LOS ANGELES – Francisco Lindor says New York Mets freshman owner Steve Cohen was right to criticize his hit in a tweet this week.
Cohen tweeted Wednesday about his struggling ball club: “It’s hard to understand how professional batsmen can be so unproductive.”
The Mets have lost seven of eight and are ranked 27th in the standings with 459 runs despite a full lineup of proven hitters.
Lindor has been one of the biggest disappointments, reaching 0.228 with 11 homers and 0.702 OPS in his first season after being acquired from Cleveland and signing a ten-year, $ 341 million contract.
“We’ve received that message all year,” Lindor told reporters ahead of Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “We haven’t really hit all year. I haven’t acted. I haven’t. I haven’t done what I’m here to do when it comes to the offensive side.
“Defense, they can’t talk to me. Functionally, they can’t talk to me either. But offensively, yes, criticize me. Say whatever. You’re right. You’re fine. I’m with them I haven’t acted.”
Manager Luis Rojas echoed those sentiments when asked if the team has pressed from Cohen’s tweet.
“No, not at all. These guys are working hard,” Rojas said. “I made it clear that the message was taken correctly. The message was to keep working hard and [stay] together. We have a lot of good hitters who haven’t been as good as in the past and are working hard to get there.
“The message was, ‘We need to be better.’
Lindor has been on the injured list with a right oblique strain since July 17, but could return as soon as Sunday.