Lowerback spasms plague Dickerson

MILWAUKEE — Outfielder Alex Dickerson is fighting a physical ailment that the general public understands well because so many nonathletes are afflicted. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, he gets lowerback spasms.

Manager Bruce Bochy removed the productive newcomer in the ninth inning Friday night because he could see Dickerson struggling to swing the bat. Dickerson was not in Saturday’s lineup and Bochy termed him “questionable” for Sunday’s series finale against the Brewers.

Asked if this would be an ongoing concern, Bochy said, “I think that’s fair to say. This might flare up occasionally. We have to monitor his workload, especially this year because of the issue he had with his back. He needs to be honest with us when he needs a day.”

Dickerson’s “issue” was a ruptured disk that required midseason surgery in 2017, one of two major injuries that kept him out of the majors for two seasons. He subsequently had Tommy John surgery.

Dickerson said he does not believe this injury is related to his earlier surgery.

“It’s feeling better,” he said. “It was just a little bit of a spasm that comes and goes. I’ve had it

enough times. I had it a couple times in spring training. I’ve probably dealt with it every year that I’ve played professional baseball, even in college.

“I could definitely play through it. Sometimes it goes away after a couple of days. I just need to give it some quality rest and let it run its course.”

Dickerson said he was available off the bench Saturday.

Baer visits: Giants president and chief executive officer Larry Baer accompanied the team to Milwaukee, which was planned as part of an annual trip for the team’s investors. Baer presided over a meeting of the team owners here and spent batting practice in the dugout, visible publicly for the first time since he returned from suspension on July 2.

Baer declined to address reporters, saying he plans to do so but only after he speaks to the entire Giants staff in the next few days. Many were on vacation during the Fourth of July holiday and the AllStar break. He acknowledged he has talked to many employees informally since he returned to the office.