After another big game for Francisco Lindor, Sal poked at BT to see if there were any apologies in order for his criticism of the Mets shortstop, calling him out for his painfully slow start to the season and wondering if he should ditch batting lefty entirely.
BT refused to provide any sorrys, pointing to the warranted criticism because of how rough Lindor was to begin the year, as he has been for much of his career in April and parts of May.
“Apologize for what?” BT said, noting that Lindor had to be moved to the leadoff spot to really get going. “You shouldn’t have to move mountains for great players to do their job.
“Tap the brakes. He’s still on pace for 86 RBI, an OPS of under .800, and right now, today…he has the 51st highest OPS in baseball. It’s not Mark Vientos making $900,000. He still a highly-paid player who is expected to do this.”
BT credited Lindor for his torrid stretch, batting .319 with a .968 OPS over his last 35 games, but given his contract and his Mets tenure overall so far, he says it was fair to criticize, and it’s still fair to wonder if he can keep it going through the rest of the season.
“I’m not running from the fact that I absolutely doubted whether or not he could get back to this level, because this is what he was in Cleveland,” BT said. “But it was also about sustaining. I’ve always said he’s gonna look like a stud for 2-3 weeks, but the intermittent up-and-down intervals, he was too volatile. Superstars aren’t often so hot and so invisible. I’ll stand by that.
“He does play every day. He has great energy…I think he’s a great teammate. He can run, he can pick it, all around five-tool guy. But at the end of the day, no sport is defined by statistics as much as baseball.They’re irrefutable….he still has the 51st best OPS in baseball. Not the 17th or the 25th. There’s 50 guys in baseball who have a better OPS. Everybody’s popping champagne for Lindor having a good month. We’re not even sure if he’s gonna bat .270 on the season.”