Hot Foot
March 24, 2022
My dad and uncle took me to this game, the only time I saw the Mets lose in person that year. In games I saw at Shea in 1986, they were 7-1. We sat in the mezzanine section along the right field foul line.
I was upset that the backups were playing and I clearly remember angrily booing Dave Magadan when he came up to bat. My uncle turned to me while I was booing and asked, seemingly annoyed, "Why are you booing?" I said "Because he's playing instead of Keith Hernandez," and he said something like, "That's not his fault." I understood my uncle's sentiment (he's only a rookie, give him a chance, blah blah blah), but I just HAD to voice my displeasure.
I always felt some kind of visceral discomfort every time Davey started the backups in 1986, especially if it was a game I attended. I felt cheated when Lenny, Wally, Keith, Gary, or Darryl didn't start. In this game, none of them started. It was kind of like the feeling when you're in the fourth grade, and you realize the girl you have a crush on is absent for the day.
This game's starting lineup had me really upset. Stan Jefferson batted first, followed by Tim Teufel and Dave Magadan. Danny Heep batted 5th, followed by Howard Johnson, Ed Hearn and Kevin Elster. At least Kevin Mitchell batted cleanup (starting in RF), but it wasn't enough and the Mets lost 4-3.
A quick look at the box score reveals that former Met Ronn Reynolds, one of the worst-hitting catchers of all time, started this game for the Phillies and got the game-winning RBI (a sixth inning single). That hit may be Ronn's career highlight, and I was there.
Besides booing Magadan from my seat in the mezzanine, I vaguely remember the aftermath. Walking down the exit ramp at Shea, I was stunned and silent after seeing the 1986 Mets lose in person.
It was a disorienting experience, especially since I didn't know about the concept of managers resting their regulars after clinching the division. I just thought Davey Johnson was being too nice by letting his benchwarmers play.
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