CINCINNATI — Longtime former play-by-play announcer Marty Brenneman marked the tip of each win by concluding the published along with his signature phrase: “And this one belongs to the Reds.” The final time Brenneman was capable of say that in a playoff sequence was in 1995, when late supervisor Davey Johnson guided the Reds to a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers within the NLCS.
Brenneman was honored with a statue outdoors of the ballpark Saturday, however a somber second preceded the fanfare. The Reds honored Johnson’s passing with a second of silence earlier than a pregame ceremony. It was becoming with the Mets on the town, because the Amazins’ gave Johnson his first big-league supervisor job. Queens was the place the skipper actually made a reputation for himself because the supervisor of the 1986 World Sequence crew.
Johnson handed away Friday night time in Sarasota, Florida, after an extended battle with an sickness. The 2 golf equipment each mourned his passing.
“A sad day for the organization,” mentioned present Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “Dave Johnson was the winningest manager in franchise history and he impacted so many people here.”
Mendoza was by no means capable of meet Johnson, however since coming to the Mets in 2023, he’s heard the lore. Anybody in Mendoza’s place will perceive the significance of the supervisor who gained extra video games for the franchise than every other, and was the final to guide a crew to a championship.
Workforce Steve and Alex Cohen have made important efforts to have a good time distinguished Mets alumni, deepening ties with the 1986 crew lately. Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Darryl Strawberry had their numbers retired final season, and the crew has introduced again outdated timers video games. Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are nonetheless within the SNY sales space.
Although the Mets’ second and most up-to-date title got here 39 years in the past, 1986 isn’t removed from the minds of those that at the moment work for the membership.
“He transformed the organization and put it back in winning mode,” Mendoza mentioned. “When you talk to some of the former players that played for him and hear the impact that he had on them, not only on the field, but off the field, it was unbelievable.”
Johnson went to the Reds in the course of the 1993 season, greater than two years after the Mets fired him. Very similar to with the Mets, he obtained the Reds again on a profitable observe as nicely. Cincinnati led the NL Central on the time of the 1994 gamers’ strike, and gained their first division title in 1995 with Johnson on the helm. The NLDS win over Los Angeles was the final time the crew was victorious in a postseason sequence.
RIVALRY ROTATION
Proper-hander Nolan McLean will open Monday’s four-game sequence in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies at Residents Financial institution Park. Left-hander Sean Manaea will pitch Tuesday, adopted by right-hander Clay Holmes on Wednesday and left-hander David Peterson in Thursday’s sequence finale.
With rookie right-handers Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat pitching in Cincinnati on Saturday and Sunday, the Mets have three rookies all in line, giving followers and membership execs a possible glimpse of the long run.
“I think it’s cool for everyone,” Mendoza mentioned. “We keep talking about having these three young kids pitching at this level, and with where we are in the season, every game is meaningful, and here they are.”
The NL East will come all the way down to the Mets and Phillies. The latter crew has a 6.5-game lead as of Saturday afternoon, however the Mets are nonetheless assured they will make a run to overhaul them, particularly with a four-game sequence on faucet.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Proper-handed reliever Reed Garrett (elbow irritation) is anticipated to be activated off the injured record Sunday, which might give the Mets a high-leverage reliever to take use rather than the struggling Ryan Helsley whereas he tries to seek out his stride once more.
Heart fielder Jose Siri (fractured tibia) performed 9 innings in a rehab sport Saturday and can play 5 Sunday, reaching the back-to-back benchmark. Nonetheless, the Mets are nonetheless saying a return is “not imminent.”
Outfielder Tyrone Taylor (delicate hamstring pressure) is operating once more, working as much as 85% power and velocity in New York this week. A rehab project for him remains to be being mentioned, however it seems as if he’s nearer to creating a return than Siri.
