Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor apologized Tuesday to New York Mets fans for their thumbs-down gestures following being booed at recent games.
Lindor stated, "Thumbs down to me means adversity. The adversity that we have experienced in this entire time." We overcome the negatives, just like we did with the positives. It was over!
"It was wrong and I apologise to anyone I offended. It wasn't my intention to offend anyone.
After taking a hit at Citi Field's 9-4 win Sunday, Baez made the gesture to the crowd.
Baez said, "I didn’t mean to offend anyone."
#Fans All we need is to stick together! We all want to win! El Mago will always be El Mago! #LGM Javier Bez (@javy23baez) August 31, 2021
Baez's batting average is.210/.258/.452 and he has three homers, five RBIs and a total of 17 games since his trade deadline with the Chicago Cubs. The Mets are now in third place in the National League East, having dropped to first.
After base hits, players began to make the thumbs down gesture towards their dugout Aug. 20-22.
"I didn’t say that the fans were bad. Baez stated Tuesday that while I do love the fans, he felt alone. "The fans want to win and they pay our salaries like everyone else, but we also want to win and that frustration got to us. You know what? I didn't mean for anyone to offend and we apologize if I do.
Since signing a 10-year contract worth $341 million, Lindor is currently hitting.224. He has 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases.
Lindor said Tuesday that he has sucked at times and had not done his part in the offensive side. "But I don’t believe that we have a bunch o’ guys complaining about the media, fans, and the city -- no, not no.
"We are playing the game, we're trying win. We are trying to do everything we can to win and represent the company in the best way.
Kevin Pillar also made the thumbs down gesture. However, he stated after Sunday's match on Twitter that he didn't "look too deeply into it" and that "we were having fun."
Sandy Alderson, Mets president, stated Sunday that the gestures were "totally unacceptable" and would not be tolerated. He also said that "booing is everyone's right."
Steve Cohen, Mets owner, posted on social media Tuesday that he was pleased that players had apologized.
He posted on Twitter, "Glad to see our players apologizing for the fans." "Let's support our players today, and go out to win 2 today."
The Mets had been playing a delayed game against Miami Marlins since April 11, just before Tuesday's regular game.
After a successful sacrifice bunt, Lindor was booed. Baez did not appear in the lineup for his first game.
Lindor stated Tuesday that he hoped the controversy doesn't last. He said it was not meant to offend anyone or to discredit anybody. This is a time to try to help each other. "We're going through a difficult time and it was a gesture of trying to pick each other up."
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
