3 players Mets fans are no longer complaining about

There are three members of the New York Mets who were not exactly met with an outpouring of love at the beginning of their careers in the blue and orange. In fact, they incurred the wrath of fans because of what they cost the club to get them here, and then because of their initial failures once they got here.

Unfair as it might seem, Trevor Williams, Francisco Lindor, and Edwin Diaz were not exactly fan favorites until they made Mets fans believers in 2022.

1) Trevor Williams has become the prize of the New York Mets trade for Javy Baez

The mid-season trade with the Chicago Cubs last year for Javier Baez was much-heralded at the onset, because of the excitement that Baez would bring to the Mets. Unfortunately that excitement turned into ire and hatred from the fans because of childish and unprofessional antics exhibited by Baez. As a result, Baez was not welcomed back by the organization and signed to a big contract by the Detroit Tigers and has been a big bust.

The trade for Baez had a lot of fans scratching their heads, figuring that the Cubs got the best of the Mets as they acquired a top prospect in Pete Crow-Armstrong for a 2021 rental. However, the disappointment has been converted to appreciation as the “throw in” in the deal was Trevor Williams.

Although he was not much of a factor in the second half of 2021, Williams has been a bit of a savior for the Mets pitching staff this season. He has provided stability in multiple roles – short relief, long relief, and spot starter.

Williams has actually pitched much better than his 2-5 won-loss record would indicate, sporting an ERA of 2.84 with a very respectable WHIP of 1.177, averaging nearly eight strikeouts and less than three walks per nine innings. With injuries hitting various members of the Mets staff – including Trevor May, Drew Smith, Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, Tylor Megill, and Jacob deGrom – Williams has stepped up and is currently on a 24-inning scoreless streak.

In an age when healthy arms are valued, and reliable consistent outings are cherished, Trevor Williams has definitely lessoned the feeling that the Mets were fleeced in the deal everyone thinks about as Baez for Crow-Armstrong. Right now Crow-Armstrong is in low A-ball and Williams appears to be the hidden prize in the deal.

2) Francisco Lindor has New York Mets fans smiling

A year ago Mets fans began booing Francisco Lindor. The dynamic shortstop had somehow lost his effervescent smile as well as his reliable and productive bat. It didn’t help that his buddy Javier Baez was taunting the fans with his immature antics. Lindor, unfairly as it may be, caught the fans’ angst in much the same way as Carlos Beltran did when he first arrived in Queens.

That will happen when you are billed as a special talent, and then fail in New York. Factor in the 2022 seasons that Amed Rosario and Andre Gimenez are having as the Cleveland Guardians keystone combination, and rest assured that New York Mets fans are going to hold you accountable.

But after he struggled to get going in 2021, Lindor finished strong to end the season. And while his buddy Baez has been a major flop in Detroit, Lindor is now displaying the talent, abilities, and exuberance that Mets fans were clamoring for. Situated perfectly in the No. 3 spot in the order between Starling Marte and Pete Alonso, Lindor has his average at .274 with 21 home runs and 84 runs batted in. He also has scored 80 runs and swiped 13 bases while playing stellar defense. He is on pace to finish with 28 homers, 112 RBI, and 107 runs scored.

That is the kind of production that has been missing from the No. 3 spot in the Mets order for a very long time. Lindor has given the Mets the kind of player – at shortstop - that they haven’t seen since Jose Reyes was in his prime. And it seems to be enough to turn the boos into cheers amongst the Mets faithful.