Catch-22: Jeff McNeil

[Edgy MD]

NAME: Jeff McNeil
AGE: 1 30
POSITION: Second Base (and 3b and lf and rf)
NUMBER: 30 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?

[kcmets]

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!

[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