Absolutely thrilled that Lindor won't be able to play in the bogus World Baseball Classic due to insurance issues. The players may love it, but I hate it, not even considering how it destroyed the Mets' 2023 season. https://www.mlb.com/news/francisco-lindor-to-not-participate-in-2026-world-baseball-classic
The insurance issue must be because of the hamate. I can’t believe he was still gonna try to play knowing that he’s not 100%. Francisco Lindor will be evaluated tomorrow as he deals with a stress reaction in his left hamate bone Surgery could be on the able for Lindor, which would mean a six-week recovery timeline David Stearns and the Mets are "optimistic" he'll be ready for Opening Day
"Thank God for insurance companies not wanting to provide health coverage" is not a sentence I expected to say today, but there you go.
Spring has arrived - it's 41 degrees in NYC, and pitchers and catchers have reported to Port St. Lucie. Mets have acquired lefty reliever Bryan Hudson from the White Sox. He had a great 2024 (1.73 ERA) and a terrible 2025 (4.73 ERA), so who knows. Good news related to the WBC - Soto playing left field for the DR team has resulted in the Mets deciding to move him there. He couldn't possibly be any worse in LF than he was in RF, and this opens up the spot for Carson Benge, if he can take it.
Sure he can. Left field also sees more action. Strange move by the Mets. They should’ve transitioned him to first base if anything because he’s a horrid outfield.
Left field is generally agreed to be an easier position than right field, even though more balls are hit there. The throw to third base from RF is much harder, and balls hit by right-handed hitters slice away from the fielder in RF. Further, in Citi Field the LF wall is straight for most of its length, while RF has a cut out, is 27 feet deeper straightaway, and 11 feet deeper in right center versus left center, making it much harder to handle.
Soto has no issue throwing the ball. He has a big arm. He’s a horrible fielder and can’t read a fly ball to save his life. He’s the last guy you want to put in position to field more balls.
