GM Wags said yesterday that Jeff McNeil will play a 'significant role' in the Mets 2019 outfield.
Thoughts?
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I always knew there was a catch...just kidding, but I think Jeff will be fine in the outfield, and anything that can get Jeff's torrid Citifield bat (.388 for Jeff, vs .210 for the rest of the team at home) is a must. if he drops 100 points and hits .288 at home, that would really help. One guy hits, that helps the other guys hit too. I think last year's .215 at home needs to rise at least 30 points, and Jeff would be key to that happening.
ReplyDeleteHe's quick, agile, and I presume will be a competent OF from day 1 this spring. Tell him to bring back Willie Mays' basket catch, too.
I expect more Willie Mays Aikens
ReplyDeletePlease don't tell me he can't hit at this level.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the season (minus the required amount of at-bats needed for the award) he was tied for the LEAGUE'S best BA
Aikens was a career .271 hitter for KC, but his career was derailed by Colombian marching powder. Good article from him about it here: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/willie-mays-aikens-letter-to-my-younger-self
ReplyDeleteI had simply done a play on words expressing my doubt about McNeil's ability to turn himself into a credible outfielder on the fly. Hey, I'd love to have his bat in the lineup every day. I'm just not sure this is the best way to achieve it.
I wrote my answer the same time you wrote yours
ReplyDeleteI wasn't responding to your comment
I see him as the Mets' version of Ben Zobrist, I guess?
ReplyDeleteCan he get 400 or so at bats across all of the positions he
is capable of playing?
I vote YES
DeleteI can envision a specific scenario in which McNeil could get starts in left field. If the Mets are:
ReplyDelete* starting a high strikeout pitcher (deGrom, Thor or Wheeler) and
* facing a right handed starter with a traditional platoon split (and especially an exaggerated one)
Then you start McNeil in left, Conforto in right and Nimmo in center, knowing that Lagares or Broxton will be a mid to late game replacement.
I really expect to see a lot of fielding experimentation over the first two months. McNeil in LF and/or at 3B, Lowrie at SS, Cano and/or Frazier at first. By June 1, after Alonso has spent two months smoking the league in Syracuse and is ready to move up, the Mets should have a better idea of just how flexible defensively their other position players are. That’s when Brodie might put the trading hat back on, especially if McNeil or Frazier do not adapt in the way the club hopes.
When aging Cano gets injured,and goes on to the DL,this will become a useless discussion.
ReplyDeleteWorst deal in Mets history,givng up future stars and for another 4th place finish.
Incredibly nuts..
Ah Willie Mays Aikens met the same fate as Ellis Valentine from what I've heard and could have been a real stud for us. Hell of an arm from RF and of course it sucks because Cash gave up Reardon for him. I remember back in the bad old 70's days a trade being vetoed that would have been Aikens and Dickie Thon for Swan and he would have probably had a very good career because if he was with us he wouldn't have caught that FB to the head from Mike Torrez that certainly derailed his career.
ReplyDeleteWe always put our worst fielder in right and shaded our best defensive outfield (and usually fastest) toward that area knowing he can dart back and reach balls hit to center-left
ReplyDeleteMack, I am our worst fielder....can I play right field?
ReplyDeleteMcNeil spoke last season (pre-BVW) about his ability and willingness to play the outfield. He may have a better idea than we do about his ability to adapt.
ReplyDelete