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MIAMI – At the pre-match meeting, Jeff McNeil told his teammates he would put them ahead 1-0 on Sunday against the Marlins.
Mickey Callaway told McNeil, "I want to see a game of 11 shots from you and you hit a circuit."
McNeil responded with a smile saying, "I'll do it on the first pitch."
The Sandy Alcantara stars were on the mound and McNeil delivered that first home race as the Mets took that 1-0 lead and made it a 6-2 win over the Marlins on Sunday at Marlins Park and their first win in the series on the road in 102 days.
It was also against the Marlins.
Since then, a lot has happened – for the most part – at 42-51 Mets.
Something good has happened, too. McNeil leads all baseball with a .349 average and shows no sign of giving up.
"It's fascinating once you've known him, as a human being and as a hitter," Todd Frazier told The Post about McNeil after the Mets finally left town with a smile winner. "It makes me think of a hitter like Juan Pierre, put the bat on the ball, not so fast, but it's a table preparer. He's fighting. "
A match scout has also drawn a comparison between the left-handed batter and McNeil and is getting ready for this one: "He has a little George Brett in him," said the scout. "He does not have the power of Brett, but his way of leaning back and leaning his back, his ability to put the barrel in the ball, it's a bit like Brett."
McNeil does not lack self-confidence and when I mentioned what the scout said, he smiled and said about Brett's comparison: "I can see it."
Frazier noted, "That's good, their positions are the same."
McNeil has also been compared to Ichiro, his way of hitting the ball where it is thrown. It's a nice, elite company.
The home race was the second inning of McNeil's career. He also hit one of the Yankees on July 3rd. That day, the right defensive player also eliminated Curtis Granderson on the plate to end the second run.
Despite all McNeil's bravery, he can be tough on himself and that's something veteran Frazier is trying to make McNeil understand and lighten up a bit more as his career progresses.
"It's good to be tough on yourself," said Frazier, "do not make it detrimental to your approach.
"He takes each bat to heart, which is good in a way. He had the home race, but he was still frustrated by the other attackers. I once told him, "You understand that you are going to get your success in any case, and once you understand, you can take your 1 to 4 days and know that tomorrow is a new day. And when you ride and [go] 0-0 for 4, do not take it too much to heart and understand how good you are, it will be much better.
"I tell him," You're the best baseball hitter right now if we're looking for a batting average, "said Frazier." I'm not saying you're better than [Mike] Trout, but batting average, you are the best hitter in baseball. Pinch yourself. It's amazing. & # 39;
"It's like," I must do better. "You should see him after the match when he's sitting at his locker and I know he's thinking, it's all right, but I'm going to tell him," You have two blows today, get up and take a shower, we'll take what you're doing every day of the week, we know you're going to get on the base. "
"The sky is the limit for him because he can put the ball where he wants it."
McNeil leading, Michael Conforto in second, Pete Alonso in third and Dom Smith in fourth, followed by Robinson Cano, who scored for a second day in a row, the offensive is recovering a little.
The year was terrible for the Mets, but Jeff McNeil did a gold medal.
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