The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are probably two of the most raved-about MLB franchises now. They spend money, have superstar players, and they have one thing in common—their thirst to win. The Mets have seven straight wins now with a record of MLB’s best at 18-7. As for the Dodgers, even though presently they are spiraling after a miserable loss to the Chicago Cubs, their presence can’t be discounted yet.
They are rivals, for sure, but there is one player who knows when to put rivalry aside, and it’s Francisco Lindor. He might have lost his cool recently, with the entire suspension debacle, but he is pretty level-headed in recognizing the elite talent of MLB. Even if that someone doesn’t wear the same jersey.
The Mets’ shortstop had recently sat down with Rich Kleinman on The Boardroom to discuss Ohtani. And let’s just say, like so many of MLB fans, he seemed like a big fan, or rather an admirer, too.
“You don’t see what Ohtani is doing,” Lindor said. “He is elite at pitching, elite at hitting, and elite at running.” He emphasized the fact that no matter who you put in front of Ohtani, he will match, and he wasn’t lying. Ohtani is a natural two-way player, and he has shown his prowess. To call him the face of baseball wouldn’t be wrong. Last season, his 50-50 record etched his name in the baseball history books. And so far this season, he has collected six home runs and 15 RBIs and has a .261 average in 23 games. But even that counts as his ‘slump’, which shows how much is expected out of him.
But this respect Lindor has for Ohtani is mutual, and even the LA Dodgers star is aware of the impact Lindor has on the game. Just last season, the Japanese superstar said, “My impression of him is that he’s a really good guy. He smiles a lot. I do feel like he’s leading the club as well.” Lindor is called “Mr. Smile” for a reason, and as for the lead, Lindor sure is doing it. In a time when Juan Soto’s bat is silent, Lindor has taken on being the real game-changer for the Mets. This is unusual because, for the past few seasons, April blues were common for him. But this time, not so much, thanks to Lindor’s coach!
However, Lindor did add in the end his conversation with Kleinman, saying, “With that being said, we’re playing a sport, and on any given day you can beat anybody.” And that just brings the focus on the rivalry. Last season, Lindor’s efforts got him second place in National League MVP voting, and he was just behind the Dodgers star. Maybe this season, things will change, and Lindor can catch up!
Will Francisco Lindor be the next Mets captain?
Francisco Lindor has been everything the New York Mets hoped for when they traded for him back in 2021. He has four All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, and even a Platinum Glove. It’s safe to say he is one of the most consistent performers, and he is still keeping up with the consistency this season. And while his resume speaks a lot, now even his leadership qualities are making headlines.
Even before the season began, there were talks about how Lindor could become the next New York Mets captain. The spot has been empty ever since David Wright’s retirement back in 2018. And while many saw the fit as perfect, the franchise finally decided otherwise, and the decision was called off. “Ultimately, they decided to table the conversation—at least for now,” Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported in March. However, now months later, the conversation is still on.
Lindor was asked about his views on taking on such a role, and he said, “If they give it to me, the players in the front office and the coaching staff feel like I’m that guy — then it would be an honor; it would be a privilege. But it’s got to come from them.” For now, there are no whispers about who the next captain will be. There are too many greats in one place, and maybe that is the problem for the Mets choosing just one.
For now, rivalry or not, in Lindor’s case, a leader tag might be the next accolade he collects. What do you think of Lindor as a captain?
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