THE WORLD SERIES : New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox : Notebook : Red Sox Lose Baylor’s Bat Tonight Unless Buckner Is Unable to Play

Will a strained Achilles’ tendon prevent Boston’s Bill Buckner from starting at first base in tonight’s opening game of the World Series?

“For me not to play,” Buckner said during a workout Friday, “you’d have to get a gun and shoot me--and they might just do that here, too.”

Here, of course, is the Queens asylum known as Shea Stadium, where the Red Sox will face the New York Mets in Games 1 and 2 without benefit of a designated hitter.

The 1986 Series marks the debut of Commissioner Peter Ueberroth’s compromise plan on the DH.

Rather than being used in the Series on an every-other-year basis, as had been the format since 1976, the DH will now be employed every year--but only in the American League park.

Thus, Red Sox DH Don Baylor figures to sit out the games tonight and Sunday night. However, if Buckner can’t play, Baylor will be the first baseman.

Manager John McNamara said he would not make a decision on Buckner until tonight.

Buckner said Friday that he was considerably improved after suffering the injury to his right Achilles’ tendon while running out a grounder during the first inning of Wednesday night’s final playoff game with the Angels. He worked out Friday, wearing a pair of custom-designed, high-top baseball shoes.

Buckner had already been wearing a high top on his left foot to stabilize an ankle weakened by bone spurs that will be removed surgically when the Series ends. He put in a rush order for the right shoe after straining the tendon Wednesday.

“It’s kind of a last resort,” he said, “but it may become a trend. Everyone may be wearing them by next year.”

Buckner, in other words, plans to play in them. “I may even sleep in them,” he said.

The possible loss of Baylor, meanwhile, is no laughing matter to the Red Sox.

He drove in 94 runs and hit a club-high 31 homers during the regular season, then batted .346 in the playoffs.

“Of course I’d like to play,” Baylor said. “I’ve waited a long time for my first World Series, but I don’t make out the lineup and I’m not going to make John McNamara a fall guy by saying I should play.

“My feeling is that Buck will be out there and that he should be because he has a lot more experience at first base than I do.

“I don’t want to jeopardize the team in any way by missing a cutoff or missing the sign on a bunt play. I don’t want to hurt our chances.”

An outfielder originally, Baylor became a full-time DH while with the Angels because of a poor throwing arm. He started three of Boston’s last four regular-season games at first base but said Friday, “I’m still more comfortable in the outfield.”

He is most comfortable at the plate and said, “I’d rather be up there hitting than watching Bruce Hurst (the Boston pitcher tonight) attempt to hit, but I’m not bitter at Buckner or McNamara or the rules.

“I’ve had too many good things happen to me this year (starting with the trade that saved him from a platoon role and chaotic situation with the Yankees) to start complaining now.

“It’s tough to take because I’ve never sat before, especially in an important game, but I’ll just have to be a cheerleader. I’ll be there next to McNamara, asking him to get me in the game when the chance comes.

“My role will still exist--I’ll still be there if we need a big run. It’s just that I may not get the chance until later in the game and then I may only get the one chance (as a pinch-hitter). I know that I’ll be back in there, at least, when we go to Fenway.”

And, at that point, Met Manager Davey Johnson will have to decide on a DH. He indicated Friday that he would employ Danny Heep against right-handers and Kevin Mitchell against the left-handed Hurst, who will start Game 5, if needed, at Boston.

“All I have to do is plug another hitter in,” Johnson said. “It’s much tougher to take a key hitter like Baylor out of the heart of what has been a set lineup. That can have a psychological effect on the entire club.”

McNamara said he couldn’t measure the potential impact. He shook his head and said: “I still can’t understand how there’s a different set of rules for the two leagues. It should be standard. We should all play by the same rules, and then you wouldn’t have these situations develop.”

By winning the National League playoff series against Houston while batting only .189 as a team, third baseman Ray Knight believes the Mets have already overcome their toughest hurdle.

“We led the National League in hitting and runs scored,” Knight said, “but we ran into the best pitching I’ve ever seen.

“Cy Young couldn’t have been better than what we saw from the Astros.

“I never had one easy swing. I mean, Boston seems to have good pitching, but I’m not worried about facing anyone after facing Houston. There’s no way we’re going to hit .189 again.”

Len Dykstra, who is scheduled to play center field on a full-time basis against the Red Sox, had been rooting for the Angels to defeat Boston, hoping to return to his Garden Grove home for the World Series.

“They didn’t win the game they had to win,” Dykstra said, alluding to Sunday’s Game 5. “They had it and blew it. I was really disappointed.

“I was looking forward to going home.”

The commissioner’s office has issued more than 1,100 press credentials for this World Series.

What about the Mets’ reputation for arrogance, cockiness and showing up opponents via their high-fiving, fist-pumping, curtain-calling type of self-congratulations?

“That’s part of the game,” Boston shortstop Spike Owen said. “That’s part of the home-field advantage. I hope I do something to get a curtain call in Boston.”

Ron Darling, who starts tonight for the Mets, attended high school in Worcester, Mass., and still has many friends and relatives in that Red Sox hotbed. Which team are they rooting for?

“They’re rooting for the Mets in Game 1,” Darling said, “but that’s it.”

Roger Clemens, who threw 369 pitches in his three playoff starts, is expected to start Game 2 for the Red Sox, coming back on three days’ rest for the third straight time. Clemens threw on the side Friday and said, “It makes no difference to me. I’ll come in in relief if they want. I mean, strengthwise, I’m going to be going on adrenaline anyway.”