Mets Provide Rationale for Star's Early Defensive Lapse

Francisco Lindor's mental error sparks discussion around roster changes and chemistry.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:08pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball fielding play, with sharp planes of muted earth tones and blues suggesting the energy and movement of the sport without any identifiable players or teams.A Cubist interpretation of a defensive miscue, highlighting the complexities and shifting perspectives that can lead to uncharacteristic mistakes, even for the game's elite.NYC Today

The New York Mets have struggled to start the season, and a key reason has been the uncharacteristic defensive lapses from star shortstop Francisco Lindor. After Lindor failed to cover second base on a potential double play, Mets officials provided insight into how the team's offseason roster overhaul may have contributed to the mistake.

Why it matters

Lindor is a perennial Gold Glove-caliber defender, so any defensive issues are concerning for the Mets. The team's struggles and Lindor's early-season struggles have raised questions about the team's chemistry and cohesion following a busy offseason of roster changes.

The details

In the second inning of the Mets' loss to the Athletics on Saturday, Lindor failed to cover second base on a ground ball that was fielded by second baseman Marcus Semien. This allowed a run to score and left the pitcher in a jam. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged it was an uncharacteristic play for Lindor, while media personality A.J. Pierzynski criticized Lindor's repeated defensive lapses. However, Mets officials told reporter Joel Sherman that Lindor's positioning was likely impacted by the team's offseason roster changes, with Lindor used to playing alongside different infielders.

  • On Saturday, April 13, 2026, the incident occurred in the second inning of the Mets' 11-6 loss to the Athletics.
  • The Mets have started the 2026 season with a 7-11 record and a seven-game losing streak.

The players

Francisco Lindor

The Mets' star shortstop, a 12-year veteran and former Platinum Glove winner who has struggled defensively to start the 2026 season.

Carlos Mendoza

The Mets' manager, who acknowledged Lindor's uncharacteristic defensive lapses and struggled to explain them.

A.J. Pierzynski

A media personality and former MLB All-Star who criticized Lindor's repeated defensive mistakes on his podcast.

Joel Sherman

A New York Post reporter who spoke to Mets officials to provide context around Lindor's positioning on the play in question.

Marcus Semien

The Mets' second baseman who fielded the ground ball that Lindor failed to cover second base on.

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What they’re saying

“It's weird because that's not him. It's hard to explain. He'll be the first one, he'll tell you that he's got to be better. Never seen that, some of those plays that he's just out of position at times.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

“What the heck is Francisco Lindor doing? We've all made mistakes. We've all forgot how many outs there are. We all forgot this and that, but forgetting to turn double plays repeatedly. I don't know. It's just something I haven't seen from him. So, it's shocking.”

— A.J. Pierzynski, Media Personality, Former MLB All-Star

“In the last messed up play, the one where he went behind Semien, I was talking to Met people and they were like 'look, it's a bad play. But understand, for the last few years, we had him pulled all the way up the middle because Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso were on the right side and those guys were really pushed toward the right field line.' I think his muscle memory was that nobody's going to get this ball, I got to go cut it off before it gets to the outfield, and so he didn't break to second base.”

— Joel Sherman, New York Post Reporter

What’s next

The Mets will look for Lindor to regain his defensive form as the team tries to turn around its slow start to the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Lindor's defensive lapses highlight the challenges the Mets have faced in integrating new players and adjusting to a revamped roster following an active offseason. While Lindor is held to a high standard, the team's officials provided insight into how the changes may have contributed to his uncharacteristic mistakes, suggesting the Mets will need time to develop chemistry and cohesion.