Reddit AMA with DiComo: McNeil's status, Mets' momentum and more

NEW YORK -- Much like the Mets, who arrived back home late Sunday night after two weeks on the road, MLB.com beat reporter Anthony DiComo has been covering them through it all -- their final road trip of the regular season, their clinching come-from-behind Game 161 win over the Braves, their, uh, wild Wild Card Series win over the Brewers and, most recently, their first two National League Division Series games in Philadelphia.

DiComo is tired, of course, but not too tired to take on a few fan questions. He sat down Monday for an hour-long Reddit AMA, or Ask Me Anything. Here’s a sampling of the questions he fielded. (Some parts have been slightly edited for clarity, and the full Reddit AMA can be found here.)

If Jeff McNeil returns, how will he be utilized? Would he replace Jose Iglesias or be more of a bench player and pinch-hitter?
It really depends on how he looks, but if he resembles the McNeil of old, I suspect second base would become something approaching a platoon. Before you guys get all up in arms, yes, Jose Iglesias deserves to start and would probably continue to do so against some right-handers. But he’s also 34 years old and beat up physically a bit. Two or three off-days over the course of the postseason could help all parties involved.

What do you think the odds of McNeil being added to the NLCS roster are if the Mets advance? And if so, who gets dropped? I’m assuming it would be Luisangel Acuña but just want to hear your thoughts on it.
I wouldn’t call it a sure thing, but I do think there’s a very real chance McNeil is added. He just needs to see live pitching at some point over the next five days. Acuña would indeed most likely be the roster casualty. He’s barely played as is, and McNeil’s presence would quash any opportunity for additional reps.

Walks, which had been an issue all year for Mets pitchers, have plummeted precipitously in September/October. Was there something that led to this change? Or are the pitchers all just hitting their stride at the right time?
I don't think when you talk about pitching staffs there’s ever a one-size-fits-all answer. All I can say is credit to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who’s done a magnificent job with this staff as a whole. It's a different story for each pitcher. Also don't discount the role of Francisco Alvarez, who missed the entire month of May -- statistically, by far the worst month of the season for this staff. Alvarez is one of the best pitch framers in baseball, which helps keep the walk rate in check.

Who do you think on the team will be most essential to breaking out and continuing this Mets run?
You could make an argument for the importance of just about anyone in the Mets' lineup. But if you force me to pick one, I'm choosing Brandon Nimmo. His streakiness is so extreme that if he truly gets hot -- like hot hot, as he was in June -- he could carry this team. Nimmo doesn't get enough credit for how good a hitter he is when he's going well. His ceiling is extremely high.

Some broadcasters have been referring to the Game 1 in Atlanta as one of the greatest regular season games not just in our franchise's history, but in the modern history of the sport. Would you agree with that assessment?
I'm not sure I've personally seen a better one. Of course there have been some unbelievable games across the continent over the past 100 years, including some I've probably never heard about and never will. But in modern history, what's been better? The one that sticks out for me is Rays Game 162 in 2011, when they erased a 7-0 deficit and Evan Longoria walked it off against the Yankees to send Tampa Bay to the playoffs.

When you get games that good and that significant at the end of a season, it's hard to compare one against another. At that point, the games almost become like art. Let's just agree that the Mets' win over the Braves was in the 99th percentile of regular-season games all time. Hard to argue against that.

Which win by the Mets impressed you the most this week/year?
It’s easy to say the Atlanta game, but for me, it's probably Wild Card Game 3. That game was lost. The Mets were dead. Done. Going home for the winter. The fact that they somehow came back to win it anyway was legendary.

Don't get me wrong, the Atlanta doubleheader was insane. But the Mets could have lost that game and still made the playoffs pretty easily by winning Game 2. They were not backed into quite the same corner they were in Milwaukee.

Shoutout also to the Bowden Francis game in Toronto. That's one the Mets would have lost 1,000 times out of 1,000 back in the day. Their ability to win it now really made a statement about them.

What is Kodai Senga's most likely usage pattern for the rest of the playoffs?
Think about it like Spring Training. ... He’s just going to stretch out as the month goes along. Three innings and 45-50 pitches in NLDS Game 5. … Four innings and 60ish pitches for his first NLCS start. … By the time the Mets reach the World Series, if they make it there, he should be approaching a world in which he can go 5-6 innings and 90-plus pitches. These days, that's a full starter's workload.

Do you view this Mets team as overachieving, and if so, what can we do in 2025 to have this be an expectation rather than a pleasant surprise?
Yes and no. It's been a wonky season. The Mets underachieved for eight weeks, then overachieved for about the same amount of time. They've played steadier baseball since midsummer, but they’re also a different club with a completely rebuilt bullpen. Top to bottom, this is a better 40-man roster than it was in April.

It's also going to be a completely different team next year, given the dozen or so free agents who won't be around. The 2025 expectations will hinge upon what David Stearns & Co. do this winter.