Tom Brennan - JEFF MCNEIL BY THE NUMBERS
Baseball is a tough game to survive in, much less to conquer. That transition to the majors from the minors is often a very difficult one. Just ask someone like Dominic Smith.
Or ask one of the many called up Mets pitchers over the past few years who have in effect run into the Thing from Fantastic Four - "It's Clobberin' Time!"
Jeff McNeil started out on very few folks' radar screen at the start of this minor league season (I can think of one, but why digress?)
In the minors in 2018, he went .342/.411/.617 in 88 AA and AAA games, much to the surprise of almost everyone.
But that shift to the majors? Nasty, brutal, a no-holds-barred reckoning. For so many players.
But NOT for Jeff McNeil.
40 Mets' games in, how's Jeff doing?
The numbers speak for themselves:
150 plate appearances, 13 Ks, .321/.385/.463, 20 runs scored, 4 of 5 in steals.
Of course he does not have enough plate appearances to qualify, but .321 is the 3rd best average in the majors. His .385 OBP would tie him for 14th best in the majors. His .463 slug % ties him for 63rd in the majors.
What can he do for an encore?
I know one person at least that thinks he will continue to shine.
I think he is making an extra effort to make contact over power, because a hitter is largely judged by his batting average upon arrival. I expect to see more power emerge, perhaps not a lot more, but more. Some guys are just smart, and know how to achieve success. I think Jeff McNeil is very much that guy. Good for him.
12 comments:
I keep reading others saying we should resign Daniel Murphy in the off season.
Why?
We have second base covered for upcoming future with the perfect #2 hitter for the lineup.
Rosario followed by McNeil... you will put runners on base here. Hell, you may even clear the bases here.
Move on to the positions this team needs help in and go write about something else.
Mack, I agree with your comment to go after a position player that this team needs...i.e, an offensive catcher...Realmuto, but who to give up for him? That’s the big question..do we want to give up one of our starters? Plus some minor league chips
We need a real catcher badly and it will cost us big time to get Realmuto.
With the years left on Thor's control, and the emergence of Wheels, I would construct a deal for deGrom for Realmuto + an additional chip
Grandal? Ramos? They are FAs and the chips can address other issues.
I think McNeil makes a lot more $$ and sense than Murphy. After 2015, I wanted Murphy signed - for first base, with Duda traded. 2016-18 would have been a lot different.
I prefer keeping Jake and our other starting pitchers at least until mid-2019, and struggling at catcher internally, or someone other than Realmuto. I'd love him, but I want our pitching intact. By mid-2019, Dunn or Peterson just might be ready.
I honestly hope Ali Sanchez becomes a real hitter in 2019 - he is certainly the organization's best defensive catcher, so half decent hitting out of him would work.
Additionally, while Murphy was a defensive liability that the Mets thought they could upgrade from after 2015, he is far worse now. Following his surgery, even the Nats are no longer interested even though he was their MVP the past two years. Last week when the Mets played the Cubs, he couldn't field a tailor-made double play ball about three feet to his right...he lunged but couldn't move his feet. He needs to DH in the A.L. now.
Tom
I always appreciate your eternal optimism when it comes to guppies but hoping (praying) that someone works out is, at best, 2 years away from a proven comodity.
Either Grandal or Ramos would be a huge immediate upgrade, but, IMO, Realmuto is the guy to go after.
I love McNeil's potential and he is MY starting second baseman for 2019, as of today.
As far as Murphy is concerned, I like the idea of bring him "home" but where does he play? Frazier is likely to play 3B in 2019 and after that, I wonder if we need to move one or more of our SS prospects to third, sort of like ARod?
Take the money Murphy would cost and address any of the other positions that are in need, like CF, Catcher or Closer!
Nickel7168, good point. Murphy now makes Chuck Hiller look good in the field.
Mack, I just don't want to mess up a strength - any time this team has been successful, they have had a relentless hammer from their pitching staff. I'd like to not mess with the strength.
Tom
Well...
If u dont want to mess up the pitching it will cost you a package that includes Gimenez
Mack, then Mauricio better speed it up!!
Mike, I love that we have weeks left to let McNeil further show what he can do, before 2019. Hard to be 100% confident after 40 games, but if he can do it for another 20, he's the man to beat in 2019
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