After Thumbs-Down Gesture Aimed At Mets Fans, Javier Baez And Francisco Lindor Apologize

After taking aim at New York Mets fans on Sunday with a new “thumbs-down” gesture, the inevitable apologies have arrived. 

Javier Baez — acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline — was the ringleader of a few players that felt the fans needed to know that their booing as the Mets tank away their postseason chances was not appreciated. 

On Sunday, Baez, Francisco Lindor and Kevin Pillar all put their thumbs-down after big hits, with Baez saying after the game that the gesture was in response to the fans booing the Mets when they struggle. 

On Tuesday — before a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins — Lindor and Baez apologized. 

“I didn’t mean to offend anybody. And if I offended anybody, we apologize,” Baez said less than an hour before the start of a split doubleheader against the Marlins.  “We’re just trying to move forward and leave this in the back.”

Baez spent his first seven seasons with the Cubs, helping Chicago end a 108-year World Series drought in 2016. But his move to New York has gone poorly, as the Mets have dropped out of the playoff race after leading the NL East before his arrival. 

“This is something that I’ve done in the past, against the other team,” Baez said on Tuesday. “I did it in LA to the dugout.” 

“I really meant like, to boo me now, and not to the fans, but our dugout. I’ve done it against other teams. I didn’t say the fans are bad. Like, I love the fans. I just felt like we were alone. Like, the fans want to win and they pay our salary like everybody says. We want to win too. The frustration got to us.”

Javier Báez provides more context on the thumbs down celebration, and issues an apology to fans:

“I didn’t mean to offend anybody. And if I offended anybody, we apologize.” pic.twitter.com/WpYnQ1HNFd

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 31, 2021

Baez will be a free-agent after the season, and starting a war with the fans of New York certainly won’t do anything to help him secure a new contract from the club. 

Lindor, on the other hand, won’t be going anywhere. He signed a 10-year, $341 million contract in the offseason and has disappointed in a major way in his first season in Queens, NY. When he’s been on the field — Lindor has played in 94 of the Mets 131 games — Lindor has struggled, hitting just .222 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI’s. 

“I have sucked at times, and I haven’t done my part when it comes to the offensive side,” Lindor said on Tuesday. “But I don’t think that we have a bunch of guys just complaining all the time about the media, the fans, the city — no, no, no.” 

“We’re playing the game, we’re trying to win. We’re trying to do whatever it takes to win and represent the organization the right way. And I plan to be here a long time.” 

Sorry to those who I offended!!
&
The ones I didn’t thank you for understanding!! #Loveyouguys

— Francisco Lindor (@Lindor12BC) August 31, 2021

The two players apologized after team President Sandy Alderson said the gestures were “unacceptable” on Monday.

“These comments, and any gestures by [Baez] or other players with similar intent, are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Alderson said, adding that he will be meeting with players and staff to convey the message directly. “Mets fans are understandably frustrated over the team’s recent performance. The players and the organization are equally frustrated, but fans at Citi Field have every right to express their own disappointment. Booing is every fan’s right.” 

Team owner Steve Cohen hopped on Twitter to acknowledge the apologies. 

“Glad to hear our players apologizing to the fans,” Cohen wrote. “Let’s get behind our players today and go out and win 2 today!”

Glad to hear our players apologizing to the fans. Let’s get behind our players today and go out and win 2 today!

— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) August 31, 2021

The Mets won the first game of their doubleheader against the Marlins 6-5 on Tuesday afternoon.

RELATED: Javy Baez Doesn’t Appreciate Being Booed, Lets Mets Fans Know With Gesture

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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