In a move they hope will address the right-handed bench power in the absence of Damian Easley, the Mets this afternoon said they have acquired veteran Jeff Conine from Cincinnati for a duo of minor league scrubeenies. No word yet on what number Mr. Marlin will wear for the Mets but he’s most often been spotted in 18 and 19 with his other employers.
Guess here is that as a means of welcoming Conine to New York, the Mets will offer him 19, currently belonging to Sandy Alomar Jr. but of no real significance to him. (How significant Alomar is at all is a matter of debate). Moises Alou has 18 today and will tomorrow. Another solution is to give him “09″ (pronounced oh-nine) which would rhyme.
I might have preferred the Mets swing a deal for Detroit’s Craig Monroe, who’s younger and presumably still has upside. The issue I have with Conine is only that in the event Delgado doesn’t heal properly the Mets will be tempted to make him an everyday guy and we’ve seen too often already this year the downside to that. But, here’s to Mr. Marlin. Chime in if you have a uni number suggestion or confirmation.
Maybe Conine will reverse 18 or 19 and make it “81″ or “91.” Similar to what Gagne did in Boston by reversing his #38 to #83.
My guess is Conine gets #19 from Alomar, who doesn’t really care about the number.
Comment by Richard :: August 20, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
First unclaimed # seems to be 32… I could see them giving him Padilla’s #28 too.
Comment by Chris :: August 20, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Dave Williams is still in the organization, so #32 is still his I guess. Good guess about Padilla’s #28. I say Conine gets 19 and Alomar takes 28.
Comment by Matt :: August 21, 2007 @ 4:14 am
Sandy Alomar Jr. only played in 50 games in ‘04, and only 46 in each of the following two years. This year he’s only been in four games. Not unlike the kid who gets to be on a little league team ‘cuz his dad’s the coach.
Comment by Dave :: August 21, 2007 @ 4:18 am
Well Wikipedia has his Mets number as #19 already. And since Wikipedia cannot be wrong, ever, 19 it is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Conine
Comment by Jared :: August 21, 2007 @ 9:31 am
The Mets pre-game press notes have him wearing #28.
Comment by Kieran :: August 21, 2007 @ 10:15 am
He could even be issued #4 if, as rumored, Anderson Hernandez gets sent down.
Comment by Chris :: August 21, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
He didn’t play last night but I did see him in the mob scene at the end of the game after Castillo’s walk-off hit – Conine is definitely wearing 28.
Comment by Dave :: August 22, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Yep, #28 it is.
He pinch-hit in tonight’s game, wearing that number.
He also got a single up the middle and drove in a run.
🙂
Comment by fanof41 :: August 22, 2007 @ 7:27 pm