Tom Brennan: A FIRST BASE SQUIRREL? AFL Rosters Announced; Collapse Demon Spotted in Mets’ Clubhouse

 

Jeff McNeil, a Friendly First Base Squirrel?

WHY NOT A FIRST BASE SQUIRREL…

TO TRANSITION TO A YOUNGER LINE UP?

Jeff McNeil a/k/a “The Squirrel” in his now lengthy pro career has played 2nd base, 3rd base, all 3 outfield positions, and shortstop (in the minors).

He’s very versatile.  He’s played well defensively at every position in the majors.  I’d say above average.

I can’t say that about his play at first base, because in the majors, he has only player 2 innings there.  And of course 17 error-free innings in the minors.  With his defensive skill set, I’m certain that playing first base would be a no-brainer.  I think he’d be an above average defensively as an every day first baseman.

If Pete doesn’t stay, I think McNeil could provide (dare I say it?) a “Keith Hernandez Lite” season in 2026 at first base, if asked to, in his final Mets contractual season.

Two similar hitters, as I see it, both with above average gloves….why not?

Keith career? .296/.384/.436.

Jeff career? .286/.353/.432.

Keith was better, no doubt, but Jeff is a reasonable facsimile.

One year of Jeff at 1B would allow Ryan Clifford to fully develop into the hitter he truly could be in the majors in late 2026 or in 2027.  By 2027, on the rise, he could be as good a major league hitter as a then-two years older Pete.

I think Clifford is ready during the 2026 season. My position is evolving from Not Ready…to Ready. Why?

He started out frigidly in frigid April in a pitcher’s park, .200 in 70 at bats, with 3 HRs, 9 RBIs. So let’s exclude that for now.

Since May 1, though, in 374 official at bats thru Tuesday, hitting mid-.250s, with 25 HRs and 82 RBIs. That’s close roughly to a 40/120 pace over 550 at bats. Impressive. And he’s hitting solidly in AAA so far. I’d get him to the AFL after this season. Pete did that in 2018: before his big rookie year in 2019.  

Pete hit better in 2018 than Clifford has this year, but Pete turned 24 a few months after that 2018 season. Clifford turned 22 in July, so in the comparable seasons, Clifford is 18 months younger, which matters.  Clifford in 2026 will still be 6 months younger than Pete was in 2018. Clifford at his current age is hitting better than Pete did at the same age. 

Enough of that…

Back to Keith and Jeff….

Keith’s last good season was at age 34.  Jeff will be 34 next year.  Jeff at age 33 is still good. I think he will stay good in 2026, even if his batting title days are over.

As a first baseman, I could see Jeff providing better defense than Pete, and batting him closer to the middle of the order would allow Adaptable Jeff to produce more HRs and RBIs than he normally produces.  

In fact, batting 5th this year, in 45 games he has in 188 PAs (thru Monday) had 11 doubles, a triple, nine HRs, 27 RBIs, and .269/.348/.509. 

Nothing wrong with that. At all.

Doing that with Jeff rather than Pete would allow CHEAP young minors hitters to emerge in Metsville, when they are ready.  Pete plays 162 games a year.  If that departs….That’s a big “job opening” for the up-and-coming.  

If that occurs, Jeff goes to first base, and the games he’s played at 2B and the outfield are picked up by rookies or by moving Baty to second, Vientos to 3rd, etc.

One year of the Squirrel at first base.

Risky? Perhaps.  

Budget-friendly?  Incredibly so.

Worth considering? I’d certainly say so.

After all, some Squirrels have super powers. 

Especially squirrels named Jeff.

FULL-BLOWN COLLAPSE UNDERWAY

3 straight losses to Philly.  In Wednesday’s game, a late rally stalled annd the Mets lost by eight runs.

Another doozy of a Mets collapse underway.

Will the schedule runout before they collapse out of-the Wild Card?

Just 2 games ahead of Cincy and Frisco after losing 5 straight in these “pre-playoff” playoffs.

And…Relax:

The Mets only face a scrub named Jake deGrom on Friday. Texas is surging and just outside of their own league’s Wild Card. They will be “meeting the Mets” with the full intent of stepping right up and beating the Mets.

Question…

Whose idea was it to sign Strikeout Siri?  I’d fire that person. 

I asked, “SIRI, what are Siri’s stats?” 

SIRI was embarrassed to say: 

“Siri is 2 for 26 this year, with 12 Ks. That sucks. Siri-ously.”  

Thanks, SIRI.

At least his two hits numerically exceed Moany Manaea’s one win.

And “Powder Keg” Greg Soto and “Cryin’ Ryan” Helsley? 

They’ve become the Most Hittable People in the World.  Why?  

Sleepless nights, tormented by the aforementioned Collapse Demon. 

Stinky Stanek said misery loves company.

METS TEAM ERA EXPERIENCING HYPERINFLATION 

Just hit 4.00, a level impossible to comprehend after leading the majors in ERA over the season’s first two months. Inflating that ERA like German currency did in the 1920s.

AFL ROSTERS SET

None of the Mets top 100 are included.  Bummer.

Pitchers Troesser, Banks, Hudepohl, and Jenkins, and hitters Suero, Morabito, and D’Andre Smith are the Metsies heading to Cactus country.

EXTREME SPEED - SAW THIS:

“Triple-digit stolen base totals are pretty rare around baseball, but don't tell Dodgers prospect Kendall George. 

 

George, Los Angeles’ No. 25 prospect,has been on a thievin' spree for High-A Great Lakes, where he's nabbed 101 bags so far this season -- the fifth-highest single-season total by a Minor League player since 2005. That's impressive enough, but consider this: He stole an outlandish 70 bases from July 1 to Sept 4.

Not only that, but he has 15 steals in his past five games. It's almost unbelievable.”

Makes AJ Ewing seem lazy by comparison. He’s “only” stolen 69 bases.

Lastly…

R.I.P. Charlie Kirk. 

Incredible young man of amazing character, and a patriotic leader and tour-de-force, heinously assassinated in an increasingly sick society. Just 31 years old, superstar Charlie leaves behind his wife and two young children. 

He impacted me much more than baseball has.  Heartbreaking.