In Brewers’ lost season, Adam Lind providing fireworks
By Tim Haberin
For the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s the kind of season where you try to cling to anything positive to get you through the remaining months of the campaign. Despite a recent winning steak, the Brew Crew currently sport a dismal 34-48 record; only the Rockies and Phillies own worse marks. Sitting 19 games out of the National League Central, it’s more than understandable to be thinking about next year.
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It hasn’t been all bad, though. One offseason acquisition in particular is quietly exceeding expectations in his first season in a Brewers uniform. Milwaukee traded pitcher Marco Estrada to the Blue Jays for veteran first baseman Adam Lind last November. Estrada has certainly made his fair share of noise of late, bringing potential no-hitters into the eighth innings of two recent starts.
Don’t assume the Brewers got the short end of the deal, however. Lind has come roaring back in 2015 as a heart-of-the-order threat.
The 31-year-old endured a frustrating season in Toronto last year, missing 66 games with a broken foot. Though he hit .321 in games he played, he had trouble mustering his usual power output, managing just six homers on the year. He appeared very distant from the player he was in 2009, when he put up career highs in home runs (35) and RBI (114) and received MVP consideration.
Lind has stayed healthy so far this season, and the on-field results are palpable. He is slashing .295/.370/.507 with 13 homers and 48 RBI through 78 games. Only Ryan Braun has hit more long balls and driven in more runs for the club this year. Lind also leads the squad with a .877 OPS and 2.3 WAR.
For Lind, the offensive prowess has really started kicking into high gear over the past couple weeks. After hitting just .217 in May, he has rediscovered his bat in resounding fashion, hitting .388/.466/.714 since June 20 while belting four homers and driving in 15 runs. That span also included a nine-game hitting streak from June 20-29.
His recent strong play might even earn Lind a trip to Cincinnati as a Brewers All-Star representative, but he is no guarantee to finish the season in blue and gold. Lind is due to hit free agency at the end of the year, and with Milwaukee sure to be sellers at the deadline, the first baseman will likely be an appealing piece for contending teams.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels have already emerged as one club to kick the tires on Lind’s availability. With the Halos struggling to score runs, Lind could help jump-start their lineup. Angels designated hitters are batting a measly .212 this year, so Lind would signify a massive upgrade there. He could also spell Albert Pujols at first when need be.
For the time being, Adam Lind will continue trying to serve as one of the few attractions at Miller Park this year. But in a lost season in Milwaukee, strong production and an expiring contract could very well be a ticket out of town.