WASHINGTON — Simply name him heart area McNeil.
The Mets used Jeff McNeil in heart area Saturday towards the Washington Nationals, marking the fourth time the second baseman has performed at that spot within the main leagues (three begins). Typically used as an outfielder, McNeil sometimes performs in one of many nook spots, however he has lengthy been asking the Mets for a possibility to play heart.
With Jose Siri injured and Tyrone Taylor getting a day without work, McNeil lastly bought that chance.
The versatile 33-year-old performed some heart area in school at Lengthy Seashore State, and bought into some video games there within the minor leagues. Lengthy Seashore State’s residence ballpark, Blair Discipline, is thought to be a tricky place for outfielders to play, as a result of thick marine layer that may make it troublesome for outfielders to see pop-ups. However heart area is much more of a problem. It’s manse with deep dimensions, and again when McNeil was suiting up for the Dirtbags, the outfield wall was manufactured from cinderblocks (the college has since introduced within the fences and added padding).
A number of the identical center infield fundamentals McNeill possesses will translate to heart area.
“There’s a lot that you have to see,” mentioned supervisor Carlos Mendoza, a former infielder. “Whether it’s pitch movement, reading swings when a guy’s barrel is up front or trying to go the other way, the first step. I think there’s a little bit of difference.”
The most important distinction is with regards to monitoring fly balls.
“When you talk about routes in the infield, it’s more like crossover, but when you’re in the outfield, you have to clear your hips,” Mendoza mentioned. “But I think in this case, in center field, and with him being so used to playing in the middle of the diamond it might help.”
McNeil has additionally performed third base and might play shortstop, however the Mets don’t want him to with Luisangel Acuña because the utility man proper now. However Mendoza can get each of their bats within the lineup through the use of McNeil in heart area, particularly since Juan Soto performs every single day in proper area.
Brandon Nimmo might slide over to play heart area, and the Mets have mentioned they’re comfy with that, however left area isn’t as taxing.
“I think it’s just more of keeping Nimmo fresher somehow,” Mendoza mentioned. “I could see, once we get going here, having Nimmo play center field, but with what he went through in spring training with his knee and all that, I think we just continue to build him up, even though he’s pretty much playing every day and feeling good. I wanted to keep him, for now, in left field, but I could see this changing here at some point throughout the summer.”
Nimmo battled a sore knee in March that required an injection.
McNeil has 12 defensive runs saved within the outfield in any respect three positions since 2019, and a couple of OAA.
“He’s an infielder that plays everywhere with good instincts,” Mendoza mentioned. “He’s out there right now.”
TEQUILA FOR TYLOR
Proper-hander Tylor Megill has a scorchingly low 1.09 ERA after 5 begins this season. Due to a sinker, he’s been in a position to scale back the quantity of onerous contact this season and get extra outs on the bottom. Hitters aren’t barreling him up like they did prior to now.
“It’s a lot harder for hitters to play on two different fastballs,” Megill mentioned. “You’ve got a four-seam and a sinker, so it’s more like, what are they going to choose? You’ve gotta pick one fastball kind of swing. And right now it’s working.”
Megill is throwing extra strikes and attacking the zone. The Mets see a extra mature, assured pitcher.
However there might be one thing else at play as effectively. His mother, Julie, has taken to social media earlier than his begins, posting movies of herself doing tequila pictures for good luck. It’s even led a handful of Mets followers to do the identical.
Megill tends to avoid social media, so he was unaware. Nonetheless, he’s not sad with the outcomes.
“I guess if it works, why not?” he mentioned.
Megill will make his subsequent begin Sunday at Nationals Park within the third recreation of a four-game collection.
GOING STREAKING
Whereas Kodai Senga’s scoreless innings streak got here to an finish this weekend at 20 1/3, the Mets beginning pitchers are nonetheless using one other streak, having gone 13 video games with out permitting a house run. The staff report of 23 video games was set in 1969.
