Roger McDowell and co-author Doug Feldmann join Jay Horwitz to unpack HOTFOOT — from the Mets’ legendary prank wars (including the infamous Bill Robinson hotfoot) to the pressure of NLCS Game 6 in Houston, Davey Johnson’s player-first leadership, and the wild Cincinnati brawl that had relievers playing the outfield. It’s the ’86 Mets through stories, strategy, and pure clubhouse chaos — told by the guys who lived it.
🧩 Key Themes
Why they titled the book HOTFOOT + the elaborate prank on Bill Robinson (with a TV director and Pete Rose watching).
NLCS Game 6 in Houston — McDowell’s five shutout innings to avoid facing Mike Scott in a Game 7.
Davey Johnson’s leadership style — roles, platoons, and trusting veterans to run the room.
The July ’86 Cincinnati brawl — Eric Davis vs. Ray Knight, relievers in the outfield, and Pete Rose’s protest.
Clubhouse stories: Kevin Mitchell’s “custom” suit, Keith Hernandez’s defensive genius.
Book release with Triumph Books, timed for the Mets’ 40-year anniversary celebration.
⏱️ Timestamped Chapters
00:00 HOTFOOT origins & picking targets (Bill Robinson + TV director)
02:21 Why the title “HOTFOOT” & the timing of the book
03:26 How McDowell & Feldmann teamed up (after ’87 Cardinals research)
08:00 NLCS Game 6: five shutout innings to save the season
10:49 Five pitchers over 16 innings — unheard of today
13:09 “Dominant from Day 1”: targets on backs but a team of roles
14:24 Davey Johnson: the original analytics mind & player’s manager
16:31 1985 trust moment: post-surgery Roger goes 127 IP out of the pen
17:15 Doc Gooden precedent: Davey vs. front office on trusting the room
18:31 Teammate tales: Kevin Mitchell’s suit story in San Diego
19:56 Bullpen roles with Orosco & Sisk — why it worked
22:17 Sid Fernandez lesson: pulling him mid-AB to reinforce command
27:04 Cincinnati ’86 brawl: relievers in the outfield & Pete Rose protest
29:40 Keith Hernandez’s defense — instinct and anticipation masterclass
33:18 The cover, the fire & the “serious between the lines” Roger McDowell
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Roger, let me go back to the cupboard for a second. One of my all-time greatest hot foots was in in Cincinnati. Remember how the dugout would stretch to first base? How how many times do you get poor Uncle Bill Robertson with the same hot foot? I remember one time he he and it’s covered in the book uh pretty well. Um but yeah, Bill was a Bill was a favorite um of mine uh to get a hot foot on because he coached first base. He was our hitting instructor and uh he coached first base. So, you know, when you start picking people out to get a give a hot foot during the game, uh you can’t do players um that are playing you. It’s kind of um doesn’t get a whole lot of attention when you do a a a guy that’s not playing because he’s on the bench. I wanted to I wanted this to be a a big hot foot and uh you know got got together with Bill Webb um our director, our TV director, and uh told him what I wanted to do and and he was uh you know, he said, “Okay, we’re going to we’re going to be uh just let the cameraman know when it’s happening and u I’ll make sure all the cameras are on it.” So, you know, the favorite part the favorite part was m of mine was uh Pete Rose going down and he found out about it and Pete Rose going down the end of the bench on the first baseline and uh collecting all the Red’s guys uh from from that that were on the team that were to watch because they were they were playing defense in the field and pitching and we were on offense and Bill Robinson’s in the first base coaching box and uh you know yeah the hot foot went off but it it was a lot of it was it was fun times. Uh the payback was not so good, but uh you know that’s part of it. Jay Harwood special edition of Amazing Conversations. We have two gentlemen on the phone today. Roger McDow, one of the bull works of the 1986 championship team and Doug Feldman who collaborated with Roger’s upcoming bio. I gotta say guys, this is the best name for any biography I’ve ever heard. Hot foot. Seriously, Jay, I tell you what, it’s I think I think they I think they I think they did a great job, but uh you know, Doug and I were thinking about what the title of the book was going to be, and I came up with this this idea about every time I see somebody in New York or they talk about the Mets in ‘ 86 and my part of it, uh you know, the hot foot came up. And so I thought uh you know it it was pretty cool. So you know uh I mean this is my He got me more than once. I want you to know that he got me I’m stupid. I got I got hot footed more than once. Person would do the Oh, you got it too, DJ. Yeah, more than once. You guys picked a great time for an autobiography in 86 Mets because next year is 40 freaking years. Roger. I am an old guy. Did you guys plan this and just work? How did you