McNeil gets apology for scoreboard gaffe
Two of the three Mets selected for the All-Star Game in Cleveland experienced something that would've felt right at home at Citi Field: an aggravating and easily avoidable scoreboard error.
When Jeff McNeil came up to bat in the eighth inning, the accompanying picture on the giant video screen was of pitcher Jacob deGrom.
The errors, for once, weren't limited to the Mets.
Dahl's first name is “David,” not “Davis,” and Contreras' first name is “Willson” with two Ls, not one. Cody Bellinger (Dodgers) and Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) were also displayed with Braves logos in the starting lineups.
McNeil didn't think it was funny! The first-time AllStar told the Associated Press that “they had what, two weeks to get ready for this? That can't happen.”
“That was tough, to see deGrom's picture up there. I didn't really like that … I wanted to see my picture up there. I know my family did, too.”
McNeil flew out to left field on the second pitch he saw, and will have to wait at least a year to see a picture of himself at the All-Star Game.
“It was obviously unfortunate about the scoreboard miscues and we apologize those occurred,” the Indians said in a statement to SNY.
David Dahl didn't fare any better. The Colorado outfielder batted right before McNeil and was listed on the scoreboard as “Davis Dahl.”
Same for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. A starter, his first name was missing a letter and spelled “Wilson.”
Big-hitting Cody Bellinger plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ketel Marte is with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but when the starting lineups were shown, they both appeared with the logo of the Atlanta Braves.
The American League won 4-3 and neither team was charged with an error.
“I don't think there was a lot of mistakes on either side,” said NL manager Dave Roberts of the Dodgers. Not on the field, anyway. “When I saw deGrom's face, I was confused. I know there were a couple of others, too,” McNeil said.
“That gives me motivation to make it next year,” he said. “Maybe next time, they'll get my picture right.”