Mets Hodgepodge (9/1/09 edition)

Here are some random notes about the Mets.

They called up catcher Josh Thole, who will be with the team tonight in Colorado. He doesn’t have much power (one home run) and is still learning how to catch, after switching to that position from first base, but he’s been hitting in the minors. In Double A Binghamton this season, he batted .326, with a .392 OBP and a slugging percentage of .421. He had 26 doubles (which is tied for the league lead), and doesn’t strike out much (33 times), while walking 41 times in 102 games. And he drove in 46 runs.

The Mets aren’t planning on having many call-ups this year to save money, but, you know, they don’t have any money issues. They recently released this official statement: “For the love of god, stop mentioning Bernie Madoff!”

Carlos Beltran is going to begin a rehab assignment tomorrow, playing for the Brooklyn Cyclones. He’ll get to know what it feels like to play on a first-place team.

David Wright comes off the disabled list today, and will be trying out one of those new heavily padded helmets.

This Day in Mets History:

September 1, 1999: The Mets beat Houston, 9-5. Octavio Dotel started and picked up the win. Mike Piazza went four for five, and Robin Ventura had three hits, a home run and four RBI’s.

September 1, 1989: Twenty years ago today, the Mets lost to the Giants by a score of 7-1. Gregg Jefferies and Juan Samuel batted one-two in the order. Did the Mets ever have a more hated top of the lineup than those guys? Kevin Mitchell had a homer and four RBI for the Giants that day, while New York’s Kevin McReynolds stood out in left field and daydreamed about going fishing.

September 1, 1979: The Astros defeated the Mets, 3-1. Ed Kranepool went one for four to start off the last month of his career. Joel Youngblood batted cleanup. He led the team in home runs that season, with 16. That would lead this year’s team, too.

September 1, 1969: The Miracle Mets lost to LA, 10-6. Jerry Koosman only lasted a third of an inning, letting up four runs. On the bright side, Tommie Agee went four for four.