So Mike and I were “standing” out at The Corner a couple Friday nights ago after taking full advantage of 2 dollar beers before first pitch. Francisco Lindor probably hit a 5 run bomb or turned an unassisted triple play or something and we go to talking about this extraordinary young man.
It’s absolutely stunning to me how little buzz he seems to be getting around here with what he’s been doing on the baseball field the past two-plus months. Since the All-Star break, he’s been one of the best players on the Indians. He’s been one of the best shortstops in the American League. He’s been one of the best players PERIOD in all of baseball.
Seriously! This is a kid who was supposed to be good, like really good, then he makes his debut and he’s been even better than we thought. How often does that happen here? How often does an athlete actually exceed expectations? Not to mention those expectations were massive considering he was touted as one of the best prospects in all of baseball. So to recap: player is supposed to be good, player makes his debut, player has been one of the best players in his sport, player plays in Cleveland. How is this not being talked about? Maybe we can start to once we find out whether or not Josh McCown passes his concussion tests? Please?
Shortstop is a premium position in baseball. Some might say “the” premium position. To me, shortstop and center field are right on par with quarterback and point guard. It’s where you put your studs, the golden boys. You don’t hide anybody at shortstop. Can you IMAGINE this city if the Browns had a quarterback play at the level Lindor has for 8 games in a season? Like, was the best quarterback in the NFL for 8 games in THE SAME SEASON? It’s literally unfathomable. Yet we still see people walking around town in Derek Anderson jerseys and I’ve seen like three Lindor (tee-shirt!) jerseys in the 30+ games I’ve been to. That makes me sad.
You know what doesn’t make me sad? Plays like this.
And this.
We haven’t seen shortstop play like this since the days of Omar.
Did I say Omar?
https://twitter.com/JHGrimm/status/644309667326201856
Vizquel’s only season with a higher WAR was in 1999 (6.0). He was 32 years old and had played in 1320 Major League Baseball games before that season. Lindor is 21 years old and has played in 82.
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/644295264556158976
I don’t really know the point I was trying to get across with this blog. Honestly I don’t even know if there was one. I just wanted to talk about one of the most exciting players I’ve gotten to watch on my favorite team in years and years and years. Sometimes when I’m sitting in my cube or laying in bed I think about the fact that we have a 21-year-old shortstop who has already shown us he has the talent to be one of the best players in baseball. Yes I think about Francisco Lindor in bed and I don’t care who knows it. You should too.
#LindorROY #LindorROY #LINDORROY
https://twitter.com/TJZuppe/status/644346197893771264
AND HE WEARS STIRRUPS
KEEP THE CHIEF
Bottlegate 
