Francisco Lindor-less Mets still thriving because of two unlikely heroes

While Francisco Lindor has been out with a back injury, Shohei Ohtani pretty much obliterated all NL MVP conversation.No surprise there.Ohtani is the most talented player in the world — arguably ever.

Once he soared beyond 50 homers and 50 steals in a season, Ohtani was going to own the voters even if Lindor had remained an Iron Man.The surprise is how well the Mets have compensated for Lindor missing from the leadoff spot and shortstop in the week in which he has not played.Because they have not replaced Lindor with the most talented players in the world.Jose Iglesias began this year on a minor league contract and contemplating retirement.

Luisangel Acuna managed a .654 OPS in a full season at Triple-A.Lindor felt indispensable.

Those players did not seem infallible.So what is happening is incredible.Iglesias out of the top spot in the lineup and Acuna at shortstop are tag-teaming the responsibilities brilliantly.

What good teams get in times of crisis are players rising to the moment.Iglesias and Acuna are rising.They are not alone.

Fueled by the fifth-largest regular-season crowd in Citi Field history (44,152) turning up October passion and volume, Sean Manaea continued to pitch like an ace and Francisco Alvarez’s recent hitting revival persisted in what became a 6-3 victory over the Phillies that kept the Mets two games ahead of the Braves for the NL’s final wild card.But in this moment there is nothing as valuable as what is going into replacing the most valuable Mets player.David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza had been concerned enough about what it meant to lose their best hitter, defender and clubhouse voice that they called an impromptu team meeting before Monday’s game against the Nationals.Lindor said the message from management was from the Belichick-ian “Do your job” motif: “You don’t have to be anybody else.

Be yourself.We still have a lot of good players.” Yet, the Mets are 5-1 since then because Iglesias and Acuna have been Lindo...