21

[Edgy MD]

Four-time Roberto Clemente Award-nominee Francisco Lindor has been announced as this year's winner.

As part of the honor, Francisco will wear a 21 on the back of his hat for the rest of his career, as have prior winners.

[seawolf17]

One of the myriad of reasons why I am stunned that anyone would consider dealing him. Francisco is a no-doubt HOFer (the only shortstop who started his career after 1900 with better overall stats right now is Alex Rodriguez) and he will retire as a Mets legend.

[Edgy MD]

Search long enough, and you will find people advocating to trade Santa Claus. 

The grass-is-greener effect is a strong-but-wrongheaded human instinct.

[MFS62]

Congratulations to Francisco.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

1 hour ago, Edgy MD said:

The grass-is-greener effect is a strong-but-wrongheaded human instinct.

Back in the pre-WFAN 1980s the spot where WATPs* were most often discussed was the 'fans speak' (or whatever they called it) page of the Friday NY Post. And one thing that was rather consistent about it was that Met fans and Yanqui fans had very different ideas about trades.

- YLDBs were forever proposing absurdly one-sided deals such as Mike Pagliarulo and shitty/injured pitcher for Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens  -- Hey, a 3B & P for a 3B & P ... what's wrong with that?!?

- NYM fans, otoh, invariably proposed getting rid of half the current team for whatever else was out there, iow, they were deeply immersed in the grass-is-greener syndrome.  A mid-'80s proposal might start out with: 'How 'bout packaging Darling, Sid, Knight, Backman, Dykstra, and Santana for ... ' 

Whatever they had, they always wanted wholesale changes for what they were sure would be an overall improvement. And keep in mind this was their plans for dealing with a good team!

 

 

 

* WATP = Wild-Ass Trade Proposals in case you've forgotten.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Put me in the category of Franciscofan. I hope he plays his entire contract with the Mets, and if he still has something left when it's done, maybe another year or two.

I wasn't aware, until this thread, of the permanent 21 badge on the backs of the caps of the Clemente winner. Pretty cool.

Maybe they can put a 21 on the back of his Hall of Fame plaque, if he gets there. Nobody would ever see it once it goes on the wall, but it would be cool nonetheless.

[The Hot Corner]

This is why I have always been a Lindor fan.  Good player (future HOF) that truly seems to enjoy playing the game.  On top of that, he has a good heart as being a 3 time Clemente Award nominee and the 2026 winner.