CINCINNATI — Longtime former play-by-play announcer Marty Brenneman marked the end of every win by concluding the broadcast with his signature phrase: “And this one belongs to the Reds.” The last time Brenneman was able to say that during a playoff series was in 1995, when late manager Davey Johnson guided the Reds to a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Brenneman was honored with a statue outside of the ballpark Saturday, but a somber moment preceded the fanfare. The Reds honored Johnson’s passing with a moment of silence before a pregame ceremony. It was fitting with the Mets in town, since the Amazins’ gave Johnson his first big-league manager job. Queens was where the skipper truly made a name for himself as the manager of the 1986 World Series team.
Johnson passed away Friday night in Sarasota, Florida, after a long battle with an illness. The two clubs both mourned his passing.
“A sad day for the organization,” said current Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “Dave Johnson was the winningest manager in franchise history and he impacted so many people here.”
Mendoza was never able to meet Johnson, but since coming to the Mets in 2023, he’s heard the lore. Anyone in Mendoza’s position will understand the importance of the manager who won more games for the franchise than any other, and was the last to lead a team to a championship.
Team Steve and Alex Cohen have made significant efforts to celebrate prominent Mets alumni, deepening ties with the 1986 team in recent years. Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Darryl Strawberry had their numbers retired last season, and the team has brought back old timers games. Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are still in the SNY booth.
Though the Mets’ second and most recent title came 39 years ago, 1986 is never far from the minds of those who currently work for the club.
“He transformed the organization and put it back in winning mode,” Mendoza said. “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 middle of the 1993 season, more than two years after the Mets fired him. Much like with the Mets, he got the Reds back on a winning track as well. Cincinnati led the NL Central at the time of the 1994 players’ strike, and won their first division title in 1995 with Johnson at the helm. The NLDS win over Los Angeles was the last time the team was victorious in a postseason series.
RIVALRY ROTATION
Right-hander Nolan McLean will open Monday’s four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Left-hander Sean Manaea will pitch Tuesday, followed by right-hander Clay Holmes on Wednesday and left-hander David Peterson in Thursday’s series 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 fans and club execs a potential glimpse of the future.
“I think it’s cool for everyone,” Mendoza said. “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 down to the Mets and Phillies. The latter team has a 6.5-game lead as of Saturday afternoon, but the Mets are still confident they can make a run to overtake them, especially with a four-game series on tap.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Right-handed reliever Reed Garrett (elbow inflammation) is expected to be activated off the injured list Sunday, which would give the Mets a high-leverage reliever to take use in place of the struggling Ryan Helsley while he tries to find his stride again.
Center fielder Jose Siri (fractured tibia) played nine innings in a rehab game Saturday and will play five Sunday, reaching the back-to-back benchmark. However, the Mets are still saying a return is “not imminent.”
Outfielder Tyrone Taylor (mild hamstring strain) is running again, working up to 85% strength and speed in New York this week. A rehab assignment for him is still being discussed, but it appears as though he’s closer to making a return than Siri.
