If Francisco Lindor continues doing what he has done already, and the Mets make the postseason, there should be no argument: he is the NL MVP.
Before the Mets’ game against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night at Citi Field, Francisco Lindor received the 2024 Mets’ Heart and Hustle award. Then, Lindor went out and showed everybody why is worthy of that award. He hustled from first to home on Brandon Nimmo’s RBI double in the third inning, and that effort set the tone for the Mets’ 4-1 victory.
Even with Lindor’s clutch home runs in the recent West Coast trip and his excellent fielding all season long, I believe that play on Monday night is his best moment as a Met. It came at the right time, with the team in the middle of a playoff race, now within a half-game of the Atlanta Braves for the last NL Wild Card spot.
Lindor’s hustle play Monday night shows he’ll do everything possible to win a game, determined to score no matter what. If he was out, so be it. He took it upon himself to ensure that the Mets grabbed the lead. His play was a highlight reel in quality, a game-difference-maker that fans will remember.
So, if anyone wants to make a case for why the Mets shortstop should be the MVP, look back to Monday night as Exhibit A. The Mets would not be in playoff contention without him. Sure, you can talk about Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases), but he plays for a loaded Dodgers team where he has no pressure to perform in the regular season. Moreover, Ohtani is a designated hitter, and playing that position should eliminate his candidacy. Why? He doesn’t play in the field. Conversely, Lindor plays sterling defense every game, and he does it playing the second most important position on defense, shortstop.
Lindor’s numbers are MVP-worthy, too. He is hitting .271 with a slash line of .342/.493/.835, with 29 home runs and 81 RBIs. He can finish the season with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs. He has a 13-game hitting streak and a 31-game on-base streak (he was on base three times Monday night).
Most of all, he has been clutch when the opportunity presents itself. Look no further than the recent West Coast trip during which he hit four home runs. On Sunday, he gave the Mets a lift on a day game after a night game by hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the inept Chicago White Sox, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. They would take a 2-0 victory to cap off an excellent 7-3 road trip, which currently has them on a five-game winning streak.
Last Thursday, Lindor hit the game-tying home run in the sixth inning, setting the tone for the Mets to earn a 3-2 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With the Mets being flat playing a day game after a night game, they needed someone who could lead, and Lindor provided it in a game they had to win. Then, on Sunday, August 25, Lindor hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to put the game away against the San Diego Padres. With the Mets holding on to a 1-0 lead, he delivered again, hitting two home runs in that game.
The road trip provided a platform for Lindor to make a case that he is worthy of being a VP. He has lived up to it, and that’s why there’s a campaign for him to get the award. He heard plenty of “MVP!” chants on Monday night, and his current trajectory will grow louder in this homestand and this month.
Please don’t take my word for it. Others feel similarly. For example, on MLB Network, former Mets manager Buck Showalter told Greg Amsinger that Lindor powers the Mets on defense, in hitting, and with his clubhouse presence. When he was in NY, Showalter knew that he could depend on Lindor every game of the season. That makes him a throwback player who adjusts to the grind and then delivers. How refreshing!
It took Lindor four years as a Met for fans to finally appreciate him. Since being acquired, he has earned every penny of his 10-year contract extension, $341 million. As New York Post baseball writer Jon Heyman said, Lindor’s contract might be a bargain when you compare it to others, like Judge, Ohtani, and what Juan Soto will get in the free agent market this offseason.
It makes me think back to when Lindor called a team meeting earlier this year after the Mets’ 10-3 loss to the Dodgers. He not only talked, but he backed up words with stellar pay. Outcome? The Mets have gone 52-31 (62% wins) in their last 83 games. We haven’t had a Met who delivers in critical moments since the days of Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.
If Lindor continues doing what he has done already, and the Mets make the postseason, there should be no argument: Francisco Lindor is the NL MVP.