guys meet? Tell me about it. Doug, go ahead. Yeah, I mean, um, quite fortunate. A couple years ago, Jay, I was working on a a book about the 87 Cardinals, and because of the great rivalry the Cardinals and Mets had, mid to late 80s, I wanted to get the Mets perspective. Did Terry Pendle’s name come up at all in that book? I say again, I’m sorry. Terry Pendleton’s name come up at all in the 87 book. Uh, no, not at all. Especially Especially not in September. No. Yeah. I’ve been I’ve been warned about that. Jay, I don’t find that funny at all. Roger at the time. I didn’t find it funny either to be honest with you. I bet nobody did. No. No. It wasn’t. It was not a good night to be a Met play. No. But this is all thanks to you actually, Jay, because um the Cardinals PR I I said, “Hey, I want to get the Mets perspective on that 87 season.” So, the Cardinals PR, I think, reached out to you and then I gave you a list of names and Roger was right at the top and um and uh we hit it off and I love talking to Roger. He’s very engaging, very uh you know, lots of great stories to tell the and not just um things you might imagine about, you know, statistics and stuff like that, but uh Roger talked about the heartbeat of baseball, you know, that that thing you can’t measure with the numbers. you talked about, you know, holding Vince Coleman on first base and, you know, nobody really understands how that feels unless you’re out there on the mound. And that it added a great perspective to that 87 Cardinals book I I just had out this past year. And um it it made me think, hey, Roger with his his colorful life, his colorful career, his colorful personality, he’d make a wonderful idea for for an autobiography. And and you know, not not all guys are are into that. And I was I was grateful he was willing to to take a shot. and um he’s told a great story and I’m I’m I’m honored to be part of it. Roger, did you ever think back 40 years ago, you’ be writing a book? Be honest with me. No, you know what, Jay, I mean, uh as we’ve known over the past 40 years, and uh there’s been there have been numerous books written by a lot of my teammates. Um and I never really thought about writing a book. It was kind of like I I never really thought about coaching after my playing days. But uh you know this opportunity came up uh and like Doug said uh we had a great conversation uh regarding his book about the 87 Cardinals and uh when he approached me about doing an autobiography I I think initially I was like yeah no I’m not interested but you know the more I thought about it was like you know coming up on 40 years it’s a great timing uh with the New York Mets and the 40th anniversary and Um, I don’t know. I mean, it was just it’s a different perspective, uh, I think on my part about that season. Um, you know, I didn’t want to get into a lot of, uh, you know, salacious parts of of, uh, you know, what previously had been, um, I guess, uh, displayed in in previous books. And I I just thought of our guys drank. I thought it would be great. I’m sorry. Some of our guys drank. Is it what you’re trying to say? No, no, no, no, no. not not that part. Um just just the parts that uh you know maybe uh you know just from from my personal perspective. Um and and that’s I think that’s what it’s more about is from my personal perspective and and the people that uh helped me along the way uh both in the minor league major league level and also growing up in as a as a young kid in Cincinnati, Ohio and having a dream of playing in the big leagues. And that’s I think pretty much u Doug has captured um you know the stories that I told he’s captured them I thought very I think very well and hopefully uh you know it’ll be uh something that that people enjoy reading. Doug, when is the book come out? Have you got a date yet? Uh yeah. So it’ll be March right around right at spring training uh this coming year. Who’s doing who’s doing the who’s what company’s doing it? Triumph Books. And I know you’re familiar with them. They did. Correct. Yeah. Can I tell you something? Not to put myself down. My book came out in co I gave away more books than I sold. Not even freaking close. Not even close. Well, I wish Jay that that would have that’s the perfect time to read a book. And well, yeah. I mean, I I read your book, you know. Well, you’re the one. You’re you’re the one I had to pay for it. Yeah. Well, not once have I told Roger to quit his day job. We would guarantee a book signing at City Field for sure. Roger, I just wanted to delve in two one of my favorite games. Uh, you know, if I if I can, Doug. Um, game six, um, 86 playoffs against Houston. We just score, uh, three runs, top of the ninth, triples by Lenny, uh, uh, uh, Mooki, Keith RBI’s. Roger McDow comes in to pitch. Five shut out innings. Um, one hit Kevin Bass single. We win seven to six in uh in 