Last night, the game was tied 5-5 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Jeff McNeil was at second, Adeiny Hechavarria was at third, and Amed Rosario was at the plate. In this circumstance, everyone had a job to do.
Rosario’s was obvious. He had to get the hit. Hechavarria had to get a big enough lead to give him an opportunity to score on a bang-bang play. As for McNeil? Well, his only job was to make sure he didn’t do something stupid and make an out. Seriously, all he had to do was to stand on second base. Despite that, McNeil would find a way to impact the game:
And they say Jeff McNeil isn't known for his defense. pic.twitter.com/ZvOMCSgTqs
— Roger Cormier (@yayroger) May 22, 2019
During the duration of the play, McNeil is facing Trea Turner. His eyes are fixed on Turner’s eyes, and he is shifting down the line. He is making zero effort to go to third at all. In fact, watching the play, McNeil didn’t even bother heading to third base. Instead, at the last moment, he slides into Turner’s throwing path. Turner’s throw would wind up being a little high.
For his part, Rosario was busting it down the line. As David Sadler of MLB.com points out, Rosario was running at a speed equivalent to Billy Hamilton or Byron Buxton. Rosario deserves all the credit in the world, and if not for his hustle, there’s zero chance he’s safe.
That said, you can’t help but wonder what impact McNeil had on the play. Rosario beat out that throw by a hair, which means event he slightest hesitation by Turner or his taking just a little off his throw could have led to his being safe. You could argue McNeil’s dancing around created that split second.
And maybe it didn’t. It doesn’t change the fact McNeil didn’t take that play off. Just like he does at the plate and in the field, he found a way to try to impact the game and give his team the best chance to win. In that moment, we saw just what a special player he is and just how lucky the Mets are to have him.
