NEW YORK -- Before joining the Mets this year, Francisco Lindor had never taken much time to explore New York City. His trips here had been limited to Indians games at Yankee Stadium, leaving little time for leisure.

So when Lindor did arrive in New York, he recruited a tour guide: fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Beltrán, who spent nearly half of his two-decade big league career in New York, and who still calls the city home. Beltrán and his wife, Jessica, recently helped Lindor and his fiancée, Katia, find a place to live in New York.

“We spent a good time talking, and we ate,” Lindor said. “My fiancée met Jessica. It was good stuff. Everything was great. Beltrán has been a big mentor in my career.”

Beltrán has kept a low profile since he and the Mets parted ways in January 2020, three months after the team named him manager. Still, he remains a significant influence in the Major League community, particularly among Puerto Rican players.

“He talked to me before the season started, as soon as I got traded,” Lindor said. “He just said, ‘Be yourself, be real to yourself and to the other people. Be accountable with everything you do, and just enjoy. You’re in a great city. There’s great momentum in the organization, so have fun. Go out there and give everything you have every single day.’”

Although the Mets’ recent spate of rainouts gave Lindor plenty of free time to settle into his new home, he hasn’t done much exploring yet. Lindor, who received his first COVID-19 vaccine shot last Thursday, said he wants to wait until getting his second injection before moving more freely about the city.

When he does, he intends to let Katia take the lead, as Lindor’s fiancée is interested in visiting museums and art galleries around New York City. Lindor’s own interest lies more in the restaurant scene.

“I love eating,” he said. “If people have recommendations, send them my way.”

In that manner, Lindor plans to make New York home -- although outside of his food and culture tour of the city, he has no immediate plans to spend big chunks of his new $341 million windfall.

“I thank the Lord, I had a great life prior to signing, and I bought a lot of things,” Lindor said, laughing. “I spent a lot of money on the dumbest things ever. … I’m past that stage in my life where I just go crazy spending money. I’ve been there, done that. I’ve got a family, [fiancée], a little girl. ... I’ve got to make sure I do things the right way for them. I might buy some land, houses. We’ll see. I’m into cars and watches, and I’ve got plenty of them.”

Tempers flare
Things briefly grew heated in the sixth inning of the Mets' 4-3 win in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader when Phillies reliever José Alvarado threw consecutive pitches in tight on Michael Conforto -- one near his head, then another that struck him on the right hand. Following the second of those, Dominic Smith and other Mets began chirping at Alvarado, which led him to turn to the home dugout and throw his hands animatedly into the air.

Before the situation could escalate further, managers Luis Rojas and Joe Girardi both came onto the field to diffuse the situation.

“I came out just to see if I could help tone it down,” Rojas said, adding that he couldn’t hear what Smith or Alvarado were saying, but that he didn't believe Alvarado had any intent behind the pitches. “That’s when things can progress into something else, because nobody’s hearing exactly what’s being yelled.”

After the game, Conforto was sent for X-rays, which came back negative. He is listed as day to day.

The situation occurred five days after Conforto drew criticism for not moving to avoid a slider by Marlins reliever Anthony Bass, which struck him on the right elbow guard for a walk-off hit-by-pitch. That day’s home-plate umpire, Ron Kulpa, later apologized for not calling Conforto out because the pitch was in the strike zone.

From the trainer’s room
• Carlos Carrasco (torn right hamstring) is preparing to fly north to resume his rehab at the Mets’ alternate site in Brooklyn. Carrasco is stretched out to four innings on the mound, but he has yet to attempt to field his position. He’ll begin doing so once he arrives in Brooklyn. For now, Carrasco remains in what Rojas called a “week to week” progression.

• Relievers Seth Lugo (recovery from right elbow surgery) and Drew Smith (right shoulder soreness) are both playing catch off flat ground but have yet to advance to mound work. Lugo remains on his original timetable for a return at some point in May.