When it comes to New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil, his unique approach at the plate has both made him great and caused some struggles. The Mets are now faced with the challenge of fixing what made him successful in the first place.
Recently, McNeil has been batting in the ninth spot, a change from his usual position. The Mets’ co-hitting coach, Jeremy Barnes, explains that they are trying to simplify McNeil’s approach and eliminate some of the unnecessary movement in his swing. They want him to stay back in the batter’s box and focus on a cleaner swing path that will result in more line drives.
Monitoring McNeil’s line-drive and popup rates is crucial, according to Barnes. Although his line-drive rate is not far off from his career average, many of them haven’t translated into hits. Barnes emphasizes the importance of continuing to put line drives out there, even if they don’t immediately result in hits.
Despite his struggles, McNeil has responded well to losing playing time to Jose Iglesias and has been putting in work both offensively and defensively. However, this hard work has yet to yield positive results. In a recent game against the Miami Marlins, McNeil was the only player in the starting lineup who failed to record a hit.
It’s crucial for the Mets to get McNeil back on track, regardless of their view of him as a part of their future. With a long-term contract and some positional versatility, McNeil could be an asset if he returns to his previous level of performance. However, trading him now would likely result in lowball offers due to his recent struggles.
Another player making a return to the Mets is closer Edwin Díaz. Despite his struggles this season, manager Carlos Mendoza believes that Díaz is essential to solidifying the back end of their bullpen. The Mets have tried other options, but none have been consistently successful. Díaz’s return brings a sharper slider and increased confidence, which Mendoza believes will make a significant difference.
With Díaz’s return, the Mets will have to make a corresponding move. Lefty Danny Young is expected to be optioned to the minor leagues, preserving bullpen depth. While Young has pitched well this season, the Mets prioritize maintaining depth, especially with their bullpen’s recent shakiness.
Looking ahead, the Mets plan to stick with their current starting rotation for the next seven games. However, given their upcoming schedule, which includes several off days, they may opt for a four-man rotation during that time span. This decision will help manage the workload of their starting pitchers and ensure they stay fresh.
In injury news, pitcher Kodai Senga is progressing well in his throwing program after needing to restart it. He recently completed his second bullpen session and expressed confidence in pitching this season. The next step for Senga is to face live batters before beginning a rehab assignment.
Overall, the Mets face the challenge of getting McNeil back on track and solidifying their bullpen with Díaz’s return. Their decisions regarding the lineup and rotation will play a crucial role in their success moving forward. Additionally, the progress of injured players like Senga will be essential in bolstering the team’s depth.