The New York Mets were coasting for the first half of the 2021 MLB season.
They even made a blockbuster trade to acquire Javier Baez as it seemed a title chase was on.
Now?
The team is 63-67 and 7.5 games back in the National League East.
This obviously has fans enraged and they are taking it out on the big name guys like Baez and Francisco Lindor.
For the latter, fans want him to play at an MVP level given his contract worth nearly $350 million.
But it is a down year all around and injuries have not helped.
That hasn’t stopped the booing, so the players are taking things into their own hands.
Javy Baez on the thumbs down sign Mets players have been flashing to the crowd after their hits:
"When we don't get success, we're going to get booed. So they [the fans] are going to get booed when we get success." pic.twitter.com/n2jjMCIXIU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 29, 2021
This is, as expected, not going over well.
Management Has To Respond
Baez and Lindor are taking it to the fans by giving them a thumbs down when they have success.
The thing both players are failing to realize is that they are extremely rich and this is a bad look to the everyday fan.
Yes, being booed by the home fans has to be annoying.
But that is part of playing professional sports, whether they like it or not.
Mets President Sandy Alderson made it clear this is now an issue within the organization.
Mets team president Sandy Alderson said in the statement below the thumbs-down gesture is “totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Alderson said he will meet with players and staff, adding: “Fans at Citi Field have every right to express their own disappointment.” pic.twitter.com/1WArRxKwHE
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) August 30, 2021
So this whole situation has now escalated to the point where there must be a meeting with everyone in the organization.
It is not looking like Baez will be sticking around in 2022 at this point if the team is reacting in this way.
The hilarious thing from this would be Baez and Lindor, and their teammates, going all in with this thumbs down celebration to really dig in against the front office.
A Pointless Celebration
Mets fans expected a winning product in 2021.
Now they are watching a losing team in which the top players are actively disrespecting them.
That is some odd irony.
Lindor has played in 93 games this season and has 11 home runs along with a .686 OPS.
He is barely above-average and is now making himself a villain in front of the fans before the end of his first season.
Baez is not doing much better in limited action.
But both have taken it upon themselves to fight back against the fans in what was supposed to be the year of destiny.
The lesson here is that there is no better way to alienate everyday individuals than to try to fight them when you are a rich individual.
Perhaps Steve Cohen will learn a lesson from all this about thinking money can just buy success.
NEXT: Steve Cohen Speaking Out Only Makes Things Worse For Mets
Pal88 says
Baez is definitely gone at the close of the season and maybe we can find a sucker for Lindor..