Lindor plans to use lessons of 2021 to fuel rebound in '22

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Francisco Lindor was taking batting practice before the Mets’ game with the Astros and it was fun to watch, as always. Line drive from the right side. Jump to the other side of the plate. Line drive from the left side. Then back to the right, no hesitation -- another hop over home plate. Another line drive just inside the left-field line. Back to the left side, and a shot up the gap in right-center. It went like this until he had gotten all his swings, almost in a blur -- the other Mets around the cage waiting to hit smiled at the shortstop still known as Mr. Smile, even after hitting .230 last season.

A few minutes later, we were standing outside first base. I told him he is about to have the chance to make a second first impression in New York -- and with Mets fans, after a disappointing 2021 -- and go back to being one of the best all-around players in his sport.

“You’re basically getting a chance to hit the reset button,” I said.

Lindor smiled and shook his head.

“I don’t look at it that way at all,” he said. “Because hitting the reset button would mean forgetting all the things I learned last season. And I learned a lot.”

He had never hit lower than .273 in a full season (and he hit 33 home runs for Cleveland that time). Then, he got to New York and the numbers were a lot lower than that. He did manage to hit 20 home runs, despite missing more than five weeks with a right oblique injury. All of this happened as he began the first year of the $340 million contract he got from the Mets after they made the trade to bring him to Citi Field. In addition to all of that, the Mets finished 77-85 and didn’t make the postseason.

Now, he has a new manager in Buck Showalter -- who has already talked this spring about how “spoiled” the Mets are with the way Lindor can play shortstop.

“Remember something about him,” Showalter said on the field Friday afternoon. “With everything that was going on last season, he played the [heck] out of shortstop.”

It is why Showalter and all Mets fans ought to be ready to get the full show this season from Lindor, who has always hit before, who is still a streak of light on the field. And he is still just 28 years old.

Lindor talked about the new managerial and coaching regime after batting practice.

“Buck reminds me of [Terry Francona],” Lindor said, recalling his time with his former manager in Cleveland. “He’s the perfect combination of old-school baseball, but someone who’s embraced all the numbers of the modern game. But I love our whole staff here, because more than anything, they teach two things: Details -- and respect for the game. And if there is one message that Buck has given to me, it is to just play ball.”

He paused and said, “I’m excited to do that. And to go back to playing baseball at a high level.”

You never know how someone is going to respond after they get paid to the extent Lindor did one year ago. And what you really never know, is what it will be like for them when they aren’t just a visiting player to New York City but playing for the home team now. Even someone as gifted as Lindor can find out -- and quickly -- how much of an adjustment that really is.

As talented as Lindor really is -- as much fun as he is to watch on a ballfield even before the first pitch -- he is also both thoughtful and intelligent when you get him talking about what he did learn about himself last season, about New York, and how he honestly believes he will be better for it.

“I love the city of New York,” Lindor said. “My family loves the city. And the thing that still excites me the most, is that I’m going to be the shortstop for the New York Mets for the next 10 years.”

The Mets have added Showalter, a star manager. They added Max Scherzer, of course, to the team that finished in third place. Scherzer was the big-ticket acquisition of this offseason. There was also the trade for Chris Bassitt, who started 27 games for the A’s last season, won 12 and had a 3.15 earned run average.

But if the Mets are going to make it back to the postseason, then make a deep run in October after that, they need for Francisco Lindor to be, well, Francisco Lindor. They need for him to hit the way he did during his best seasons in Cleveland and for Pete Alonso to keep hitting home runs, while the rest of Showalter’s batting order organizes around the two of them. The Mets also very much need Edwin Díaz to be an elite closer again.

But it all starts with Lindor, batting second and playing short. He had a debut season in New York you would think he’d want to forget. He doesn’t look at it that way. He says remembering it will only make him better. If it does, then he will be what we thought he would be when he first got to the Big Apple:

The best all-around player in town.