Game recap August 6: I love Jeff McNeil and you should too

The New York Mets are a very interesting team to support. One day, you are furious – steaming mad – that Mickey Callaway is batting Jose Reyes over Jeff McNeil and Luis Guillorme. And then after a few losses, you’re saying, “well, I see some glimpses of hope here.” And that is exactly what last night’s win was against the Cincinnati Reds.

By no means am I optimistic about the future (I support the Mets), but yesterday showed the brilliance of Noah Syndergaard (until he lost control in the seventh inning) and none other than the knobless bat sensation, Mr. Jeff McNeil.

McNeil has been a revelation for the Mets since his promotion on July 24. The second baseman, who flashes a sweet swing that extends through the strike zone, was discussed quite extensively in our midseason prospect report.

The Mets got to the grossly overpaid and aging Homer Bailey with a flurry of hits in the first inning. Bailey just did not and does not have it. The three singles by Amed Rosario, McNeil and Wilmer Flores were a sign of what was to come.

Thanks to a Kevin Plawecki home run and another Flores single, the Mets were up 5-0 in the fourth and Bailey was run from the game.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, before Thor’s loss of command, McNeil – who ended the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, rocketed a ball off of Keury Mella into the upper deck of Citi Field for an incorrectly estimated 400 feet.

Newly acquired Bobby Wahl presented the home crowd with a scare as he proceeded to walk Joey Votto with the bases load with a 6-0 lead, strike out Scooter Gennett and then allow a two-run single to the insanely underrated Eugenio Suarez. Thankfully for Mickey Callaway and co., Wahl was able to strike out former Yankee Mason Williams to end the inning.

Robert Gsellman and Jerry Blevins were able to shut the door, finishing out a game that, perhaps foolishly, gave the Mets’ fans and, well, the Mets, hope.

Hopefully, Jeff McNeil gets to produce games like this for the rest of the year and on Opening Day 2019.

Photo credit: Andy Marlin – USA Today Sports