G-Fafif

This story would be more adorable if it were happening to some other team. Mets waiting to hear from Barajas' agent Veteran could be latest to join crowded backstop situation By Marty Noble / MLB.com PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- When the Mets planned the big league clubhouse here 25 years ago, they took into consideration all the extra gear catchers require and made provisions for wider lockers for them. "They need a real big one for Kid's ego," Wally Backman said in 1988, prompting a forced smile from his teammate/target Gary Carter. In subsequent years, the larger lockers accommodated Mike Piazza's bankroll, Todd Pratt's personality, Robinson Cancel's considerable girth and Ramon Castro's large head. None was big enough to fit Carlos Delgado's aversion to catching. But that's another matter. This year, the lockers on Catchers' Row have been made narrower, the same width as the others, ostensibly because the Mets appear to be collecting catchers as Jay Leno collects cars, and they need more. They almost have a backlog of backstops, and now they are hoping to add veteran Rod Barajas to their fraternity Kappa Delta Shinguard, and they have urged Mike Jacobs to take his old mask out of mothballs. Add those names to Omir Santos, Henry Blanco, Chris Coste and Josh Thole. No passed balls down here. Members of the Mets' hierarchy confirmed the club's pursuit of Barajas, the 34-year-old right-handed hitter who hit 30 home runs in 778 at-bats with the Blue Jays the past two seasons. But their indications were that Barajas hadn't accepted the Mets' offer of a one-year Minor League contract with a provision that covered his likely play in the big leagues. As of 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Mets hadn't heard from Barajas' agent. If he signs, Barajas will be the primary catcher and probably cost Santos his big league status. One of the Mets' decision makers made a point of saying Blanco is the reserve catcher whether or not Barajas signs. Time had revised the Mets' thinking on him. When Barajas, Bengie Molina and Yorvit Torrealba were available as free agents, Molina was the club's first choice and Barajas was a distant third. Torrealba was in between, closer to Barajas. Now the Mets have pursued all three. And general manager Omar Minaya has told Jacobs that an ability to catch would enhance his chance to win a position on the 25-man Opening Day roster. "I told [Fernando] Tatis the same thing," Minaya said. "We could have two emergency catchers so [manager] Jerry [Manuel] wouldn't have his hands tied late in a game." Jacobs' reaction was comparable to what Delgado's would have been, or maybe less enthusiastic. A catcher exclusively in the Mets' Minor League system from 1999-2004, he began playing first base in '05, the year he made his memorable big league debut -- and hit four home runs in 13 at-bats. Jacobs served as a designated hitter and first baseman with the Royals last season after three seasons playing first base wih the Marlins. "I want to see you catch again," Jose Reyes said with a needle in his voice. Reyes had been Jacobs' Double-A teammate. It was one of the rare times Reyes' needle didn't prompt a smile. "Hey, I'll do it," Jacobs said. But his words had more resignation than rejoicing in them. Jacobs had come back to the Mets -- he thought -- to compete for the first-base assignment. Minaya expects Jacobs' presence to push incumbent Daniel Murphy, who hardly lacks motivation. "Murphy has to perform," the general manager said. But the Mets have invested so much time and thought in Murphy since the final weeks of the 2008 season that his not playing first base this year appears quite unlikely. If Jacobs, 29, batted right-handed, his chances of winning a roster spot would improve. Or if he were a skilled catcher with the power he has -- 5.19 home runs per 100 at-bats in the big leagues -- he'd be a better fit. And they'd need another locker. Jacobs was assigned No. 77 at first, not a positive indication. But he talked his way into something more suitable. "I'm 30-something," he said. He'd like to keep that number beyond April 5. "He could be here," Minaya said. But that may require another locker in Citi Field. I imagine this is what Spring Training was like in 1967. Nothing wrong with an emergency catcher, but these are the moments when Omar sounds his most desperate, like this was the plan all along. Meanwhile, the Mets got to St. Lucie and realize, whoa, we forgot to pick up a catcher, the way you or I might come home from the store and realized we didn't buy milk. The "Kid's ego" tale, however, is a beauty. Meanwhile, how time flies. The Klap wrote this in the offseason following 2006: �We're hot. It's hot to be a Met, we've got a good thing going on here,� said one club official. �A couple of years ago, we couldn't get Henry Blanco to come here, and that was even after we offered him more money than anyone else. He still said no. That's all changed.� Couldn't get Molina. Couldn't get Torrealba. Barajas, Choice Three, is taking his time. But we got Henry Blanco at last. Nice goin', fellas.

