Good Morning, Mets' fans!
I am putting this article together on Wednesday morning, which is the day after a thrilling Mets' win over the San Francisco Giants. I will admit that I didn't get a chance to watch the game since I am trapped in Tampa and we don't have direct access to the Mets' feed. However, I did follow along on line and I was impressed that they were able to rally from an early 2-0 deficit and actually win a game on home soil!
The six runs that they scored between the seventh and eighth innings was also a bit unexpected for a team that has struggled to score at times this year. But, perhaps things are changing a bit? There was an excerpt within the post-game article that the Mets have scored the most runs in baseball since the All Star Break!
What the heck is going on? Winning games at home? Scoring more then one or two runs per game?
Kidding aside, I am under no illusions that all of the team's problems are suddenly fixed, nor do I think that this offensive outburst will become the norm, per se. However, there are a few recent developments that are encouraging to say the least.
In addition to the improved play from guys like Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario, you have to be impressed with what Jeff McNeil is doing! Or, maybe you are impressed BUT not surprised since this blog had been asking for his promotion from AAA for quite some time.
Last night was an exceptional display of hitting prowess for our budding second baseman. He had four hits in four at bats (three singles and a double), scored two runs and knocked in the go ahead run with two outs in the eight inning after the two hitters before him failed to get a runner home from third base with less then two outs.
While I do not expect him to go four for four every time out, he appears to be turning into a weapon that belongs near the top of the order. What do his major league stats look like so far?
I am glad you asked, so here you go;
89 AB (roughly 13.6% of a full season)
.326/.388/.472 (.860 OPS)
2 HR/9 RBI/1 SB and 14 RS
0.9 WAR
10 K and 6 BB
The counting stats do not seem that impressive, but if you multiply them by 7.3 (gives you a full season's worth of stats), then they look much more impressive;
.326/.388/.472 (.860 OPS)
14 HR/65 RBI/7 SB and 102 RS
6.57 WAR (very impressive)
73 K and 43 BB
I am not sure how each of you feel, but I would take that statistical season from my second baseman every year going forward without any hesitation. In a weird, eerie sort of way, his offensive production reminds me of former Mets' player Daniel Murphy (but with much better defense).
Are there things that Jeff needs to work on? Of course, but keep in mind that he is a 26 year old rookie and there is plenty of time to get better. His Defensive WAR (dWAR) is -0.1, despite only committing one error to date, which is basically "average" for now. He also has needs to cut down on his strikeouts a bit and he
could draw a few more walks, but his BB/K ratios are fairly solid when you consider that he isn't even 100 plate appearances into his young career.
In closing, I am more then pleased with Jeff's promising start and I don't see any reason why he shouldn't get the rest of 2018's "starts" at second base. I also have him as my early favorite to start at second base in 2019 and beyond (fingers crossed, since I am a Mets' fan after all).
5 comments:
Morning, Mike.
It is hard for Jeff McNeil to draw walks, as he is leading the entire major leagues in contact rate. He swings, he hits. Guys who swing and miss more tend to walk more, since their at bats are extended.
TJ Rivera was similar - not a lot of walks, but not a lot of Ks either and a high average. Watching McNeil beat out an infield slow bouncer to short shows one big advantage over Rivera - speed and a lefty exit from the hitter's box - Rivera hits the same ball and he is out by 5 to 7 feet.
Kevin Kernan of the Post today compared McNeil to Daniel Murphy. The Wilpons see no comparison - McNeil is far less expensive, you see.
It helps to face a weak hitting team like the Giants, but the lead 4 pitchers have looked mighty impressive - and even Jason Vargas has been solid his last 2 outings. Avoid injuries, and contend in 2019.
Indeed, Tom........another solid night from Jeff after this piece was written.
It would be nice to "hit" on an obscure player, wouldn't it?
I love underdogs like McNeil - just like I started rooting for RA Dickey the night of April 29, 2010 when he allowed a 1st inning single when pitching in freezing AAA Buffalo - and nothing else. The game was televised because the Mets were off that night.
Folks still wrote off the "knuckleballer" but he did fine when called up that year, pitched in tough luck in 2011, and Cy Young in 2012. Nice.
But for every Dickey, there is a Muno. Danny hit .355 for Brooklyn after he was drafted, a number no one else seems to get close to year after year in that league, but he never really made it, except for brief, ineffective stints.
Alonso, McNeil, Rosario, Frazier (Flores, Rivera)
Conforto, a healthy Cespedes, Nimmo, Bruce (Lagares)
Plawecki, Nido
Jake, Thor, Wheels
Smith, Lugo, Gsellman, Oswalt, Zamora
Maybe we're not as far away as we thought.
I might look to flip flop Oswalt with Vargas but then Vargas until recently has had issues in his first inning, so maybe that's nto such a good idea.
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