Welcome to NY: Lindor reacts to boos from Mets fans at home

NEW YORK (AP) – Francisco Lindor‘s contract negotiations with the Mets seemed smooth. His swing certainly has not.

The $341 million star shortstop entered Wednesday batting .212 with three RBIs through 18 games with his new team and started hearing boos Tuesday night at Citi Field after grounding out late in a 2-1 loss to Boston.

The honeymoon’s over. Welcome to New York.

“It’s interesting, funny, and it sucks,” Lindor said. “It doesn’t feel right, for sure. Interesting because it’s the first time that it happened in my career. And funny because I’m getting booed, and people think I’m going to go home and think, why am I getting booed? I get it. They’re booing because there are no results. That’s it.

“They expect results, I expect results, and I get it, you know? People expect results, and they’re booing because there are no results. It’s part of the job. I hope they cheer and jump on the field when I start hitting home runs and helping the team daily more than I’m doing now.”

In January, the four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winners were acquired in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland, giving the Mets one of baseball’s brightest stars. New York also received pitcher Carlos Carrasco, sidelined with an injury, in exchange for young infielders Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario, plus two minor league prospects.

The deal generated excitement among Mets fans eager to see the team return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. After this season, Lindor could have become a free agent, but new owner Steve Cohen shelled out $341 million to sign the switch-hitter to a 10-year contract that begins in 2022.

Lindor, already guaranteed $22.3 million for this season, agreed to the long-term deal on the eve of opening day, but needless to say, he’s not off to the start he envisioned in New York. Going into Wednesday night’s game against the Red Sox, he had one home run, two extra-base hits, and a paltry .593 OPS in 79 plate appearances as the Mets opened 9-9.

That is not what was expected from a dynamic player who owns a .284 career batting average with 139 homers, 99 stolen bases, and a .828 OPS in seven major league seasons.

“We all go through adversity at some point in the year, and I’ve got to embrace it,” said Lindor, who batted .258 with a .750 OPS during a 2020 season shortened to 60 games by the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s plain and simple: I’ve got to be better.”

Lindor walked his first time up Wednesday but struck out in his next two trips and was booed again by the limited-capacity crowd.

“I honestly feel good,” Lindor said before the game. “Yeah, there are times where I feel like I should have got a hit that at-bat with that pitch, and I just missed it. It’s part of the game. I’m trying. I’m trying as hard as possible to succeed and help the team win.

“Yesterday, I chased a couple of pitches that were balls. I honestly feel like that was either the first or the second (time) in the past couple of days I started chasing. I feel like I was having quality at-bats the whole time.”

Mets manager Luis Rojas said Lindor arrived at the ballpark early for extra practice Wednesday and worked with hitting coach Chili Davis to get out of his funk.

“I know exactly what I’m doing. That’s why I’m not frustrated when going home or after every at-bat. I’m constantly thinking and thinking and thinking because I know what’s happening,” Lindor said. “I don’t feel like I’m in a slump. I feel like I have had quality at-bats. I haven’t put the best swing on the baseball these past few games, but I don’t feel like I’m in a slump. A slump for me is when I’m 0 for 35, 0 for 30; that is a slump.”

Rojas said Davis was looking to get Lindor back to incorporating some previously-used drills in Cleveland, but Lindor said he’s been doing “the same thing” he’s been making his entire career.

“It’s going to work,” said Lindor, who remained upbeat during his video conference with reporters Wednesday and even chuckled and smiled several times.

“I came to New York to win. I want to win. I will do whatever it takes to win. And right now, if fans and people think I’m not doing my part to win and they want to see results, the results will come for sure. They will come.”

Lindor did say he’s still trying to adjust to the National League after spending his first six seasons in the AL.

“They pitch a little differently, but at the end of the day, it’s the same ball, and the mound is the same distance, and the bases are (in) the same places,” he explained. “But yeah, it’s starting to get used to how they pitch, do things, and attack hitters. I’ve just got to be better, to be honest. I’ve got to be better, and I will be better. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn the league.”

Asked if he had a message for Mets fans about staying patient, Lindor laughed.

“To the fans, you guys are fun,” he said. “I’ll give you guys the results. And to me, the result is winning, and that’s all I want. I didn’t come to New York to hit .350 and win MVP. I came to New York to win and will do whatever it takes to win.”

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