Franciso Lindor Not Making Excuses, Mets Need to Start Winning

The Mets got off to a slow 2-3 start in the 2021 regular season, but Francisco Lindor knew it was early in the season and the Mets had a long way to go. Prior to the Mets doubleheader yesterday, Lindor spoke with the media about his optimism for the team, as well as with his own performance. 

“I’m in a good spot,” said Lindor on Tuesday prior to the doubleheader. He said he’s been making adjustments in the batting cages rather than during games.

For Lindor, he said the regular season has felt like an extension of spring training thus far “except the games mean a lot.” The Mets have also had to adjust to constantly changing schedules, cancellations, postponements due to COVID-19 and rain-outs. Lindor calls these factors and adjustments “nothing the Mets can’t handle.”

“That’s what good teams do, we adjust, we go through adversity. We’ve gotta take care of it. At the end of the day we get paid to play this game, so we can’t make any excuses, we’ve just gotta go out there and perform,” said Lindor.

Along with getting accustomed to a new team and stadium, Lindor, with the assistance of long-time friend Carlos Beltran, has also been adjusting to living in New York, a much different place than Cleveland. Beltran and Lindor have been in communication since he was traded and Lindor has been seeking advice from the former nine-time All-Star.

“He talked to me before the season started,” said Lindor. Beltran told him to “Be yourself, be real to yourself and to other people, be accountable in everything you do. Just enjoy it. You’re in a great city,” said Beltran of living in New York.

Lindor said Beltran’s been a great friend and mentor to him in his career and that he helped he and his fiancé find a place in New York as well. Lindor said he hasn’t gotten out to explore the city just yet as he’s waiting to be fully vaccinated, but says he’s “loving” New York so far and can’t wait to explore and check out more of the city, including the local eateries.

“If you have any recommendations, send them my way,” Lindor said.

Lindor has been described by manager Luis Rojas and his teammates as a leader on and off the field. As the season gets back to having some normalcy, you can expect Lindor and the Mets to warm up and start performing at the plate as well.

Beltran told Lindor to “have fun, go out there and give everything you got every single day,” and Lindor is doing just that.

“His presence, the way he does things, has definitely impacted guys from the start of camp to this point still,” said Rojas. “He’s outspoken, he’s got great energy and he’s very positive. There’s nothing more you could ask,”

Lindor was a big part of the Mets sweeping the Phillies in yesterday’s doubleheader, as he scored the game-tying run in the eighth inning of Game 1 and had his first extra-base hit of the season with a double in Game 2. He also played exceptional defense at shortstop, turning some crucial double plays.

Offensively there is still room for improvement, as the 27-year-old is currently hitting .174/.355/.217, with just four hits in 23 at-bats, but all of that will come in due time.

For now, Lindor’s impact on this ballclub is already being felt with all of the intangibles he is bringing to the table.