(WFAN) Mets second baseman Javier Baez and shortstop Francisco Lindor on Tuesday apologized for their recent controversial thumbs-down gestures that Baez previously described as a retaliation to fans who have been booing the struggling team.
On Sunday, Baez, Lindor and outfielder Kevin Pillar were seen holding up a thumbs-down after recording a hit, and Baez explained after the game that the fans “are going to get booed when we have success.” He walked those comments back Tuesday, saying the gesture was more toward his own dugout.
“I didn’t mean to offend anybody,” Baez said. “This is something I’ve done in the past against other teams. I did it in L.A. to the dugout. I might have said something wrong that I was booing the fans, I really meant like ‘boo me now,’ and not to the fans, to the dugout.”
Lindor had similar comments, though the Mets and their explanations after the fact haven’t always seemed like the most reliable, given their “rat or raccoon” explanation earlier in the season when shouting between Lindor and Jeff McNeil was heard in the dugout after a miscommunication in the infield.
“It was to the dugout,” Lindor said. “Thumbs down for me means the adversity that we’ve gone through, the negative things, we overcome it, so we did it. We went over it. However, it was wrong and I apologize to whoever I offended. It was not my intent to offend people, we can't go against the fans. I’ve never done it in my career. We play for the fans.”
Baez also made sure to include an apology.
“I didn’t say the fans are bad,” Baez said. “I love the fans. I just felt like we were alone … the frustration got to us. I didn’t mean to offend anybody. And if I offended anybody, we apologize.”
Mets owner Steve Cohen and Baez shared thoughts on Twitter as well.
Lindor has heard plenty from the home crowd this season, as he has struggled at the plate for most of the year after signing a mega $341-million contract extension prior to the start of the season. His thumbs-down gesture didn’t sit well with Mets fans, as some could be heard booing him as he spoke on the field with reporters before a doubleheader Tuesday.
“The things that happen outside, we hear about it,” Lindor said. “We’re not machines. We know about it. It sucked getting booed, I don't like it. It doesn’t feel good from the home base. However, I have embraced it. I’ve sucked at times. I haven't done my part when it comes to the offensive side.
“I don’t think we have a bunch of guys just complaining all the time about ‘Oh, the media, the fans, the city.’ No, we’re playing the game, we’re trying to win, do whatever it takes to win and represent the organization the right way.”
Lindor and Baez are both ready to move past the discourse and try to turn around a season that has seen them fall to four games below .500 after leading in the division for three straight months.
“I want to win,” Lindor said. “I want to represent the organization the right way … I made a commitment for 10 years, and that's all I want to do -- win. I want to focus on embracing the fans and making this organization the greatest organization out there.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1.