Mets fans destroy Francisco Lindor for his claim that World Baseball Classic is just as important as MLB: "I'll be booing him"

Francisco Lindor has united New York Mets fans in anger. After Edwin Diaz went down with an injury for the Puerto Rican team while celebrating a win, the fact that highly-paid MLB superstars are playing in this tournament has come into focus.

All the players theoretically risk injuries. MLB teams gain nothing from their stars playing in the WBC, but for players, it's important to represent their respective countries.

"I understand how Mets fans are hurting. But while for so many people the regular season is what counts, playing in the WBC means just as much to all of us," Lindor said.

For Lindor and many other stars, representing their country on the biggest possible stage is very important. That's probably why so many big-name MLB players are involved in this year's tournament.

Nevertheless, Mets fans aren't buying it. They pointed out that it's MLB teams, and not the WBC, that pay players huge wages.

Mets fans aren't concerned with their players doing anything that isn't explicitly for the Mets. Diaz's loss will hurt the team and to them, it could have been avoided.

---

Francisco Lindor's statement is true: The WBC matters

From Mike Trout to Francisco Lindor, there are plenty of players having the time of their lives in the World Baseball Classic. Perhaps the point about it not being scheduled in March is valid, but there's no way that players shouldn't play.

Representing one's country is a huge honor. Soccer players generally don't skip the World Cup, so why should baseball stars skip their version?

Injuries are a part of the game. If Diaz had gone down in Spring Training, Mets fans would have been upset then, too. So why does it make a difference that he went down while trying to bring his home country glory?

Edwin Diaz went down in the WBC

The Mets will suffer for it, but they just need to look at Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso, who are playing and not getting hurt.

It's very unfortunate for Diaz, especially fresh off a big contract, but this shouldn't diminish the World Baseball Classic's value.