Bo Bichette signed a three-year, $126M contract to join the New York Mets to serve as their third baseman and also as somewhat of a replacement for slugger Pete Alonso, who left the Mets to sign with the Baltimore Orioles in free agency.
While the Mets opened the regular season with two wins in three tries against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bichette heard some boos from members of the Citi Field faithful as he went 1-for-14 during the series held in Queens. Following the Mets’ 4-3 extra-innings loss to the Pirates on Sunday afternoon, Bichette spoke honestly about the treatment he received from some paying customers over New York’s first three games.
Bo Bichette knows why he was booed during series vs. Pirates
“If anything, I thought it took too long,” Bichette said about being booed, per Chelsea Janes of SNY. “I get it. I thought my at-bats were terrible, too.”
Bichette shockingly struck out eight times over the Mets’ first three games. As Max Goodman noted for NJ Advance Media, the 28-year-old also pulled first baseman Jorge Polanco off the bag with errant throws on multiple occasions throughout the series.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza insisted over the weekend that he is “not worried about” Bichette’s early-season struggles, but Bichette suggested after Sunday’s defeat that making the transition from shortstop to third base is proving to be more difficult than he had hoped.
“I’m not familiar with it either,” Bichette said about his lackluster play across the campaign’s first three contests. “…I think I’ve just gotta be more committed, more committed in the process. I definitely find myself trying to have a moment out there.”
Francisco Lindor defends Bo Bichette after boos
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor knows all about signing a massive contract with the team and then hearing boos during home games amid rough stretches of play. After Sunday’s loss, Lindor discussed Bichette’s desire to prove his worth to Mets fans and to the organization.
“[I understand] 100 percent,” Lindor explained. “[Bichette is] one of the best hitters in the game. He’s going to have a lot of big moments for us. This is only normal.”
Bichette will look to play more like his normal self when the Mets open a three-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals (2-1) on Monday evening. Perhaps getting out of the Big Apple will be what Bichette needs to jumpstart his season.