Explanation for McSquirrel's late season swoon?

[Frayed Knot]

Turns out he had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery shortly after the season ended.

Apparently there was some pain when he swung and so his stats heading into September [.259/.350/.454]

turned into [.243/.335/.411] for the full season after being dragged down by a horrid final month: .187/.274/.270

btw, there are apparently two different types of TOS, vascular and neurogenic.

Neurogenic is the one usually associated with pitchers and has a longer recovery period.

Vascular is the more serious one medically, but it also has a better success rate and requires a shorter recovery.

McNeil had the vascular version and is expected to be a full participant in S.T.

[Centerfield]

I don't understand the underappreciation of Jeff McNeil. Even with his bad September, his final OPS puts him like top 6 or 7 among 2B in the league. His defense is average. His contract is reasonable. I see no reason not to keep McNeil until someone forces their way into the lineup.

[Gwreck]

I don't understand the underappreciation of Jeff McNeil. Even with his bad September, his final OPS puts him like top 6 or 7 among 2B in the league. His defense is average. His contract is reasonable. I see no reason not to keep McNeil until someone forces their way into the lineup.

 

And he plays a multitude of positions.

Every year since about 2020 I’ve been of the opinion that the Mets would be well served by not even factoring McNeil in the first instance when trying to fill out a lineup, knowing that he’ll get 700 PAs anyway because there’s always slumps/injuries/etc. and he can be fit in to play almost anywhere.

[Edgy MD]

I am crazy about McNeil. On a team that lost a big chunk of their 2024 character when they let José Iglesias walk, and seemingly never found their 2025 character, they still had Jeff and his red ass to help define them.

That said, I am a real crank about a hitting philosophy that has taken two lefthanded that were as distinctive as McNeil and Nimmo, and seemingly turned them into something close to the same guy — a guy who is indeed valuable, but is a lesser hitter than either of them originally had been.

[kcmets]

I see no reason not to keep McNeil until someone forces their way into the lineup.

And he plays a multitude of positions.

 

Who would be the emergency catcher if McNutty went elsewhere?

[Gwreck]

Tyrone Taylor.

[kcmets]

I was being fahseeshuss.

I'm in Camp McNutty.

[MFS62]

Thanks for the explanation.

I had thought it was because he was being moved to different positions on a day-to-day basis after being just (mainly) a second baseman for years. Ballplayers like a routine (warmup, pregame meal, etc.). Some people handle change better than others.

Who doesn't like McSquirrel?

Hope he is fully recovered by the start of next season.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd be happy to see him return, but he is also very tradeable so I wouldn't be surprised if he was moved.

[smg58]

The Mets were sufficiently well-covered in the infield that if they had any reason to think McNeil wasn't right -- and TOS doesn't strike me as something you can easily hide, especially if you abruptly stop hitting -- he should have sat. Mauricio got criminally few ABs in the last two months, playing behind a second baseman who became severely compromised in September and who had himself been returned to the infield to accommodate a new centerfielder who was simply bad.

 

That said, I am a real crank about a hitting philosophy that has taken two lefthanded that were as distinctive as McNeil and Nimmo, and seemingly turned them into something close to the same guy — a guy who is indeed valuable, but is a lesser hitter than either of them originally had been.

 

Preach, brother.

[MFS62]

That said, I am a real crank about a hitting philosophy that has taken two lefthanded that were as distinctive as McNeil and Nimmo, and seemingly turned them into something close to the same guy — a guy who is indeed valuable, but is a lesser hitter than either of them originally had been.

 

This article supports what you said about Nimmo:

https://www.amazinavenue.com/new-york-mets-season-review/87486/mets-nimmo-2025-season-review

Later

[The Hot Corner]

I believe that having been shifted from lead-off or second in the order to 4th ("clean up") or fifth in the order likely played into a change in his approach at the plate. Traditionally, the top 2 hitters are viewed as the "table setters" to get on base for the "sluggers" to drive them in. Moving to the middle of the line up, would likely cause him to feel the need to hit the ball with more authority and drive the ball rather than be as selective and work walks to pass as he would have at the top of the order. I know that the traditional batting order roles have shifted (Ohtani hitting leadoff), but I believe it still plays into the thinking and approach of many hitters.

I have always felt that Nimmo was well suited to hit in the second spot behind Lindor, because Nimmo can work long counts, draw walks, and bats LH. All of those attributes provide greater opportunities for Lindor to steal bases and get into scoring position while hopefully creating a greater number of RBI opportunities for your best hitter (Soto) in the 3 hole. Many people view line up construction differently, but I'm old school in my thinking.

[Edgy MD]

I do not know if the lineup shift precipitated the change in approach. I think it may have been vice-versa. But I think a guy who reaches at a .400 clip is valuable wherever he is hitting in the lineup, and I would not want him changing his philosophy to be a better fit.

Situational hitting is great. Remaking your overall approach and offensive value system based on a semi-regular lineup assignment, not so much.