How Will He Thrive in Twenty-Five?: Francisco Lindor

[Edgy MD]

For much of 2024, it looked like Francisco Lindor — despite a soggy start to his season — was the only character that had a chance to wrest the league MVP away from Shohei Ohtani. The hope for the western hemisphere played virtually every inning of every game, and seemingly contributed every day — the little things and the big heroic things — like he just couldn't help himself.

What a pleasure to watch.

Then he got hurt at the worst possible time, and the Mets' post-season hopes seemed to be sidelined along with him. His return came just in time, and in Hollywood fashion, the magic returned with him.

Is an encore for that even possible? Can the presence of Juan Soto take some of the heat off and maybe help him avoid another slow start? Will his starting the season in the leadoff position that triggered his 2024 revival somehow add more opportunity for him to shine?

Have we seen peak Lindor?

Your predictions can answer any or all of these questions.

[FIMG=331]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Francisco-Lindor.jpg?quality=75&strip=all[/FIMG] [FIMG=369]https://people.com/thmb/y2fHbLPugqYjgbnSxmq_uAxv8L4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(794x249:796x251)/francisco-lindor-1-6a2735abb4794512a0ff7e582bd9cf86.jpg[/FIMG]

[FIMG=492]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/ar_16:9,g_auto,q_auto:good,w_1536,c_fill,f_jpg/mlb/hxcmxffvufu0ml6jjoqu[/FIMG] [FIMG=208]https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTc5NTI4NzA2MDY1MTc5Nzg1/lindor-portrait.jpg[/FIMG]

[MFS62]

.280-30-95 127 Runs top 3 MVP

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've liked him from the beginning, and I think some time in 2022 he became my favorite Met. It was great watching him kick it up another few notches in 2024. Will he recapture the magic in 2025? That's hard to say, but I'm confident that as long as he's on the field he'll show skill, hustle, and leadership. That deal with Cleveland may have been the best trade the Mets have made so far this century.

[Benjamin Grimm]

http://ultimatemets.com/covers/2025/20250216_NSD_02.jpg

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I can't believe you guys awarded Newsday when they are capable of crap covers like that.

Also, does anyone care about a "captain"?

[MFS62]

Also, does anyone care about a "captain"?

 

If you said that to an MFY fan about Jeter, they would be at your throat in a nanosecond.

They're children, and care about such things.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I care about a captain. On my team, the role would never be unfilled, even to the point where I would make sure that on days when the regular captain isn't in the lineup, and alternate would be named, like in fútbol.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

For what purpose?

Hockey does it becasue (I think) they're the guys who are allowed to talk to officials whereas anyone in baseball can have a word with the umpire

[Lefty Specialist]

.280-30-95 127 Runs top 3 MVP

Later

 

This. Could be even better with a non-cold start.

[Edgy MD]

For what purpose?

Hockey does it becasue (I think) they're the guys who are allowed to talk to officials whereas anyone in baseball can have a word with the umpire

 

Well, yeah, firstly, make them the only ones who can talk to the umpire. The only ones on defense who can call for a review. Enough with managers calling the booth. If the secondbaseman says he got the tag down, and he looks his captain in the eye, let the captain decide if he has faith in his man.

Secondly, every good managerial story includes two players — the veteran who is already established who players look to for authority when they don't yet know if they trust the manager, and the younger guy the manager takes extra time to pour all his wisdom into, to be the embodiment of his philosophy on the field in the years going forward. The best managers identify these players early and facilitate their authority in the clubhouse and on the field where the manager can't be.

Players don't gain confidence in the fight by looking over their shoulder to see if they are proving themselves to the guy on the bench. They gain it by following captains into the fray, growing in the knowledge of which teammates they can count on and the assurance that their teammates can count on them.

No manager can pick you up if you **** up in public. But a captain can. When you flourish, no attaboy! from a manager can reinforce you like the one from your captain can. Follow me and I think we're going to be alright, says the captain. Lean on each other, let the others know they can lean on you, he adds. We've trained for this! I expect no less from you than I expect from myself.

Captains. With a blocky, off-font C printed on the back the cap. And when your captain is carried off the field with a high-impact injury, he stops the stretcher carriers. The batboy, having had previous instructions for just such a situation, runs onto the field with a clean, new captain's cap in a different size. And the captain calls a younger teammate to his side, whose spirit has been a rallying point for the team all year, and hands him the captain's cap, saying, Show them who you are. Get the best out of these guys. They will follow you.

Cheers from the crowd. The manager stands apart. This is a players thing. Once the gauntlet is passed, the manager returns to the scrum and helps escort his wounded captain from the pitch.

Captains. Drama. Action. Fun. Subtext. Narrative.

Captains.

[Fman99]

Brilliant, again

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think people care about Captains. I don't know why, but they do. The fact that Jeter, and Wright, and Judge, have been captains has gotten plenty of press.

I would advocate for Lindor being captain not necessarily because I think it will have any real impact (although maybe it will?) but because I think he would feel honored and he deserves it.

[Cowtipper]

He's 31 and still in his prime.

He's comfortably ensconced in New York.

Physically, he doesn't really look like the kind of guy to hit more than 33-35 home runs—even though he managed 38 one year.

He's still young enough to steal a lot of bases.

So those numbers—homers and steals—will likely remain stable. He's too old to add too many steals, but he can still steal as many as he did in 2024. He's still young enough to improve that BA.

So we'll likely see a repeat of 2024, which potentially a higher BA. I'm thinking 32 HR, 91 RBI, 30 steals and a .285 BA.

This is the one Met that I think is almost a guaranteed future Hall of Famer (sorry Pete).

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

27-89-280/244/455 25 steals

I see everyone coming back earth a little

[metirish]

I think Lindor comes out of the gate well to start the season

.275 - 26 HR - 94 RBI