16 innings. I remember sitting in the clubhouse. I don’t move a bone for almost four hours. You know, everybody talks about the World Series, but you know, we didn’t want to face Mike Scott in game seven. We knew he was sorry, Mike. Scuffing the ball. I mean, talk about the pressure of pitching under those circumstances. Well, you know, as we related in the book, it it was it was an opportunity for me to hopefully keep our team in the game, which hopefully was what I did all year is is give an opportunity to win the ball game. That game six, we knew what we were up against if we lost at game six. And that was Mike Scott. And he’d already pretty much dominated us uh for two games. actually he I believe he was the MVP of that series, right? And so we knew what we were going to be up against and and but but it was it was not my thought when I was pitching. My pitching was to get people out. Um and I had not had great success against the Astros that season. Um and they were not one of the teams that uh you know I was earmarked to pitch against throughout the course of the season. Um, but when I did, I didn’t do very well. And so pitching in the Astrodome, I don’t know how many people were there. I mean, it sounded like a hundred thousand because, uh, you know, the concentration level during those five innings was just get the next guy out. Um, again I as always I relied on the defense but uh you know the pressure the pressure re wasn’t really felt until after the fact of what we would have faced if we had to make uh face Mike Scott again in that that seventh game uh in Houston. So um again Jay it was just about getting people out. Um I think uh Doug and I spent uh quite uh probably two or three possibly more um phone conversations about that particular game and we’ve added and subtracted some things from that. But uh you know hopefully hopefully uh you know the way we presented it it it gives the reader a better view of of what really um was going on. you know, the ups and downs, uh, and and you know, being up and Jesse giving up the home run to Billy Hatcher and we have to go another two or three innings. But during those five innings, my my thought process was uh to get people out and give our team an opportunity to score in the top. The most amazing thing about that game, 16 innings, five pitchers covered the innings. Bobby O five innings, Rick Aguilera three, McDarl five, uh Jesse Rosco three. That doesn’t happen today. Probably 90 million pitchers cover 16 innings. It’s really incredible, you know, and and they got and they got their runs in the in the first inning, you know, except for the other. I mean, was I mean, think of it. Five pitchers cover 16 innings. That would never happen again today. Well, how many did they use? Six or seven? I I lost that part of the box score to be honest. Well, I mean I mean you talked in 12 or 13 pictures to a man I’ll say yeah what would you say Doug? Oh, I just I wanted to add that uh I interviewed several Rogers teammates uh and to a man that’s one of the first things that right after getting to Roger’s character and his his uh greatness as a teammate almost to a man every single one mentioned game six of the NLCS and how you know the the whole season I guess could have been lost. Am I correct? If Roger doesn’t come in and solidify that middle portion of that game, all that you had worked for 108 wins are out the door. Roger, back me up on this. You got to understand the the n the baseball hated us because when a guy one of our guys got hit, we had a fight. We were arrogant. Uh you know, we we talked stuff. We backed it up, you know, and and I, you know, we have wouldn’t have been a lot of tears shed if we lost uh, you know, to Houston that day in the game. Well, you know, if Well, if you remember back in spring training, Dave said, “We’re going to win this whole thing.” Um, and we’re dominate. He used the word dominate. We’re going to dominate. And, uh, you know, obviously that put a target on our backs from from day one. But uh you know and and Doug and Doug and I talked about this quite a bit is that even though we had a lot of egos on the team, it wasn’t an e egotistical team from the standpoint of our goal was to win a game. And uh so that was that that was part of it is is just winning the ball game. Whoever contributed again we had four platoon. We had a platoon at second base, at third base, center field, and in the bullpen. And you know that doesn’t happen either. Um to have four platoon and and and and Davey what what the job he did is making everybody happy. You know everybody everybody was was content with their their role and that’s what it was is we all had roles and we knew what those roles are uh and were and uh that continued throughout the season. Let me I want to pay respect to Dave unfortunately passed away this year. I mean, for