Looking Back at 2021: Francisco Lindor

 
Did any player in baseball have a more disappointing season than Francisco Lindor? The Mets' big off-season prize, he looked great in spring training's final week -- and landed the long-term mega contract he knew he'd never get in Cleveland.

But once the games began to count, his numbers began to drop. While the Mets led the division for over 100 days, their newly minted shortstop was hardly a factor. Hitting in the .180s when April ended, and still under the Mendoza Line when Memorial Day arrive, Mister Smile didn't make a lot of friends during his first season in New York.

A deadline trade for his pal Javy Baez -- while Lindor was on the Injured List -- didn't salvage the Mets season. Things only got worse when the buddies responded to Flushing fans booing with that now-infamous "thumbs down" signal.

While Baez won't be back with 2022 Mets, Lindor will -- and for the nine seasons that follow. Hopefully, with a stronger roster, including Starling Marte and Max Scherzer, and a proven manager in Buck Showalter, Lindor can tap the talent that made him one of the American League's best and most popular players in the previous decade.


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