Lindor suspicious of Yankees' whistling: 'I know what I heard'
New York Mets superstar Francisco Lindor stopped short of accusing the New York Yankees of stealing signs, but he did mention suspicious whistling was part of the reason benches cleared between the crosstown rivals on Sunday night.
"As I came around the bases, I did the sign of whistling (to Gleyber Torres)," Lindor said postgame. "I can't accuse them of them whistling for the signs because I'm not 100% (sure), but I know what I heard and I felt like there was something out of the ordinary going on."
“I took that personal,” #Mets shortstop @Lindor12BC said of the whistling he heard from the #Yankees at times when it left him wondering if they were whistling to tell batters what pitch was coming. #LGM #Astros fans might find this interesting.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) September 13, 2021
pic.twitter.com/TjwrRo3jMv
"I heard what I heard," the four-time All-Star continued after hitting three homers in the game. "I'm not accusing them. I'm not saying they're doing it 100% because I don't know 100%. But it definitely felt that way and I took that personally."
The Mets are considering whether to pursue their sign-stealing allegations against the Yankees with the league office, according to Andy Martino of SNY.
Later in the game, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton seemed to confront Lindor while trotting around the bases, which caused a benches-clearing incident.
Giancarlo Stanton on what happened between him and Francisco Lindor:
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 13, 2021
"If you've got a problem with Wandy, give it to Wandy. Don't be talking to multiple people, bringing everybody into it, especially running around the bases." pic.twitter.com/OM9ugc6gRE
Stanton and Joey Gallo said postgame the whistling wasn't tied to sign-stealing.
"It's just Wandy (Peralta) trying to liven up the dugout," Gallo said. "It's a loud whistle and it's definitely not for pitch tipping."
"It's been hurting my ear, honestly," he continued. "It's unbelievable how loud he can whistle."
The Yankees and Mets are fighting for playoff spots down the stretch. After losing Sunday's game at Citi Field, the Yankees are one game back of the second AL wild-card spot. Meanwhile, the Mets are three games back of the final NL slot.