me, uh, in 83, um, um, you know, we bring up Daryl, trade for Keith, and probably the biggest part of the thing is in in October of that year, we hired Davey and led us the most successful run in Met history, averaging of 90 plus wins a year. Talk about Dave Johnson, the leader, and then you guys didn’t for the book. You couldn’t get it for the book, I I would assume, right? No. Uh Jay, you you had mentioned to me a while back that he he was having some some issues and didn’t wasn’t prepared to to speak. Yeah. And was was hoping that would change, but unfortunately it didn’t. But uh no, I got wonderful stories from Roger and and Roger’s teammates u about Dave. Yeah. He was the perfect guy, wasn’t he? Roger to lead us. Yeah, but I didn’t know that at the time. I mean, Jay, I was a kid, you know. I was a kid just trying trying to stay in the big leagues. But I I I do remember and you know what, you know, fast forward years and I go into coaching and I start to understand some things. But you know, Dave was at the forefront of of the analytics. I mean, he was, I think, maybe one of the first one of one of the first uh managers to use a computer and uh and and so, you know, Dave um and Doug and I talked about this as well is that Dave was, you know, as I became more experienced and and and got years under my belt, I understood Davey was a players manager. I mean, he he allowed the veterans to shape our ball club. um you know, Keith and Gary Mookie Wilson, Ray Knight, those guys that we had on our club to shape our ball club. And we had we had a great combination of of young, middle, and old uh older, I don’t want to say old, but veteran players. And so, you know, Davey Davyy had the foresight to allow us or allow those individuals to uh uh police the clubhouse, police the field, um lead in in different ways, whether it was on the field or off the field. And so, uh, and I I remember I remember the headbutt a little bit at the beginning of the spring training in 85, uh, where after Brent Gaff goes down with an injury that Davey, you know, wanted me to be that guy to fill the role until Gaff, uh, Brent came back from the injury list, which never happened. But Dave had a little headbutt with Frank Cashion about um whether I should pitch in the big leagues starting in 1985 because I had had surgery and I was out the previous year in ‘ 84 with bone chips taken out of my elbow. And uh Davey said, “You know what, Frank? I I’ll I’ll protect him and make sure that uh you know he stays healthy.” And so there I therefore I go out and throw 127 innings out of the bullpen my first year in the big leagues. So, you know, D but Davey knew Davey knew his players, and that’s that’s probably more key than anything. He knew his guys um and what what they could um bring to the table and uh what situations uh to put them in to hopefully be successful. He uh Roger, he did the same thing with Dwight the year before. Frank, Megan, rest in peace, didn’t want to bring Dwight Gooden up to the major leagues. 19 year old kid who struck out 300 batters at Lynchburg. I was in the office the day at St. Petersburg where Davey said Frankie is going to be on the team and he went on and goes rookie of the year thigh young you know and he really stuck up for you you know it’s the way he stuck up for Dwight kind of similar thing and yeah there it’s a little different uh ends of the spectrum there you’re talking about Dwight Gooden and Roger McDow so let’s you know well you know what I’m trying to say I understand what you’re trying to say but you know Doc was he he was someone that was really really special. And so being a 19-year-old young man and and uh getting that opportunity to pitch in the big leagues in New York under the the media scrutiny that he had um Davey I think Davey not only trusted Doc he trusted his own intuition and also he trusted the players uh to protect Doc as well. Doug, who are some of the guys? Any favorite stories from some of the players you want to relate to who you talking about, Roger, for your book? Oh gosh. Uh, where do I begin? There’s not that many. I p We paid him well, Jay. We paid him well. Good. Yeah, we paid them all off. We paid them all off. Now, just uh um one that comes to mind, Kevin Mitchell. Uh he’s a he’s a rookie with the ball club and um will be Mitch out out in his home turf of Southern California. I guess you guys are on a road trip in San Diego and uh being the uh being the rookie wanting to show off and all that. Kevin went out and bought himself like this big leisure suit and um cowboy boots that came up to the knee and you know, hey, I’m gonna I’m gonna strut out of this locker room, you know, when when the game’s over. from the strut on out. Comes to find after the game that his suit pants were cut in half across like across the thigh and that the arms are cut off his