Dubious Number-Three Hitters in Lean Times

[Guest Edgy DC]

Tsuyoshi Shinjo: Nine games starting in the three-hole in 2001.

Timo Perez: Twenty-one games starting in the three-hole in 2003.

Lemur Silly: Four games starting in the three-hole in 1987.

Bruce Boisclair: Twenty-three games starting in the three-hole in 1978 (presumably in the early part of the year, based on his modestly productive 1977).

Elliott Maddox: Seven games starting in the three-hole in 1978.

What was with 1978? Now, all these guys are interesting because they got these opportunities while only just (or not quite) quaifying as starting players of any stripe. But here's my favorite:

Jeff McKnight: One game starting in the three-hole in 1992. I had to check out the lineup that day.

1) Vince Coleman, cf
2) Dick Schofield, ss
3) Jeff McKnight 3b
4) Bobby Bonilla 1b
5) Kevin Bass, lf
6) Dave Gallagher, rf
7) Jeff Kent, 2b
8) Charlie O'Brien, c
9) Eric Hillman, p

That's August 31, 1992. It would be the next season that Jeff Kent would emerge as a hitter. But, man, that's a tough lineup. As you might guess, it was part of a doubleheader, but it was the first game of a twi-nighter (not the second, which generally has the lesser squad). After Bobby Bonilla tied it at 6-6 in the eighth, the game went to extras until Otis Nixon hit a two-out two-run double off of Lee Guetterman in the 14th.

Putting McKnight in the third spot seems like sage wisdom in retrospect, as he went 3-7 with a run and two RBI. The problem was putting him at third, as he made two errors.

I can only imagine what a bitch it was for the 60-69 Mets to haul themselves out for game two, which they lost (Mike Birkbeck getting the loss in his Met debut). The number-three hitter for game two? Mackey Freakin' Sasser, that's who.

[MFS62]

Lemur silly?

Later

[soupcan]

]Lemur Silly

I no get the joke my friend.

[soupcan]

Lee Mazzilli!

[MFS62]

d'oh.

Later

[seawolf17]

I was trying to figure out if it was some bizarre nickname for a guy named Monkey Strange or something.

[HahnSolo]

Maz hit 3rd during his second tour with the Mets? The Mets were loaded in 87. Was there some big injury bug that caused him to hit 3rd?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Wow, how great would it be if the Mets had a player named "Monkey Strange"?

That's even better than Cocoa Crisp!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Small injury bug, I imagine, and perhaps second games of doubleheaders. Let's look and see!

5/31/87:

1) Lenny Dykstra, cf
2) Wally Backman, 2b
3) Lee Mazzilli, 1b
4) Kevin McReynolds, lf
5) Darryl Strawberry, rf
6) Gary Carter, c
7) Dave Magadan, 3b
8) Bill Almon, ss
9) John Mitchell, p

This was only his second start of the season, and, I imagine, Keith Hernandez was a late scratch. But Keith played the day beofre and the day after.

6/7/87

1) Lenny Dykstra, cf
2) Tim Teufel, 2b
3) Lee Mazzilli, 1b
4) Kevin McReynolds, lf
5) Mookie Wilson, rf
6) Howard Johnson, 3b
7) Bill Almon, ss
8) Barry Lyons, c
9) John Mitchell, p

This is game two of a doulbeheader. As you can see, the real injury by was to their starting rotation. But silly also played in game one, batting sixth, as the leftfielder. He finished the game in center.

6/21/87:

1) Lenny Dykstra, cf
2) Keith Miller, 2b
3) Lee Mazzilli, 1b
4) Darryl Strawberry, rf
5) Kevin McReynolds, lf
6) Howard Johnson, ss
7) Dave Magadan, 3b
8) Barry Lyons, c
9) Sid Fernandez, p

I'm thinking this was a day game after a night game. In Davey's advocacy, it should be pointed out that Silly went .455 / .538 / 1.091 // 1.629 with seven RBI (and a caught stealing) in 13 plate appearances as the starting number-three hitter.

[MFS62]

Names:
Every time I saw a Met lineup that included Stearns and Foster I wanted to run out and buy a mattress.

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

You're very impressionable.

And an advertiser's dream.