No knob, no problem: McNeil swears by odd bat

McNeil's 1st career hit NEW YORK -- Clustered in a rack on one end of the Mets' dugout, different players' bats are typically identifiable only by the numbers stuck to their knobs and the names on the barrels. But one group of bats, belonging to Jeff McNeil, stands out.

Unlike nearly every other player in Major League Baseball, McNeil uses a bat with no knob. Instead of mushrooming out near the bottom, McNeil's lumber widens gradually toward the end. Although his bats are of average size -- 34 inches, 32 ounces -- McNeil says the unorthodox weight distribution gives him more control.

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"It just feels lighter because it's so balanced," McNeil said. "The weight's throughout…