Buck Showalter’s comments on Francisco Lindor were put under the microscope on Tuesday night, after the manager told reporters that he was expecting the struggling Lindor to be a “contributor” for the Mets.
Many fans saw that wording as a severe understatement for what was expected of the four-time All-Star. After all, a superstar shortstop that is just one year removed from signing a 10-year, $341 million contract extension better me more than just a contributor.
But Showalter told Carton and Roberts on Wednesday that the word “contributor,” and what it represents, is in the eyes of the beholder.
“It depends on how you define ‘contributing,’” Showalter said. “He can contribute to a win and not get a hit. I just look at things through a different prism. The tone he sets, the example he sets, and he cares. The only guys I get sideways with are guys that don’t care or doesn’t give great effort…he checks all those boxes.”
The Mets certainly would like to see more out of Lindor on a consistent basis. Sure, players can find ways to contribute to a win even when it’s not their best night at the plate, but Lindor was brought in with the expectation that he could be the anchor of the Mets lineup and the franchise star, and having a bad night at the plate shouldn’t be happening as consistently as it has been for Lindor, who is battling to keep his season OPS above .700.
Still, Showalter says the criticism, and Lindor’s offensive slumps that have been at the forefront since the beginning of last season, have not gotten to him.
“He’s in a good place mentally and emotionally,” Showalter said. “Nobody plays the game harder between the lines, nobody cares more about winning…he’s a good teammate and he’s done some good things for us offensively this year, and will again.”
Mets fans are still waiting to see that passion and effort materialize into results, and given how much the team invested in Lindor, that impatience likely isn’t going anywhere, and most fans won’t be satisfied with Lindor being just a “contributor.”
“The scrutiny that’s on him is because there’s a commitment from the organization…because he’s a really good player that can help us win,” Showalter said.
“I think it’s because of his skill level, and you usually trust that.”
Follow WFAN's afternoon team on Twitter: @CartonRoberts, @EvanRobertsWFAN, @TommyLugauer, and @CMacWFAN
Listen live to WFAN:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker (just say ‘Play W-F-A-N’)
Follow WFAN on Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch