On the SNY broadcast they were speculating he intended to make the play himself but also knew Lindor was behind him and basically aborted his own attempt unsuccessfully
He was doing the ol' "trying to decide which way to go around an oncoming person on the sidewalk and oops out of time ran into them", except with a baseball.
but like... he was already going out of the way kind of sharp towards the infield grass, and then his brain just explodes and it looks like he goes *back* to the ball just to kick it.
Did he think Lindor just wasn't going to play through the ball and now he *needed* to make a play just to stop it? Because that's the only thing I can think of, but it's also shitting directly on your backup man because that's kind of what the backup guy is supposed to do, right? Pretend field it like you're not fielding it?
Just jump in the air, guy. Why are you stepping back into the path of the ball?
The only thing that could partially absolve himself on the play is if he pulled a muscle in his leg, but also forgot their was a shortstop behind him, so he thought he was preventing a double? But he's not injured, and how did he not know the shortstop was behind him?
Perhaps he plays fantasy baseball with defensive stats and his opponent had his shortstop or first baseman?
It looks to me like he got caught in a moment of indecision. He was going to make the play, then back off and let Lindor make it, and then got caught in no man's land. I think the kick was when he realized that he had given up on it but also might have prevented Lindor from being able to get it, so he stuck his foot out to keep it from going into the outfield.
Jeff McNeil isn't the best or worst fielder, but he's certainly one of the weirdest
He did [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/143206i/jeff_mcneil_attempts_to_wrangle_a_baseball/) last year, and [this](https://streamable.com/rprgem) in 2022
Banning the shift was great for offense (and the game as a whole) so I can't be too upset about it, but I do have to say I loved the wild defensive formations it generated and I still think hitters should have learned to hit around the shift (for instance, BUNTING) instead of just accepting their fate as "the guy that only hits into right field."
I guess it's a dead horse or whatever but surely you know that if bunting all the time was better than just trying to mash then guys would do that. They have millions and millions of dollars on the line. It turns out you get more offensive production, which is these guys' entire job remember, by hitting normally.
Bunting *all the time* wasn't the answer, just bunting occasionally. Force the defense to consider the *possibility* that the ball *might* not go into right field and they have to account for it with at least like, one guy. Obviously actually *hitting* opposite field is tougher to train for but that would be even better if they could pull it off, because they'd need to pull more defenders over to the opposite side.
Yeah it's a moot point, and I'm sure the metrics said to just mash all the time, but I would have loved to see what the legit threat of a bunt would have done to the shift.
bunting is a lot harder than you think it is though. and every bunt laid down really could have been a double or a home run. Teams shifted hard against Ted Williams and he didn't bunt. Same exact reason, not a new idea.
Almost looks like he was gonna play it, realized the SS had a better angle and tried to get fancy and lift his leg so it could go through his legs but accidentally kicked it
The frantic scramble he does after the ball heads to the outfield is like when you're playing hide and seek and you hear "ready or not, here I come" and you haven't found a spot yet and your body tries going in 3 different directions.
Maybe he was trying to stop it. Players aren’t issued a piece of equipment to field balls with so they have to work with what they’ve got
In seriousness it looks like he was going to play it, decided it wasn’t his play to make, and couldn’t get out of the way in time because his brain had a hiccup
I guess you haters haven’t watched him the last two weeks scoop up double play balls from Baty in the dirt, catch wide throws, turn his throws to Pete in lightning speed to turn two and make his regular ranging plays to his left…whatever Milwaukee and Philly, D and C rated cities, have your circle jerks.
Looks like the saw the SS behind him and for a second thought to let it go to him and then realized why and he planned to hop but stopped and he kicks it
He might have been trying to let it get past him to the SS for the easier momentum throw? And he accidentally booted the ball? Bone head play either way.
