Lindor learning how to stay on an even keel

PHILADELPHIA — Francisco Lindor does not like to talk about last year. And why would he? Offensively, 2021 was his worst season. He finished the year hitting .230/.322/.412 with an OPS+ of 101 (league average is 100). But it was his slow start — weeks after signing a 10-year, $341 million contract, no less — that put him in an early hole.

“You guys love talking about numbers; I hate talking about numbers,” Lindor jokingly told reporters Thursday night, after he snapped his 0-for-18 skid at the plate with a monster two-run homer that sparked the Mets’ seven-run ninth-inning rally against the Phillies.

Lindor’s mindset and approach are noticeably different this season, as he’s hitting .241/.331/.426 with an OPS+ of 126, five home runs and 17 RBIS through his major-league-leading first 28 games of the season.

He’s carefree, relaxed, talkative, cracking jokes, having fun and putting less of the burden on himself when he does go through a rough patch at the plate. It helps that while Lindor went through a 1-for-21 stretch to start May, the Mets went 4-2 in those games.

He’s learning to balance all the challenges that accompany being a superstar shortstop for a big-market team, including media responsibilities, letting the fans embrace him, welcoming the spotlight and enjoying the highs and lows of a 162-game season. Being a year older, Lindor said, has also helped him navigate his second season in Queens.

Friday rainout, maybe Saturdaytoo: Ratherthanhavingto facemaxscherzer,thephillies will sit with Thursday’s awful loss for at least another day. Friday’s Mets-phillies game was postponed due to rain in the forecast, the home team announced. It will be made up as part of a split-admission doubleheader Saturday, Aug.20,atcitizensbankpark. Game 1 will start at 1:05 p.m., and the originally scheduled Game2willremainat7:15p.m.