As the Mets get ready for a crucial series with the Braves, Sal Licata says the onus is on Francisco Lindor to finally start producing at the plate, or the prospect of having the shortstop on the payroll for another eight years will become even more ominous.
“He’s the problem,” Sal said. “He’s gotta be able to be the best player on the team, and right now, it’s not even clear that he is. Love that he can play every day, love the defense, but he’s gotta be better offensively. Especially with a team that hasn’t been built well around him.
“The bigger problem is, Lindor is just getting started here.”
Sal says it’s time for Lindor to break out when then Mets need it most, as they look to avoid digging themselves an even bigger hole in the NL East. If it doesn’t happen for Lindor in this three-game set, Sal says it may be time for Lindor to get a breather.
“I wouldn’t mind sitting Francisco Lindor,” Sal said. “Although not in this series against Atlanta.”
But the pressure is certainly on Lindor and the rest of the team’s stars that have yet to thrive in 2023, not on other role players that Mets fans have been furious with during New York’s mediocre season.
“The biggest disappointment on this team is Francisco Lindor,” Sal said. “We can talk about Alonso, McNeil, Marte, Scherzer, Verlander, those are the guys that gotta get it done. It’s not about Daniel Vogelbach, Ronny Mauricio, Tommy Pham…it’s about the stars.”
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