suit jackets. So that’s what he had to wear leaving Jack Murphy Stadium was um a cut off uh sport jacket, cut off slacks and cowboy boots that came up to the knee. didn’t have the quite have the full suit and and uh he said yeah I knew it was Roger that too I get blamed for everything let me go back to yeah let me go back to said about how Davey had roles for everybody in 86 you’re 14 and nine 302 RA uh 22 save Jesse is six and six uh in 50 he pitched 75 games 120 innings Jesse’s got 21 saves caves. You really did. He really We didn’t have a certain closer. He He put you guys in situations where he could succeed. That’s unusual. Two guys could go over 40 saves. Yeah. I mean, and be happy, you know, and be and be content and not uh not worried about being that that guy that gets the 40 saves. Uh Jesse and I had a great relationship. Um and uh and Jesse and and Doug Cisk were very tight. And Douggee was his compliment before I got there. And you know there was a little bit uh you know when that switch took place that you know from from my part it was like you know I’m I’m kind of stepping on somebody’s toes but at the end of the day uh my job was to get people out and uh and I think that um going back to Davey again and and he knew you know the personalities of our bullpen that hey um at this time this is the guy that will help us win and and So, um, it it was it was a a great opportunity, a great situation to be in that bullpen. Um, and and the pitch, you know, I remember coming into a game against the Dodgers and and and Sid Fernandez who, you know, Dave was not always happy with and and Mel also, you know, he walked he walked a lot of people and it got to be one point where we’re facing the Dodgers. I think it was on a Saturday afternoon at Chay and and he goes first to second uh and it was nobody out and he goes two and 0 on Kenny Landro and I’m up in the bullpen warming up and I’m thinking okay I probably got the next hitter. Well, Davey comes out that counts two and 0 and he brings me in and um you know I I think it was to send a message uh to Sid that uh you know this was the walks were unacceptable. Um and so again Davey knowing his players because after that Sid responded you know a little bit where you know understanding that walks aren’t acceptable and the hopefully the concentration level will get a little bit bigger but yeah I I came in the game in the fifth inning uh first and second and uh nobody out a 200 count on Kenny Landro. So that that’s, you know, you talk about Dave knowing people and that that’s that’s a big part of it. Roger, let me go back to the cover for a second. One of my all-time greatest hot foots was it’s in in Cincinnati. Remember how the dugout would stretch to first base? How how many times do you get poor Uncle Bill Robertson with the same hot foot? I remember one time he he won under Yeah, I remember that. And and it’s covered in the book uh that pretty well. Um but yeah, Bill was a Bill was a favorite um of mine uh to get a hot foot on because he coached first base. He was our hitting instructor and uh he coached first base. So, you know, when you start picking people out to get a give a hot foot during the game, uh you can’t do players um that are playing you, it’s kind of um doesn’t get a whole lot of attention when you do a a a guy that’s not playing because he’s on the bench. I wanted to I wanted this to be a a big hot foot and uh you know got got together with Bill Webb um our director TV director and uh told him what I wanted to do and and he was uh he said okay we’re we’re going to be uh just let the cameraman know when it’s happening and uh I’ll make sure all the cameras are on it. So, you know, the favorite part the favorite part was m of mine was uh Pete Rose going down and he found out about it and Pete Rose going down the end of the bench on the first baseline and uh collecting all the Red’s guys uh from from that that were on the team that were to watch because they were they were playing defense in the field and pitching and we were on offense and Bill Robinson’s in the first base coaching box and uh you know yeah the hot foot went off but it it was a lot of it was it was fun times. Uh the payback was not so good, but uh you know that’s part of it. Did Doug, do you ever see the Let’s Go Mexico video? I don’t believe so. Rod, what did that you guys really invented the the rally hats in that video? If I remember correctly, where you were sitting on a bed? No, that was that was Hojo. I think that was Hojo and Bobby Bobby Oh. Those were the two. No, I wasn’t in that because I was in the bullpen. I think sometimes we would we would turn our hats uh you know inside out in the bullpen, but it was more more on the bench. And Hojo Hojo is the one that started that. Oh, that was that was in LA. That was Dodger Stadium. Charlie was helping me with that a lot. But uh yeah. Yeah, it was uh yeah, fun times. Fun times. 