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The Mets finally put together a pair of wins in a row this weekend, but the sorely needed victories against the Washington Nationals didn't come without controversy.
Mets owner Steve Cohen and general manager Sandy Alderson are reportedly frustrated with infielders Javy Báez and Francisco Lindor and outfielder Kevin Pillar after the three celebrated moments of Sunday's 9-4 win with thumbs-down gestures apparently directed at the fans in Flushing.
Báez, who was acquired in July from the Chicago Cubs, confirmed after the game that the thumbs downs were, indeed, the players' response to boo birds at Citi Field.
"They gotta be better," Báez said of the fans who have heckled him after bad plate appearances recently. "I play for the fans and I love the fans, but if they're going to do that, they're just putting more pressure on the team and that's not what we want."
The Mets have been mired in a downward spiral that dragged them from division leaders in the NL East in July to third place and 7.5 games out of first after winning two in a row.
Báez and other Mets batters have most-often been the subjects of the fans' derision, as the team's solid pitching has found a near-historic lack of support from the offense.
"We're not machines," Báez added. "We're going to struggle. We're going to struggle seven times out of 10."
Alderson responded saying everyone in the Mets organization is frustrated with the team's performance, but "Booing is every fan's right." He said the players' gestures towards the crowd "are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
Speaking with the NY Post Monday, Cohen said Báez, Lindor and Pillar "hit the third rail" on Sunday. He said he hoped it would prove to be "a teaching moment" for the players.
Alderson planned to meet with players and staff to discuss the issue.
Both Báez and Lindor are expected to attend Cohen's Mets foundation charity event this evening.