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PORT ST. LUCIE — Buck Showalter had seen Francisco Lindor play shortstop in exercises over the previous week, however on Sunday he noticed him in recreation motion for the primary time.
His takeaway?
“We get spoiled typically,” the Mets supervisor mentioned after a 6-4 loss to the Cardinals at Clover Park. “I used to be telling Francisco as we speak, he made 4 performs as we speak that had been actually arduous performs that type of get snubbed as a result of it’s him.”
However none was extra spectacular than the one he made within the fifth inning with no outs and runners on first and second. Nolan Arenado cracked a 103.6 mph line drive to Lindor’s proper, which he slid over to snag on one hop earlier than easily spinning round to throw to second base, beginning a 6-4-5 double play.
“I used to be kidding him, I mentioned, ‘So if we go to 3rd base initially, suppose we acquired a triple play?’ ” Showalter mentioned. “He mentioned, ‘No, as a result of Eduardo [Escobar] was off the bag [at third base]. By the point I threw it to second, he was in a position to get again to 3rd.’
“[I said], ‘OK, I’ll shut up now.’ ”
Whereas Lindor’s first season in Queens was largely disappointing from an offensive standpoint, his protection didn’t fall off due to it. He registered 20 outs above common, in response to baseball savant, which was the second-best mark of any shortstop within the majors.
Through the offseason, Showalter spoke to Lindor’s former supervisor in Cleveland, Terry Francona, who raved in regards to the protection that Showalter noticed for himself on Sunday.
It was the second time in as many Grapefruit League video games that Showalter got here away impressed by his shortstop. On Saturday night time, it was Luis Guillorme manning the place and, amongst different performs, executing an ideal relay from the outfield to throw a runner out at third.
“He’s acquired nice palms,” Showalter mentioned of the versatile infielder. “We don’t have somebody that may do what he does. He’s an irregular common. He’s a man that’s going to play an enormous position if we’re profitable this yr.”
Workforce protection has been an early level of emphasis for Showalter, who led a fast-paced drill Sunday morning working his infield via varied recreation eventualities.
“You’re rehearsing for a Broadway play,” Showalter mentioned. “Down right here, that’s what it’s — rehearsal for issues which might be going to return at you up there.”
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