Let's sat you could sign a free agent infielder who has to date had 592 plate appearances, 544 official at bats, a .315 average, 47 extra base hits, and 8 of 9 steals.
He would be very highly sought after.
That "free agent" is actually a composite of T.J. Rivera and Jeff McNeil.
Many will say that neither has really proved himself, therefore they can't be counted on when we've got seasoned vets like .213 hitting Todd Frazier.
I say instead, show a little faith in these guys.
Yeah, yeah, I know the drill: one guy went undrafted. Another was a 12th rounder. Usually such guys are useless in terms of major league production. With such limited, even if highly productive, major league experience, we can't possibly count on them to be just as great in 2019, can we?
I say, "why not?"
"T.J. MCNEIL" IS MY GUY, AND I'M GOING WITH HIM!
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11 comments:
I think stability is a key component for player development and that starts with a defined position.
In this case, put McNeil at third base and LEAVE him be! I prefer him at second base, but what's done is done and Cano is a pretty good player in his own right.
Once The Pounder comes up for good, I would move Frazier to my super utility role where he can get some at bats against tough lefties and serve as depth. I am less convinced that TJ Rivera will be an option, but I hope he proves me wrong.
Well reasoned, Mike
Sadly, the addition of Cano and the respect for Frazier has put McNeil back a notch.
Still he get around 350-400 at bats
350-400 still not bad.
The .315 combined batting average of McNeil and TJ career-wise would have them 5th in all baseball in 2018, just behind Altuve. That really is something.
It's really narcissistic personality disorder with the little metsies. They are all bravado, tugging their suit and proclaiming meaningful baseball and being smart with their hard-to-fathom moves, waiting games and sell-offs, but when a good player is a homegrown guy he must be teetered up high on the pile of whispers that maybe there's a flaw in him: Murphy, Turner, McNeil, Rivera. I feel BVM and his success-orientation breaks this chronic behavior. I bet Frazier is a bench player after Alonso's up and a small piece of season make the move so clear.
While McNeil looked great last year, we still don't know if he's the real deal or a rerun of Mike Vail or Ike Davis.In any case, Frazier will be gone after this season, if not sooner. No harm done if McNail plays a utility role while getting his ABs
That hasn't hurt Ben Zobrist's career very much.
Bill, as usual, while we all speculate, spring training performance will drive decisions!
If Todd hits and TJ and Jeff do not, he'll be in there more.
If the two newbies hit and Todd does not....well, the drift is there to be caught!
I want McNeil to have a wide open chance to be playing daily, though. He was a catalyst in 2018, for sure.
McNeil 3B Todd to bench.
Viper is my manager!
Lets just say thank God TC isn't here or McNeil would be our 25th man and the Toddfather is taking interest in mentoring Alonso which couldn't hurt.
New, smarter days have arrived.
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