While the Atlanta Braves and their fans have a well-earned reputation as being a bit brash and willing to throw some trash talk around, it is nothing compared to the modern day Mets. After years of being the Braves' little brother in the NL East, New York can't stop feeling themselves after they have experienced a modicum of success thanks to Steve Cohen spending like Eric Gregg at a food truck park.
Are the Mets a good team? Sure they are. They just signed Juan Soto who is one of the best players in baseball to a contract they will almost certainly regret towards the end. They have Francisco Lindor who is likely to be a fringe MVP contender in 2025. Their pitching staff looks like someone fell asleep during a fantasy baseball draft, but you can't have everything you want.
However, young Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez took things to the extreme. In comments from spring training, Alvarez has somehow came to the conclusion that the Mets' lineup is better than the Dodgers despite the fact that they don't even have the best lineup in their own division.
Francisco Alvarez doubled down 😤 pic.twitter.com/a8fulwA3ed
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) February 13, 2025
Young Mets star's comments about their lineup likely to be fuel for the Braves all season long
First, the logic here is certainly interesting. The Dodgers have three legitimate MVP candidates at the top of their lineup in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman who, strictly on past performance, are on-par or better than the Mets' two players in Soto and Lindor.
After that, they have Teoscar Hernandez who is basically Pete Alonso with a better hit tool, defensive value, and people skills. That doesn't even account for Will Smith, Max Muncy, and Tommy Edman while the Mets are going to be running out Alvarez (who has yet to hit above .237 as a big leaguer), Jesse Winker who is a temper tantrum away from being out of a job, and Tyrone Taylor. This isn't close.
Alvarez also seems to be implying that the Mets have the best lineup period and, uh, that is pretty dubious. Health does matter here, but the Braves are probably the only team in baseball that have a legitimate case of being able to match LA's offense with Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Jurickson Profar. Alvarez must have just forgotten while he was picking out the spot on his mantle for the World Series ring that isn't coming anytime soon. Hell, the Phillies' lineup might be as good or better than the Mets next year.
Unfortunately, this Mets propaganda isn't going to end until the Braves snuff it out themselves. New York finding a mild amount of success in the playoffs means they and their fans are not going to shut up until they get put in their place. The Braves should keep Alvarez's comments in mind and remind the Mets the NL East is still the Braves' to lose thanks, in large part, to their better and well-rounded lineup.