CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
Despite a largely disappointing debut season in "The Big Apple," the New York media has largely taken it easy on New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.
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But after the four-time All-Star was among the multiple Mets players who "booed" the fans at Citi Field after reaching base during the team's victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, that sentiment has officially shifted.
On Tuesday, Joel Sherman of "The New York Post" published a column that cites Lindor as the primary problem for the Mets, who at 63-67 are currently seven games back of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East. The back page of the New York City tabloid, meanwhile, shows the former Cleveland Indians star displaying a thumbs down, along with the headline: "LINSANE! Francisco must realize he's not in Cleveland anymore -- or it will be a miserable 10 years in NYC."
"The Mets don’t have a Javy Baez issue. They have a Francisco Lindor issue," Sherman's column reads. "Baez is an accidental tourist. He will be a Mets footnote. A guy who will really learn what boos sound like at Citi Field when he shows up in his next team’s uniform.
"Lindor is furniture. He has a 10-year contract that does not even begin until next season. And that 10-year contract is central to why Lindor is the focus. When he was traded to the Mets, Lindor had no control. He lacked a no-trade clause.
"But he did have control beyond this season. And it would not have taken Ph.D dissertation-level research to know that if you accept the mega-contract to be The Man here, what the downside is: A passionate fan base holding you accountable if things go wrong."
As Sherman alluded to, Lindor has thus far severely underperformed the 10-year, $341 million contract he signed with the Mets after being traded to New York by Cleveland last offseason. Through his first 93 games with the Mets, 27-year-old two-time Silver Slugger has hit for a .224 average (.686 OPS), 11 home runs and 38 RBIs -- numbers that put him on pace for what will be by far his worst full season at the Major League level.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lindor acknowledged that he made a mistake in "booing" the fans and also took to social media to issue an apology for his actions.