Francisco Lindor plans to pay up if his double-play spouse leads the National League in hitting.
Early this season, the Mets shortstop informed Jeff McNeil he would purchase him a car if McNeil gained the batting title this 12 months. McNeil completed Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep of the Nationals with a .326 batting reasonable, 4 issues forward of Freddie Freeman for the NL lead with one sport last.
Lindor, requested through The Post on Tuesday if the car be offering used to be nonetheless legitimate, spoke back within the affirmative.
“But what kind of car I don’t know,” Lindor mentioned. “That was not specified in the negotiations.”
McNeil is trying to change into the primary Mets participant to win a batting title since Jose Reyes in 2011. Reyes secured his title at the ultimate day of the season through bunting for a success in his first at-bat after which departing the sport.
“It’s a little nerve racking and kind of fun,” McNeil mentioned after the Mets gained 4-2 and 8-0. “It’s the only award I can really look forward to. I am never going to lead the majors in home runs. It’s kind of the one that is attainable for me and I am super excited with my day today.”
McNeil went 2-for-3 within the first sport of the doubleheader. In the nightcap he homered within the first inning and completed 1-for-5.
Still to be made up our minds is how McNeil will manner Wednesday’s regular-season finale. Among the chances is he may take a seat out to give protection to his lead.
“Before the Braves series I knew I was somewhat close, but I wasn’t expecting to be where I am right now,” McNeil mentioned. “It’s been a pretty great last seven games. I got hot at the right time and I am super happy I have a chance to do it.”
Lindor mentioned he is in a position to have fun a McNeil batting title.
“I hope he wins it,” Lindor mentioned.
Lindor hasn’t dropped any hints about what sort of car may well be anticipating him if he wins the title, in accordance to McNeil.
“I’ll have a conversation with him,” McNeil mentioned.
Though Starling Marte isn’t swinging a bat or throwing but, supervisor Buck Showalter hasn’t misplaced hope the outfielder will go back for the postseason. Marte has been sidelined for over a month with a fractured heart finger.
“I am trying to be optimistic about it,” Showalter mentioned. “I can tell in Starling’s face he is very frustrated.”
The Mets named 3rd baseman Brett Baty as their Minor League Position Player of the Year and Dominic Hamel as Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Baty owned a .315/.410./.533 slash line with 19 homers and 60 RBIs for Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He spent two weeks with the Mets earlier than present process surgical treatment to restore a torn thumb ligament.
Hamel, a right-hander, pitched for Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn this season, going 10-3 with a three.25 ERA in 25 appearances, most commonly as a starter. Hamel struck out 145 batters in 119 innings.