It's time for New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza to make a permanent lineup change that's long overdue

There's a permanent lineup change that New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza needs to make that's long overdue. 

The Mets currently have three positions in their lineup that are filled by the same guys every single day -- Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Pete Alonso at first base, and Juan Soto in right field.

Mark Vientos is holding down third base most nights and Brandon Nimmo starts most games in left field (Vientos and Nimmo get a day off more often than the three names mentioned above). Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens, meanwhile, split duties at catcher (with Alvarez receiving the bulk of the playing time). 

That leaves second base and center field as the positions that rotate among non-regulars. 

The situation at second base, specifically, needs to change. 

Jeff McNeil, who missed the first month of the season due to injury, has been receiving semi-regular starts at second base over the last several weeks, despite the fact that the Mets have a premier infield defender in Luisangel Acuña who is hitting .295 with a .357 OBP so far this season. 

Acuña's elite glove, combined with his elite speed (9 stolen bases so far this season) and high average, should make him a no-brainer to be the everyday starter at second base. Anytime he's not at second base, the infield defense is automatically at risk of giving up more hits due to McNeil's average (at best) range. 

That's not to mention the fact that McNeil is hitting just .229 with a .282 OBP since his return from the IL late last month .

If you erase McNeil's batting title in 2022 or his All-Star game appearances in 2019 and 2022, you'd think the Mets were insane for starting him at second base on a semi-regular basis. 

Since the end of the 2022 season, which coincides with the elimination of the infield shift, McNeil is hitting .250 with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases (295 games). 

Productive, but certainly not starter worthy on a team with World Series aspirations. 

I think McNeil still provides value due to his versatility. I think he's a solid option to play in the outfield to spell Nimmo or even Soto (who could both DH from time to time). With Jesse Winker sidelined for a couple of months, McNeil could also provide some value as a left-handed DH option. Maybe he can even take some reps at first base to become a backup option for Alonso (while also giving Alonso some time at DH here and there). 

But giving McNeil anything more than a spot start at second base over Acuña at this point (assuming everyone is healthy) seems like a massive misuse of a valuable asset.