For all the Opening Day re-broadcasts shown by SNY yesterday, one which wasn’t shown, but can be found on YouTube, came in the afterglow of the Mets’ most recent World Series title. Following a pre-game ceremony in which the championship flag was raised and the players, coaches, and personnel received their jewelry, the Mets rung in the new year with a narrow victory over the youthful and rebuilding Pittsburgh Pirates.
A few things to look for:
- Unfortunately, the video picks up at the tail end of the pre-game festivities. But if anyone has the 1986 World Series DVD produced by A&E Video that came out many years ago, it’s one of the extra features.
- The most notable absence from the Mets’ starting lineup is Dwight Gooden (the Opening Day starter in ’85 and ’86), who had tested positive for cocaine days earlier and had begun a month-long stint in a rehabilitation center.
- Bob Ojeda, arguably New York’s best pitcher in ’86, got the nod in Gooden’s place. Ojeda wasn’t overpowering (striking out three and allowing 10 hits). However, the Pirates stranded eight runners on base during Ojeda’s seven innings of work.
- The top of Pittsburgh’s lineup (shown at the 7:42 mark) has plenty of intrigue. Namely, the youngster batting leadoff — not a spot you’d find Barry Bonds 14 years later. In the No. 2 spot is a Mets catcher from the pre-Gary Carter days, Junior Ortiz. And the cleanup hitter — well, let’s just say he’s wouldn’t be worth the aggravation or the deferred payments.
- Darryl Strawberry provided all the scoring the Mets would need at 28:58.
- Jesse Orosco created some drama in the ninth by yielding consecutive singles to lead off the inning and then walking Bonds with one out. The Bucs managed a run, but Orosco extricated himself out of the jam.
