Mets Release Statement On Báez, Teammates' Thumbs Down Gesture

The New York Mets were compelled to release an official statement regarding Sunday's headline-grabbing gesture by Javier Báez.

Javy, along with some teammates, adopted a new way of trolling fans after hearing their fair share of boos during the Mets' ongoing slump: flashing a thumbs down at the crowds whenever the team scored a hit.

Báez flashed the gesture during the Mets' 9-4 win against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field, causing swarms of fans to call out the move since the team has a 3-7 record in the past 10 games.

After Báez aired his frustrations on his new team's fan base in a post-game, the ball club cleared the air with a surprising announcement from Mets president Sandy Alderson. Alderson condemned Javy's gesture, giving the customer is always right approach to the fans' frustration with the team.

"In a post-game press conference today, Javy Báez stated that his 'thumbs down' gesture during the game was a message to fans who recently have booed him and other players for poor performance. These comments, and any gestures by him or other players with a similar intent, are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. ... "

Alderson went on to call his own player's move "unprofessional" and "negative." Perceived as damage control from the Mets, the official announcement became more of an extension of the team's disorienting direction in the eyes of baseball fans.

Báez gave some context to his signage with SNY, providing the fans with some accountability at the root of the team's frustrations: a vicious cycle of emotion.

"Just the boos that we get. We're not machines, we're going to struggle. We're going to struggle seven times out of ten. It just feels bad when I strike out and I get booed, it doesn't really get to me, but I want to let them know that we're going to do the same thing to let them know how it feels."

Follow along on Twitter: @AlejandroAveela