NewYork.Mets.com

By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com

Todd Zeile follows through on his three-run homer in the sixth inning on Sunday afternoon. (Ed Betz/AP)

• Zeile homers in final at-bat:  56K | 350K

Rather, there was something heartwarming about Todd Zeile smacking a three-run homer in the final plate appearance of his career on Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The blast, which had no impact on the final outcome of New York's season-ending 8-1 victory over Montreal, capped a Zeile-heavy day at Shea Stadium.

The nomadic infielder, who played for 11 teams in a career that began in 1989, was honored prior to the game for a long and popular career. He was presented with gifts from Mets fans and his teammates, and he gave an emotional speech following an equally emotional video tribute to his career put together by the club.

So when he blasted his ninth homer of the season, the 253rd of his career, Zeile received a long, warm standing ovation before ducking into the dugout. And unlike the Splendid Splinter's farewell to the Red Sox Nation so many years ago, Zeile reciprocated, coming out of the dugout and pumping his fist one more time to thank the crowd.

"I'm glad things went this way," said Zeile, who had several video highlights of moments from his career played in between innings. "I'm glad someone didn't tell me to take the uniform off -- that it was my decision. And to get a curtain call today, I haven't had one of those in a long time.

"To some degree, it's a relief. I've been anticipating this for a long time. And I've had a variety of different emotions to deal with, and little things would get me going sometimes. But it was very nice and sentimental."

Good-bye?: John Franco was greeted with a standing ovation when he entered the game in the eighth inning. While Franco has yet to announce his retirement, there is serious speculation that he has pitched his last game. If nothing else, the Mets captain thinks he has pitched his last game for the Mets.

Still, he recorded the final out of the eighth, with Zeile, who was catching, snagging a popup by the Montreal dugout. Franco hugged Zeile and walked off the field to another standing ovation, waving to the crowd in a manner that suggested he wouldn't be back.

"I'm happy I was able to get it over with," Franco said. "If I don't pitch here again, that was nice."

It was Franco's 695th appearance as a Met, sixth-most by a pitcher with one team. Walter Johnson (Senators) and Roy Face (Pirates) appeared in 802 games with their respective clubs. Phil Niekro had 740 appearances with the Braves, while Kent Tekulve had 722 appearances for Pittsburgh. Warren Spahn appeared in 714 games for the Braves.

Baylor eyes Philly: Don Baylor hasn't spoken to Phillies general manager Ed Wade yet, but he expressed an interest in the managerial position down the Turnpike that was left vacant by Larry Bowa's dismissal on Saturday.

Baylor, who has been part of the New York coaching staff for the last two seasons, last managed in 2002 with the Cubs. He battled multiple myeloma during the last year and a half, but he has been given a clean bill of health and is anxious to start calling the shots again from the manager's office.

"I've very interested in [Philadelphia]," Baylor said. "It's a very competitive town. The team is loaded with some offensive guys in a real good hitters' park. Some guys they were counting on pitching-wise didn't come through for them. When they got Billy Wagner, I thought it was going to be a great advantage for them, but injuries really hit them. Most good teams have depth, and they didn't have a lot of depth pitching-wise."

Still working: Victor Zambrano has been playing catch off flat ground for the last few weeks and says he has no pain in his right elbow. Still, he's not sure when he's going to be able to throw off a mound. He is following a program put forth by the Mets medical staff and has no plans to deviate from it.

"It's a week-to-week thing," said Zambrano, who added there was no surgery planned on his elbow at the moment. "It's hard to say what percentage I'm at, but every time I throw, I'm not feeling any discomfort. I'm just trying to play catch, get my arm in shape and see how I feel after that."

This and that: Omar Minaya said a published report on Sunday that he had setup a meeting with former Mets skipper Bobby Valentine was "inaccurate." ... Joe Hietpas made his Major League debut on Sunday, catching the ninth inning. ... Jose Reyes set a career best with three stolen bases on Sunday. ... Tom Glavine's victory on Sunday was the 27th of his career against the Expos, the most by any pitcher against Montreal. He had been tied with Steve Carlton and Rick Reuschel at 26.

Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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