Catch-22: Jeff McNeil

[Edgy MD]

NAME: Jeff McNeil

AGE: [CROSSOUT]1[/CROSSOUT] 30

POSITION: Second Base (and 3b and lf and rf)

NUMBER: [CROSSOUT]30[/CROSSOUT] 1

NICKNAME: "Squirrel," "Flying Squirrel," "JT," "McNutty

fWAR IN 2021: 0.5

ZIPS PROJECTION FOR 2022: 2.8



I'm Jeff McNeil, working on my third uniform number in five seasons. I may be the Mets best contact hitter since ... John Olerud? But I also have a chronic case of red ass and a not-unrelated head-in-ass condition that can flare up on occasion. I was pretty damn bad last year, but I was rock solid for three years before that, and there's no reason to think that ability isn't still within me, looking to come out.



But those conditions can make a guy counterproductive for a stretch — in part because they aren't conducive to teaminess. I need to be teamier, and stay on top of my game. Can I do this? If so, what sort of outlook do you see for my 2022?



[FIMG=373]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/Jeff-McNeil-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all[/FIMG] [FIMG=327]https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/413353/w640xh480_GettyImages-1262478592.jpg?ts=1597339930[/FIMG]

[FIMG=329]https://elitesportsny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Jeff_McNeil.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=371]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/t_2x1/t_w1536/mlb/sk9pg5iqona3ns23yboe.jpg[/FIMG]

[kcmets]

Edgy MD wrote: AGE: 1

That's quite a beard for a toddler-to-be.

[smg58]

.320/.380/.480, with 90 runs. Like Dom Smith, he tried unsuccessfully to play through an injury last season and the Mets will be rewarded for not selling low.

[Edgy MD]

Neighborhood kids keep messing with the displays, switching the ages with uni numbers and the like.

[roger_that]

Big year. He and Nimmo at the top of the lineup are the new Dykstra and Backman, Batman and Robin, Butch and Sundance, Brad and Angela. Bust-out year. Both have something to prove and they're gonna put up big numbers in 2022.

[kcmets]

Not sure I buy the need to be teamier slant nor overly red-ass.



He'll be fine, top tier NL 2B guy both offensively and defensively in 2022.

[Edgy MD]

I can be a demonstratively combatative guy!



[media=youtube]a7QW87_q8Po[/media]

[Lefty Specialist]

Eh. Still trying to figure out if he wants to hit for power or average. .260/10/50 and below average at defense.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Yeah I see him hovering between 290 and 250 and winding up at 268/320/410 7 homers, 20 doubles