40 years ago. It’s amazing. But but but you know what? Here’s here’s the other here’s the other one is that you know my other game there are a lot of things about that team that during the course of my conversation with Doug uh over I don’t know what was it six or eight months Doug we talked we t we talked weekly. Um there were a lot of things that you know and that that that came up that were um I think they juggled in my mind. Um and and also Doug Doug was like I didn’t know that you know and so it was a it was eye opening experience for both of us. There were things that that came up that I you know Doug reminded me and and sometimes I would remind Doug about things. I was just add about that game in Cincinnati that Hot Foot when Bill Robinson and Roger I don’t know if it was you or it was Ray Knight who told me and Ray Knight of course spent time in Cincinnati. He said yeah the Reds dugout looked like a kid soccer game because Pete first Pete Rose somebody queued Pete Rose into the fact that Bill’s going to get it. So he starts creeping down toward the uh first base end of the dugout. They said like Eddie Milner and all the rest of the Rez or whoever was in the bench, it’s all all come because they all want to be at that end of the dugout to see when the when the house went off and you were weren’t you waiting. I thought he got some time to go whether it was from Bill’s run or maybe from the breeze that snuffed the uh the igniter out which was a cigarette but uh event it I I didn’t plan for it to happen during that bat. I think it was Gary Carter’s at bat that had happened. I think there was one out and I’m, you know, I’m I’m thinking to myself, you know, I I hoped this thing would go off, you know, right before the inning started. But, uh, lo and behold, it was during Gary’s at bat and went off with one out. And I’m like, thank God nobody was on base or it was a critical situation cuz David wouldn’t have been very happy with me. So, you were talking about another game, Jay. Yes, sir. Cincinnati July of 86. We’re playing the Reds. Uh I forget. So, uh Ray, Eric Davids, uh is at third base. Ray Knight slides into him and gets up and Ray pops. We have a gigantic brawl on the field. I think everybody in their mother was ejected from the game. Uh kid playing third base. Uh uh and the best part of the game we we’re in outfield was because Daryl got ejected. Mitch got ejected and you and Jesse alternate playing the outfield. You would pitch, come back. That’s Dave not willing to take a chance and roll with the punches and let’s have fun. Well, also it was him knowing his personnel. Um Jesse and I shagged as you know, we shagged during batting practice like we were uh you know in an all-star game playing the outfield. And so that was that that was how we got our conditioning and our running in was by shagging and and uh you know I don’t know whether it was Davey uh solely or a collection of the coaches saying you know what um you know let’s put Jesse and Roger in the off fields from the hitter um and and uh we can alternate them on the mound. And if you remember, Pete Rose uh protested that game uh because uh he said that when we came in from the outfield, we did not we were not supposed to receive another eight pitches to warm up. And that’s why he Yeah, that’s that’s Yeah, but he’s trying to win a ball game for his team. And so uh but yeah, I mean, you know, I played the off. I remember uh I forget whether it was Eddie Milner or Max Venibal. Uh Jesse was pitching. I was playing left field and Max one of the two. Eddie Milner or Max Venibal lifted a fly ball. It was more to left field than center field, but I’m camped under it ready to make the third out and all of a sudden Lenny uh steps in front of me. Actually stepped on my foot and caught the ball and uh I said, “Dude, what are you doing?” He goes, “Just wanted to make sure, dude.” You know, just wanted to make sure. And so and and and so, you know, I didn’t get to catch one, which I I think would have been would have added to the story. Uh Jesse did get get to catch a line drive off of Tony Perez. Uh Tony Perez hit an inside sinker to right field line drive and Jesse was caught it right there. And uh I remember after after the game Jesse was excited more about catching a fly ball than about anything else. And he was also excited and he said I’m I’m a dollar25 richer because people start kept throwing coins at me. Right. You remember the double play in the game? You know uh it was a bunk play. Keith came in. Kid was playing third base. He threw the kid at third. Tougher was covered at first base. You know, was it, you know, what a great No. Was nobody better at those kind of plays in mix. No, you know, his anticipation and his knowledge and his uh riskreward. Um he