New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Francisco Lindor gives 'thumbs-up' amid celebration controversy

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/30/21

The New York Mets are a mess on and off the field, sit at 63-67 in what's becoming a lost season and have made headlines for their "thumbs-down" celebration that players admitted is a response to fans booing the club.

New York is off Monday ahead of Tuesday's home game versus the Miami Marlins, so shortstop and thumbs-down culprit Francisco Lindor was able to catch some of the U.S. Open tennis tournament live and in person. Lindor obliged requests from fans and offered a thumbs-up while signing autographs:

Video from a friend: Francisco Lindor was signing autographs at the US Open today, and one Mets fan recommended, “Thumbs-up from now on.”

Lindor smiled and obliged by flashing a thumbs-up. pic.twitter.com/2zx5uLQwou
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) August 30, 2021

Lindor joined the Mets via a January trade from the Cleveland Indians and then put pen to paper on a 10-year, $341 million contract extension, but the 27-year-old has been a massive disappointment at the plate when healthy. He will enter the final day of August batting a paltry .224 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI on the campaign.

In a statement released Sunday, Mets president Sandy Alderson called the thumbs-down celebration "totally unacceptable."

"Mets fans are understandably frustrated over the team’s recent performance," Alderson said. "The players and the organization are equally frustrated, but fans at Citi Field have every right to express their own disappointment. Booing is every fan’s right.

"The Mets will not tolerate any player gesture that is unprofessional in its meaning or is directed in a negative way toward our fans. I will be meeting with our players and staff to convey this message directly."

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