MILWAUKEE — Because of the microscope placed on each pitch and each play of the wild-card series, the larger circumstances surrounding Francisco Lindor might have been glossed over.
A player with a bad back, who missed eight straight games from the middle to the end of September, who had to serve as designated hitter after one full game as shortstop, whose back is most affected when he bends down — a pretty enormous ability for a fielder — has played an excellent shortstop.
The Mets’ MVP has been able to put the pain to the side and play every day, getting the start for Thursday’s do-or-die Game 3 against the Brewers after having played every single inning of the first two contests of the series at American Family Field.
“The first day he was out there, I could tell [his back was hurting],” said third-base and infield coach Mike Sarbaugh, a longtime coach of the Guardians who has seen Lindor more than just about anyone. “The last few days he’s looked like himself.”
Lindor, who has acknowledged that he is playing through pain, has hid it well.
He looked most like himself Wednesday, when he dashed to the other side of second base, bent over to spear a Sal Frelick ground ball, spun and unleashed a strong throw mid-spin to retire the speedy Frelick.
But there were a handful of other instances in which Lindor has looked unaffected.
He gave up his body on a dive on a smoked grounder up the middle Wednesday, when he reached a Blake Perkins batted ball but couldn’t shovel to second base in time for the lead out.
He kept a Gary Sanchez single in the infield later in the game, not always converting the out but willing to do anything to keep the ball in front of him.
“I’m sure he’s probably still in some discomfort, but he’s not showing it,” Sarbaugh said.
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Lindor came back from the lower back issues Friday and appeared limited — and also appeared indispensable, returning with a pair of hits.
He was a DH then next day, an early sign that the Mets were concerned with his health, but he has not sat since (excluding the meaningless second game of Monday’s doubleheader).
Lindor continues to play — and continues to play as if his back did not just cost him more than a week of games.
“He always seems to have the ability to rise to the occasion,” Sarbaugh said. “Knowing how important these games are, it doesn’t surprise me he’s been able to do what he’s doing.”
