dailyloe.com – New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is experiencing a difficult start to the season marked by both offensive struggles and uncharacteristic defensive errors. Lindor is batting .167 through the team’s first 15 games of the season. The five-time All-Star has also made several mistakes in the field, a departure from his usual Gold Glove-caliber play. His latest lapse contributed to an 11-6 loss to the Athletics on Saturday.
In the second inning of that game, Athletics batter Lawrence Butler hit a ground ball to Mets second baseman Marcus Semien. The play presented a routine opportunity for an inning-ending double play. Lindor, however, did not cover second base to receive the throw and turn two. Instead, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner made a play for the ball himself.
This decision forced Semien to sprint to the bag in an attempt to make the play himself. The defensive miscue was not isolated to that single play. Lindor has made multiple similar mistakes during the early part of the season.
These defensive gaffes add a new layer to Lindor’s early-season challenges. In his previous six seasons with the Mets, his slow starts were primarily confined to struggles at the plate. His current .167 batting average continues that trend of offensive difficulty. The combination of poor hitting and fielding errors has left the team searching for answers.[]
Source: ESPN
