LONDON — Francisco Lindor was 9 years old when he attended his first and only major league game before signing a professional contract.
That game was in 2003, when the Montreal Expos were playing a portion of their home schedule in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lindor and a cousin attended a Rangers-Expos game.
It’s a memory that struck Lindor this week when he was asked about the Mets and Phillies playing two games in MLB’s London Series, beginning Saturday. Lindor had to wonder how many kids from Great Britain would be getting to attend their first major league game.
“I think it’s good for the game because it helps it expand,” Lindor told Sports+. “There could be many kids who attend who turn into actual baseball fans. It’s the same thing with people who might have watched games on TV and think it’s boring.”
Lindor’s point was sometimes you have to actually be there to fully appreciate the beauty and nuance of the game.
He compared it to his own relationship with hockey: As somebody who had watched the NHL on television, Lindor found the sport boring. But after attending a Phoenix Coyotes game a few years back, Lindor became more intrigued with hockey.
“I’m not a huge fan of the sport, but I can follow it,” Lindor said. “But when it comes to places like [London] that don’t get the experience of going to the event, these games will help with with that aspect. It also makes it more like an event, like a concert, not as much a baseball game.”
The Mets haven’t played outside of the U.S. or Canada since 2010, when they played a series against the Marlins in San Juan. The Mets were set for a return to Puerto Rico in 2020, but that series was wiped out by the pandemic.
Lindor mentioned Paris and Italy as places abroad he would like to play.
“I feel like Italy, they’re knowledgeable about the game over there, but not just that it would be fun to go over there because of the sightseeing,” Lindor said. “And I know there are players that are from Italy, so I think that can also help continue to grow the game. And then Paris, the only time I was there, it was very cold, so if I can go during the summer and take advantage of that.”
Lindor’s experience as a professional playing outside the U.S. or Canada consists mostly of his action in the World Baseball Classic, playing in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
“I think I’m looking forward to how the crowd is going to be because they’re soccer fans [in London],” Lindor said.
Off the field there won’t be time for much — the Mets will work out Friday afternoon at London Stadium and play the following two days.
But Lindor said he was anxiously anticipating a team dinner (with families included) that was set for Thursday night.
It’s left up to McNeil
Jeff McNeil will certainly be on notice once he returns to the Mets’ starting lineup.
If the underperforming second baseman doesn’t turn his season around, the clamors will only grow to promote Luisangel Acuña from Triple-A Syracuse and see whether he’s ready to contribute.
The Mets have a solid veteran in Jose Iglesias, but ideally he’s a part-time player for the club.
The Mets need McNeil’s bat. As it stands, the lineup has become very right-handed-heavy. Brandon Nimmo is the only lefty bat in the starting lineup aside from Lindor’s switch-hitting.
The Mets have a high-upside group from the right side in Pete Alonso, J.D. Martinez and Mark Vientos — with Francisco Alvarez likely to rejoin the team on the next homestand. A consistent lefty bat in the middle of the order just to break up the wave of right-handers would further bolster a lineup that has averaged 4.9 runs per game in 18 games since May 18.
Last season, the Mets gave a slumping Daniel Vogelbach the kind of mental break McNeil has been receiving this week. McNeil sat all three games against the Nationals, who deployed three lefty starting pitchers.
Vogelbach’s mental break didn’t help him much in the short term, but perhaps McNeil will use his time spent on the bench as a motivating factor to change his approach at the plate. Line drives to all fields define McNeil at his best. A strictly pull/fly ball hitter he is not.
The bullpen’s odd man out
The easiest answer toward fixing the bullpen is reinserting Edwin Diaz into the closer’s role and letting him start anew.
The right-hander likely will be removed from the injured list on the next homestand, and it will be time for “Narco” to blare as he enters for the ninth inning.
It could get interesting when it’s time for the Mets to clear roster space for Diaz. The Mets have received positive results from their two relievers with options: Dedniel Núñez and Danny Young.
Would the Mets demote one of them for Diaz or look toward struggling Adam Ottavino’s roster spot?
Ottavino owns a 5.96 ERA in 24 appearances after most recently allowing two runs in one-third of an inning against the Nationals on Monday. Lefties own a .904 OPS against Ottavino this season.
The Mets, under president of baseball operations David Stearns’ leadership, haven’t been shy about moving out veterans who don’t perform. Joey Wendle and Omar Narvaez are the two most obvious examples.
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