a short stay while Tom Glavine sees his dentist. They also sent Pedro Feliciano 55 down again and recalled Dan Wheeler 39.

The news got worse Friday when the Mets said Jose Reyes 7 would spend the next four-to-six weeks on the disabled list. Feliciano was recalled in his place.

Piazza DLed, Garcia Up (Aug. 12): Struggling one-time superstar Mike Piazza 31 hit the disabled list last night to rest a bad knee. In his place the Mets recalled Danny Garcia 12, who'd been refining his game at Norfolk as multi-position player.