LOS ANGELES — If the Mets are to confuse critics and win a transitional 2024 season, star shortstop Francisco Lindor will need to be able to be himself. They’re going to need more than half of him, but that’s exactly what he was for the first three weeks.
It was good to see the Mets beat the World Series-favored Dodgers 9-4 here late Friday, but perhaps even better was seeing Lindor’s potential to break through from the left side. . Lindor, a left-handed switch hitter, hit the winning hit, a two-run homer to right-center field off right-hander Daniel Hudson, quelling the Dodgers’ sudden and fleeting momentum, breaking a tied game and sending the Mets home. 5 consecutive wins.
Lindor’s seven-inning shot and the Mets’ big win made everyone forget about the team’s disappointing 0-5 start, and even better, he earned his status as a $341 million player. It suggested that there is a possibility of overcoming something shameful. At least from the left side. Lindor went 5-for-55 in those at-bats as a left-handed swinger, erasing baseball and perhaps even the bad feeling of a perplexingly bad start.
“Right now, I’m doing well on the right side, but there’s a lot of things I haven’t achieved on the left side. But I’m there. I’m there. Right now it’s just about staying consistent,” Lindor said. He spoke in the aftermath of his biggest victory over the best in baseball.
Lindor then singled from the left side against Dodgers right-hander Ryan Brazier, and the Mets piled up points against a Dodgers team that was suddenly struggling, losing six of eight games. Lindor stole second base and scored as the Mets looked like they were going to go from slow starters to world power overnight.
Historically, Lindor has been somewhat better as a right-handed hitter (.289 batting average as a right-handed hitter, .265 batting average as a left-handed hitter), but nothing compares to this. One National League scout suggested Friday that the 30-year-old might be “regressing.” It’s still early, but this home run was his first extra-base hit from left field.
“I try to be the same hitter on both sides. I try to help myself from the right side to the left side and from the left side to the right side,” Lindor said. “It’s a blessing and a curse sometimes, because when I’m trapped on one side, I try to bring it to the other side. But I think it’s a little crowded. Sometimes, 2 There are things you have to think about as a different batter.”
We’re all a little confused after watching the Mets’ fresh start to a 2024 season that was supposed to be a regression. They don’t call it a rebuild, and that’s fair. They spent $345 million on players, which is close to their record spending in 2023, so it’s not a rebuild.
They have players with a pedigree that makes you think they can make the playoffs. But they need a star to become one.
There is certainly reason to be hopeful. Depth is better. The defense should improve (ranked near the bottom in DRS, but defensive runs saved).
Starling Marte looks like his post-injury self in 2023. Brett Batty is shaking the rookie nerves and is playing great. DJ Stewart, a lone man on a roster that outperformed last year, has emerged as if 2023 was no fluke for him and will hopefully be able to play star cleanup man Pete before the arrival of JD Martinez next weekend.・He has established himself as the best option after Alonso.
The starting rotation looks more solid than it did when it had two future Hall of Famers. And the bullpen was spectacular.
But they need Lindor. Their 30-30 guy is going to have to accomplish a lot more.
The great thing about him is that he maintains a positive attitude even when he’s not hitting. He is the type of personality that helps those around him and ultimately helps himself.
And he continues to smile despite the pain of a .167 overall start. When I asked him how he was doing, he characteristically laughed.
“Hey, count on your teammates. Count on your wife. Count on your daughters,” Lindor said, explaining how he managed despite a late start and poor reaction from some overheated fans. and asked whether he was keeping a positive mood. “The world is a beautiful place. Sometimes it can be mean. But it’s a very beautiful place.”
His bright personality has a strategy.
“Understand, it’s an uphill battle. You have to stay the course no matter what,” Lindor said. “I have to continue to compete day in and day out and be myself. At the end of the day, I’m not trying to be anyone else. I have to be me.”
Even though his batting average has dropped, Lindor maintains a winning attitude. They don’t just call him Mr. Smile.