always he always played the game, especially defensively. Um because that’s what I saw, you know, most being on the mound. uh he took so much pride in his defense and uh you know his defense was phenomenal, but that was probably other than the catch I saw in St. Louis, Lonnie Smith going straight back to left field and making a a over the a diving over the shoulder catch. Flat out prone making a catch into left field. That’s probably the the next greatest play I’ve ever seen is is Jay, can I go back to that Cincinnati game for one moment? Uh, so take a name from Rogers childhood or his high school years in Cincinnati. Marty Brenamman. Marty Brenamman got his start got his start in 74 when Rogers uh middle school, high school. So he probably caught some of Marty Roger when you were growing up. Boy, boy, when Eric Davis when Eric Davis, you gota you gotta listen to the the audio from WLW because when Eric Davis slides in to Ray and they start going at it, you can hear Marty Brenman saying, “Oh, Eric, you’re barking up the wrong tree there.” Because Ray Knight knows how to box. So, and Ray had it, didn’t he? Well, I’ll I’ll I I’ll even add to that is that during that fight because our bench was right there at third baseline. So, I was one I was one of the first guys out there and I don’t know why because I was probably 1775 pounds, you know, soaking wet, but somehow I ended up on the bottom of that pile. Um, Max Venable had me on chokeold and next thing I know, my feet are being grabbed and I’m being drugged out and there I look up and it’s Bill Gullix. He goes, “Roger, what the hell are you doing in there?” I said, “I don’t know how I got in there, but thank you for dragging me out.” tied up the game in the ninth inning when the late Dave Parker dropped a a fly ball in right field. Franco was pitching for our good old Johnny Franco and we wind up winning the game with Hojo. It’s a three-run homer in the 12th 13th inning. But hey Roger, you had a great career enjoyed our time. People it be a great book, you know, people remember to after as a player 12 years as a pitching coach with the Braves and the Orioles. A lot of great knowledge and Doug, you know, we you’re close to St. Lucy Rod, you got to get come down make, you know, do a little signing in St. Lucy during the spring, get you back to City Field. Uh, great timing for the book, guys. I mean, 40th anniversary. A lot of good stuff going on. You know, we I’m sure we’ll do some stuff during the year celebrating the team and, you know, I wish you I hope you sell more books than I’ve sold. Is that Is that fair? Well, I I Well, I I I I will add this if you don’t mind. That is fair, Jay. And I, you know, I don’t want to one up you, but uh a bigger fish story. But yeah, I hope that happens. Hope we sell a lot of books and more importantly, I hope a lot of people enjoy it because uh I really enjoyed uh this project and especially really enjoyed doing it with Doug because uh you know, it was very easy conversations and I I look forward to our weekly conversations and uh and so it was it was really really a cool project to do and uh get an opportunity to work with No hot no uh no no hints on the cover. Say again. I’m sorry. No, no hints on the cover. Yeah, I mean Hotfoot is is is is a predom predominantly a big portion of that cover. There’s probably a there might be a picture of me and there might be some fire you. Well, I’m sorry. I thought I sent you a copy. We’ll get you the cover out. And um yeah, Jay, I I want to make clear to people too that uh you know, also all of Roger’s teammates said, you know, there’s kind of a misnomer about Roger that he’s this if you don’t know Roger that, you know, people perceive him as a jokester, but you know, they said every single guy said when he went out between the lines, he was a gamer. He was 100% and uh you know, the the smiles, you know, went away. And you can see that in Rogers countance. You, you know, you look at those old films of him pitching his his facial expression. It’s all business. People don’t understand that that you you know, you you were you like to have your fun, but you knew well when it’s time not to have fun. He doesn’t do what he did against Houston. There’s probably no 1996 championship. So, well, I appreciate that. I’ll do anything I can to help you guys promote the book and stay in touch. And Roger again, come to fly, you know, in the spring if you have copies of the book, you know, we we’re hit two places here in St. Lucy and we’ll hit it at City Field with a book sign. Sounds good. Yeah. Well, good. I’m glad you guys got a met. That’s Roger. That’s Doug. Doug. That’s Roger. I’m appreciate it. Good to meet you guys. Talk to you soon,
1 Comment
Justh makin shure, justh making shure 😂. Roger come back to the fanbase in Queens, word is the Mets are looking for a pitching coach!