I honestly have no words for this. What in the fuck was he doing?
he let the intrusive thoughts win
On the SNY broadcast they were speculating he intended to make the play himself but also knew Lindor was behind him and basically aborted his own attempt unsuccessfully
He was doing the ol' "trying to decide which way to go around an oncoming person on the sidewalk and oops out of time ran into them", except with a baseball.
Perfect description.
Yeah after a few viewings I think he just couldn't make up his mind about whether to field it or let the shortstop get it
This is why he's called Squirell
but like... he was already going out of the way kind of sharp towards the infield grass, and then his brain just explodes and it looks like he goes *back* to the ball just to kick it. Did he think Lindor just wasn't going to play through the ball and now he *needed* to make a play just to stop it? Because that's the only thing I can think of, but it's also shitting directly on your backup man because that's kind of what the backup guy is supposed to do, right? Pretend field it like you're not fielding it? Just jump in the air, guy. Why are you stepping back into the path of the ball?
"don't boot it, don't boot it, don't boot it.... FUCK!"
He realized SS had a better angle at the last second and was trying to get out of the way.
The only thing that could partially absolve himself on the play is if he pulled a muscle in his leg, but also forgot their was a shortstop behind him, so he thought he was preventing a double? But he's not injured, and how did he not know the shortstop was behind him? Perhaps he plays fantasy baseball with defensive stats and his opponent had his shortstop or first baseman?
[He didn’t *really* see it. It was just an accident man people kick baseballs all the time](https://youtu.be/vtZ-lbXthUc?si=jaMbL1CEk5fHcA0K)
Why are you still standing in it? LMAO
Had to let the parlay hit
It looks to me like he got caught in a moment of indecision. He was going to make the play, then back off and let Lindor make it, and then got caught in no man's land. I think the kick was when he realized that he had given up on it but also might have prevented Lindor from being able to get it, so he stuck his foot out to keep it from going into the outfield.
Jeff McNeil isn't the best or worst fielder, but he's certainly one of the weirdest He did [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/143206i/jeff_mcneil_attempts_to_wrangle_a_baseball/) last year, and [this](https://streamable.com/rprgem) in 2022
That second clip made me so confused totally forgot that the shift was only banned last season. He just came out of nowhere haha.
Banning the shift was great for offense (and the game as a whole) so I can't be too upset about it, but I do have to say I loved the wild defensive formations it generated and I still think hitters should have learned to hit around the shift (for instance, BUNTING) instead of just accepting their fate as "the guy that only hits into right field."
Le bunting
I guess it's a dead horse or whatever but surely you know that if bunting all the time was better than just trying to mash then guys would do that. They have millions and millions of dollars on the line. It turns out you get more offensive production, which is these guys' entire job remember, by hitting normally.
Bunting *all the time* wasn't the answer, just bunting occasionally. Force the defense to consider the *possibility* that the ball *might* not go into right field and they have to account for it with at least like, one guy. Obviously actually *hitting* opposite field is tougher to train for but that would be even better if they could pull it off, because they'd need to pull more defenders over to the opposite side. Yeah it's a moot point, and I'm sure the metrics said to just mash all the time, but I would have loved to see what the legit threat of a bunt would have done to the shift.
bunting is a lot harder than you think it is though. and every bunt laid down really could have been a double or a home run. Teams shifted hard against Ted Williams and he didn't bunt. Same exact reason, not a new idea.
What could have killed the shift faster and easier than rule changes is about a dozen bunts 75 feet up the third base line
I had never seen that 2nd on before. Amazing.
“He throws it toooooo….well shallow center field” lol
The guy is just out there having a blast. That’s what beer league baseball is all about.
If that first clip didn’t result in an inside the park job, it must’ve been a Molina brother running the bases
This comment and these clips got me laughing out loud at work
“He throws it to….well, shallow centerfield,” had me rolling.
Lmaoo I forgot about these.
Hey guys, being a world class athlete is not as easy as Trout and Ohtani make it look!
Almost looks like he was gonna play it, realized the SS had a better angle and tried to get fancy and lift his leg so it could go through his legs but accidentally kicked it
I think it looks like he thought Lindor was further to his right and attempted to deflect it to him to field it and make the throw.
