"Not sure there's a way to slow Shohei Ohtani" "Francisco Lindor plays with childlike joy" - MLB insider lauds Dodgers & Mets superstars
Shohei Ohtani's LA Dodgers and Francisco Lindor's New York Mets will clash in the ALCS much to the delight of baseball fans. As the two favorites to win the AL MVP, Ohtani and Lindor will be the focus points of the series.
Preluding Game 1 of the Dodgers vs. Mets ALCS matchup for ESPN, MLB insider Tim Kurkjian previewed the matchup. When sportscaster Stan Verrett asked what the Mets should do to slow down Ohtani, Kurkjian replied there isn't a way, particularly as the Dodgers have a strong lineup behind the NL MVP contender.
"I'm not sure there's a way to slow Shohei Ohtani down. It's almost like this season he said, "All right, I can't pitch, so what can I do that nobody else in baseball history has ever done?" Of course, he goes out and achieves 50/50 with room to spare," said Kurkjian [6:16].
Kurkjian revealed a conversation he had with one of Shohei Ohtani's teammates, which left him in even more admiration of the Dodgers superstar.
"I remember in spring training when I was talking to the Dodgers guys who had never played with Shohei before, and one of the guys said, "Everything this guy [Shohei Ohtani] does is surgical," Kurkjian added.
"Every swing he takes, every time he throws a ball, every step he takes, there's a reason for it, and everything is designed to make him just a baseball machine." That's what he's been this year."
The HOFer also had a similar praise for Francisco Lindor, who he felt played with joy throughout Mets postseason run. [7:35]
"He [Francisco Lindor] just plays with a childlike joy, which he has had his entire career ... What has really struck me in the last couple of weeks is when you watch Lindor hit these two gigantic homers; he runs around the bases without a smile on his face," said Kurkjian.
Tim Kurkjian says Francisco Lindor is justifying his salary
Francisco Lindor is the highest-paid player in Mets franchise history, having signed a monumental 10-year, $341 million contract with the team in 2021. In the 2024 season, he is the only Mets player earning more than $30 million annually. Following him are Starling Marte and Pete Alonso.
According to HOFer Tim Kurkjian, Lindor's composed personality even after clutch hits and plays is a way of justifying his massive contract. [8:00]
"He's not raising the roof or doing anything like that. It's almost like, as he runs the bases, he's trying to show everyone, 'This is why the Mets traded for me. This is why they gave me all this money to do things at this time,'" said Kurkjian.
Tim Kurkjian believes Francisco Lindor's presence at the top of the Mets' batting order has been a key factor in the team's impressive performances.