And of course David Waldstein knew Gus Bell's number right off the top of his head. He could have said, "...according to my incredible memory for Met historical detail, Gus Bell wore 3," but obviously his source is implied and we know he didn't have to look it up at any kind of specialized site or in any kind of detailed book that delves into such subject matter. Obviously.

A not altogether fine-toothed check of the UMDB Necrology indicates this is third instance wherein a major league player (eventual, in Bibby's case) on both sides of a Met trade has passed away: � Charley Smith (11/29/94) for Ken Boyer (9/7/82) � Charlie Neal (11/18/95) for Jesse Gonder (11/14/04) � Jim Bibby (2/16/10) for Jim Beauchamp (12/25/07)

Rangers still in the running for Barajas, though Heyman thinks the Mets have "a leg up". One hopes the leg isn't day-to-day.

So much emphasis on the Pitchers. Here come the Catchers...

What's the deal with these Bullets of Cool? I mean, whoever heard of a cool bullet? Those things are made of hot lead! If they were cool, Superman wouldn't have let them deflect off that big "S" on his chest. He'd say, "Hey, these are pretty cool...and refreshing! Would you mind shooting a few more at me, it gets pretty heated fighting bad guys all the time! And what's the deal with these single bounds?" Thanks all. I may never match Moises Alou in terms of streak longevity (and how did he manage to hit in 30 games in a row considering he was never healthy enough to play for two straight weeks?), but I'm honored that the BoC shoulder patch has been ironed onto my posts for a second straight month. I owe it all to Bob Klapisch (who, in turn, owes it all to Mariano Rivera), though I must credit Edgy for setting the winning entry up with his new, hit catchphrase, "Show me the math there, Klap." Give that man the Assist of Cool.

That was Gil's doing, not Yogi's.

I believe I saw this jacket in another forum a while back, and the owner of it mentioned he's still missing the New York City 75th anniversary patch, which appeared on Mets jackets (not uniforms) in 1973. MFY jackets, too. I admire that this bothered him. I think there was one more patch, beyond 30 Minutes or Your Pizza's Free, he said he was on the lookout for. Maybe it was the Japan one (AIU), but that seems to be in place now.

In 2009, Pedro Feliciano always got his man.

Plus throw in the weight of the World Series trophy Charlie no longer had to haul around last fall.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Director Ang Lee wears a Mets cap while directing "Taking Woodstock," as witnessed in the "making of" extras on the Blu-Ray. What were the reviews for that film? I liked it. My wife liked it. Hey Ashie: Of course he liked it. He likes everything that has to do with 1969. I bet he could sell you on Charles Manson if he thought about it long enough. I've never been too high on Nixon's inauguration. Aha! So I was right about Manson. Not after that business with Randy Tate.

Archie and Mike/Meathead were supposed to go to that game together, before the meeting with the Jeffersons came up. Also, Archie once won a bet at Kelsey's when the Mets "beat them San Diego Padres". Years later, Reggie Jackson just happened to stop by Archie Bunker's Place, a sure sign that the AITF/ABF franchise had run out of credibility.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Director Ang Lee wears a Mets cap while directing "Taking Woodstock," as witnessed in the "making of" extras on the Blu-Ray. What were the reviews for that film? I liked it. My wife liked it. Hey Ashie: Of course he liked it. He likes everything that has to do with 1969. I bet he could sell you on Charles Manson if he thought about it long enough. I've never been too high on Nixon's inauguration.

She's also showing off too much of her ribcage. Ribs...batting cage...worked for Rusty.

Kathy Ireland, all-time supermodel, shows off her Met-loving tendencies in the 1987 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Digging up that picture led to a selectively thorough examination of swimsuit models posing in Mets caps and their relationship to Dominican-born Mets shortstops here.

Ashie62 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Director Ang Lee wears a Mets cap while directing "Taking Woodstock," as witnessed in the "making of" extras on the Blu-Ray. What were the reviews for that film? I liked it. My wife liked it.

Director Ang Lee wears a Mets cap while directing "Taking Woodstock," as witnessed in the "making of" extras on the Blu-Ray.