Doubts Creep in Over Francisco Lindor’s Leadership Amid Lack of ‘Disgust’ Over Mets’ Collapse

It started with a smile, and not the kind Mets fans wanted to see. In a game at Citizens Bank Park, after building a 4-0 lead vs. the Philadelphia Phillies, Francisco Lindor still looked loose and upbeat in the dugout while going 0 for 4 at the plate. Citi Field had just booed the Mets after another late-inning meltdown, but the league’s highest-paid shortstop didn’t seem rattled. For frustrated fans, that image summed up everything wrong with this collapse: A $341 million star who doesn’t appear nearly angry enough about losing.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Sitting at just a .250 batting average, the Mets have lost 13 games while winning only 9 from August 20 to September 11, watching their playoff odds plummet below 20% to the Phillies according to FanGraphs. Lindor’s bat has gone quiet during that stretch, with a .176 average and no home runs in September. Those numbers sting more when you remember he was brought here to be the cornerstone, the tone-setter, the guy whose presence keeps the clubhouse from spiraling. Instead, New York sports radio is buzzing with one question: Where’s the fire?

WFAN’s Brandon Tierney has been among the loudest voices calling for Lindor to show more edge. “For years now I’ve heard … that Lindor is the captain,” Tierney stated. “Well, then why isn’t the ‘C’ on his chest?” He argued that if Lindor truly wants to be seen as the leader, “you gotta start to comport yourself differently on a baseball field” and send a clear signal “that you’re disgusted with losing.” That sentiment is catching on with fans who want their star to lead with visible urgency, to hold teammates accountable and show that mediocrity isn’t acceptable in Queens.

Lindor has always preached calm and consistency, and perhaps that’s his way of leading. But in a city that still idolizes captains like Derek Jeter (even when that’s from NYM’s crosstown rivals), the optics matter. Mets fans aren’t just looking for stats, they’re looking for a pulse, someone to embody their frustration and turn it into action. If Lindor wants to own the clubhouse and silence the critics, the next few weeks are his chance. History suggests that moments like this can make or break a star’s New York legacy.

David Wright, for example, became the Mets’ fourth captain in March 2013, years after setting the tone both on and off the field. He earned that title not just with numbers but with his ability to hold others accountable behind closed doors and rally the team during challenging times. Francisco Lindor now faces a similar inflection point, not just to hit, but to lead visibly.

If he can channel this criticism into a spark and help drag the Mets back into contention, the narrative flips. If not, this September may be remembered less for the team’s record and more for the smiles that drove a fanbase over the edge.

Francisco Lindor’s numbers are solid, but not enough to steady the ship

The New York Mets’ 2025 season has gone from a dream start to a nerve-wracking fight for survival. After roaring out to a 45-24 record, they’ve stumbled badly, now moving on with a brutal seven-game losing streak. What felt like a comfortable playoff path just weeks ago has turned into a full-blown September sweat, leaving fans and analysts openly questioning whether this team can hold on.

Francisco Lindor’s struggles have become a lightning rod for this frustration.

Before suffering a toe injury in early June, Lindor looked like the superstar shortstop the Mets paid $341 million for, slashing .284 with 14 home runs in just 60 games. Since returning, however, his bat has gone ice cold.

He was hitting .198 with only seven home runs across 56 games in August, a drastic dip that has slowed the offense when they’ve needed him most. Advanced metrics tell the same grim story: His wRC+ cratered to 73 at that time, a full 27% below league average. He was striking out more often, 22.6% of the time compared to his career 16.5% and his hard-hit rate plummeted from 43.1% to 29.1% during last month’s 56-game stretch. Whether it’s lingering pain, timing issues, or pressing to carry the team, something is clearly off.

And yet, Lindor hasn’t stopped believing. Instead of worrying, he chose to double down on his leadership role, reminding everyone that this group can still turn things around. “We have a good team. The bottom line is we just haven’t played at the standard that we all have for each other here.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza has also acknowledged the team’s challenges.

After the series sweep by the Phillies, he remarked, “I’m responsible. I’m the manager. It’s my job to get these guys going, and I will. I have a lot of confidence [in] myself, my coaches, and the players.”

With crucial matchups looming against the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres, the Mets are staring down their most defining stretch of the season. Over the next two weeks, New York will find out whether this team has the skill to get its way back into October or if 2025 will be remembered as a season of false promise.