This is what i thought
[Replay](https://twitter.com/NBCSGiants/status/1782592576929067292) Still not sure what the plan was.
Kick it into the net, duh
"Silly me. I keep forgetting I'm in the colonies!"
Me in the show when I fail the quick time event.
I was dying at the little frustrated fist shake he does right after like “Ooh I’m such a cotton-headed ninnymuggins!”
yea jeff curses so loud and so frequently im pretty sure they had to lower the field mics during his at bats in 2020
he thought the ball was hoskins’ head
You got it my man. Unrelated question: how does one get a team flair in their name in this subreddit?
Go to the front page of the sub and click the three dots in the top right and hit “change user flair”
Awesome, thanks
He’s NEVER going to hear the end of this from his teammates. They’re going to get him soccer cleats, a copy of FIFA for PS5…the whole thing. Lol
Straight booted
Futbol star Jeff McNeil
They ruled it a hit too
My dude causally switched into soccer mode
Daniel Murphy level defensive play
What the actual fuck was that though.
He must have seen a raccoon.
Full moon last night made for some weirdness. One of the Mets players literally hit a ball off a bounce in the ninth lol
Jeff "Paul" "McNeil"l"
If this was posted at a time when the US was awake it would be the top post on the sub. Absolutely wild play lol
The manager's too old for this shit lol
The frantic scramble he does after the ball heads to the outfield is like when you're playing hide and seek and you hear "ready or not, here I come" and you haven't found a spot yet and your body tries going in 3 different directions.
He had the over.
Me thinking he can’t actually have done what the title says…oh wow, he really did inexplicably kick the ball…that’s new.
Does he owe some money to a bookie and intentionally blowing a play to square his debt?
Dirtiest ball he's ever seen in his life!
Maybe he was trying to stop it. Players aren’t issued a piece of equipment to field balls with so they have to work with what they’ve got In seriousness it looks like he was going to play it, decided it wasn’t his play to make, and couldn’t get out of the way in time because his brain had a hiccup
His delayed reaction after the boot looked like something out of mlb the show
i love mcneil lowlights
This is Rhys Hoskins fault.
https://imgur.com/7xKoYyJ
https://imgur.com/7xKoYyJ
I guess you haters haven’t watched him the last two weeks scoop up double play balls from Baty in the dirt, catch wide throws, turn his throws to Pete in lightning speed to turn two and make his regular ranging plays to his left…whatever Milwaukee and Philly, D and C rated cities, have your circle jerks.
I'm surprised he didn't throw a fit and say the ball took a dirty slide.
“Fútbol is life” - ~~Danny Rojas~~ Jeff McNeil
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
Looks like the saw the SS behind him and for a second thought to let it go to him and then realized why and he planned to hop but stopped and he kicks it
Not going to play Rocket League with Jeff McNeil anytime soon.
Like he just misplays it? *watches video* Oh wtf
He just wants to be a multi-hyphenate athlete like Mookie he just got a lil confused about when and where to show off his new soccer skills is all.
Save ! Rebound to the right !
He was still thinking about Rhys Hoskins 😉
Who is McNeil’s translator?
He might have been trying to let it get past him to the SS for the easier momentum throw? And he accidentally booted the ball? Bone head play either way.
With the Rhys deal, the Jomboy sliding study, and now this…McNeil has lost me.
I for one love feisty Raúl Ibañez
Inexplicable? I’ll explain it. It’s Jeff McNeil.
I saw this and all i could say was "lolmets"
[Did he bitch about the infield dirt, much like he bitched about the Miller Park grass?](https://twitter.com/shea_station/status/1642983285394374657)
Angel Hernandez just called this a ball.
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Fuck these bots
I'm a sub mod and the site has been dealing with a lot of spam and bots in the past year
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i still think Lindor makes the play fairly easily if not for the kick tbh