Mets fans are usually not like this, but the booing rained down on Francisco Lindor the other night is inexcusable, and here’s why…
If Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is having second thoughts about tying himself to Citi Field for the next ten years, then maybe he should be given the assault of boos he was greeted with the other night.
It wasn’t all fans, and that needs to be noted, but the boos were loud enough to be heard, and therefore can’t be dismissed.
The Mets have the premier shortstop in baseball, or close to it, and he happens to be off to one of the worse starts he could have imagined, as seen in this table below.
Lindor knows it, and he’s not shying away from it, as witnessed by his straight-up comments about the booing to the New York Daily News.
Lindor seems as perplexed by the booing as anyone, but wisely and professionally, he held back from voicing something that must be gnawing at him.
Mets Leave Lindor Walking The Plank
Diplomatic as he can ever be expected to be, Lindor assumes the blame and all of the responsibility for what is (truly) the worst start of any All-Star player this year, and far from what the Mets were hoping for.
Where is the support from his teammates? Surely it’s there, but where are those unheard voices?
If it’s all about the money in his new contract, then so be it, but how fickle can a segment of Mets fans get when only one-sixth of the 2021 season has been played – before they realize one of the best in all of baseball is taking the field in their home ballpark every night?
Can we please not forget that Francisco Lindor is only 27, and he is in the midst of moving to a new league, a new city (albeit the capital of major league baseball media) while adjusting to a whole new slate of pitchers?
As it is in baseball, those will be the same fans rising from seats when the Mets and Lindor hit their stride, because let it not be forgotten there’s a lot of warranted blame that can be assessed to a feeble Mets offense so far this season.
But that shouldn’t be the point either, which is that fickle Mets fans or fans of any other team for that matter (think Angels fans booing Mike Trout) have no place in baseball.
Mets: No Worries, Lindor’s Got This
The good news is Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor doesn’t need my support or yours. He’s got this!
Though again, he has to be wondering, “What have I gotten myself into here?”
It’s happened before when the Mets collar a proven All-Star player like Mike Piazza or Keith Hernandez from another team, and suddenly the lights of New York shine brightly with anticipation and visions of a World Series title.
The cream always rises to the top, and it will – Francisco Lindor is coming, and the rest of the league better watch out.
Here’s What Readers Are Saying…
Author’s Note:
Readers are decided, as you will see. My view is in the minority, though forgive me, I still don’t understand why – unless it’s all about the money.
Peter BrezinskiThey had this same discussion yesterday on ” The Michael Kay Show”. Michael doesn’t get it and neither does the author of this piece. The fans are paying Lindor’s salary in some fashion. When they don’t receive what they’re expecting, they respond by booing. This isn’t new, it’s been happening since the invention of the sport. Lindor isn’t used to this since he wasn’t treated like this in Cleveland. He should have known this reaction was a strong possibility in New York. People who say the fans, like this naive author, have obviously had their heads in the sand. If you don’t like the booing, change the channel!
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
