Griffin Plays Through Pain : Dodgers: Expressionless eyes mask physical ailments, mental anguish of being told--incorrectly--his mother was about to die.

Contrary to the teachings of “This Week In Baseball,” Alfredo Griffin’s greatest gifts are not legs, which take him farther in one step than some people travel in five. Nor hands, which are faster than a line drive and softer than a bunt.

Griffin’s greatest blessing is his expression: dark and solemn eyes, pursed lips, tight jaw saying nothing and hiding everything. Especially the pain.

“There is pain, but nobody should see it,” said Griffin, 33, the Dodger shortstop beginning his 12th major league season. “Somebody sees it, then maybe you don’t play. I must play.”

For Griffin, keeping a straight face was never harder than in 1989. There was the sprained thumb in his throwing hand that lasted five months. There was the sore right elbow, caused by a different throwing motion that reduced pressure on the thumb. There was the left shoulder, which hurt all season. The injury was kept so quiet, many were shocked when the Dodgers announced that he underwent off-season arthroscopic surgery to repair it.

Then there was a pain that Griffin describes by grabbing his heart. His mother, Mary, who has spent all of her life in the Dominican Republic, afraid to travel to the United States, seemed to be mysteriously ill for much of the season.

He took her to a doctor before 1989 spring training and was told she didn’t have long to live. He was so frightened, he took her to another doctor and didn’t ask any questions, hoping that doctor would disagree. He did.

Griffin flew to Vero Beach, Fla., wondering which doctor was right.

After phoning her at least once a week to check on her condition, Griffin flew home at the All-Star break to try to persuade her to come to the United States for a third opinion. She agreed and flew to Los Angeles, where a thorough physical examination revealed there was nothing seriously wrong.

Relieved, he returned to the business of hitting .247 with a career-high 27 doubles, while tying for fifth in the National League with 11 sacrifice bunts. Those statistics may not sound like much, but for the weary Griffin, they were near miraculous.

“I think,” Griffin said softly, “that I have a great year.”

Secure after the Dodgers renewed an option year on his contract this winter to carry him through the 1991 season, Griffin said he is ready for “10 more” great years.

If the expression will last.

Already this spring, back spasms have sidelined Griffin for one game. The Dodgers were forced to use Lenny Harris at shortstop, where he played one game last season. They have gotten so used to Griffin’s endurance, they aren’t quite prepared if he breaks.

But Griffin points to the one law that has guided his life in baseball, from the unpaved streets of the Dominican Republic to major league glitz: You don’t break.

“They don’t have to worry,” Griffin said. “I tell you what, I love this game. I can’t quit this game. I don’t know what I would do. If I quit, I don’t think anybody would miss this game as much as I do.”

Said teammate Jose Gonzalez: “He’s a Dominican, he grew up on the streets, he has taken a lot more pain than people can imagine. But he will keep everything to himself. He tells nobody nothing. He plays hard, and you have to force him to stop.”

Griffin said he is following advice given early in his career while playing for Toronto. One night after a game in Anaheim, Angel star Rod Carew invited several young Latin players to dinner.

“He tells us, you got to show people that you can play every day,” Griffin remembered. “He said if we wanted to make it, we could give them no excuse to get rid of us. That is what I live by.”

So last season, with the exception of 14 games he missed while on the disabled list for the thumb injury, he missed just 10 others with various ailments. It was the ninth time he has played at least 136 games.

Harder than anything, though, was playing while trying to wonder what would happen to his mother. As much as baseball guides his life, it is not even a close second to his family.

“You must understand, family is all I have,” he said. “They are hurting, I am hurting. All summer, I go to the park thinking about my mother, and then try to block it out when I get on the field.

“People don’t know, coaches don’t know, I can’t tell anybody until she is fine,” Griffin said. “That way it’s easy to just play.”

Dodger Notes

The Dodgers ran their spring record to 2-2 with a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets Thursday. Former Dodger Mike Marshall hit a home run and an RBI triple for the Mets, but with two out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Dodger rookie pitcher Greg Mayberry got Marshall to fly out to end the game. . . . John Shelby threw out two Met runners from left field and had two singles and a double in a bid for the fifth outfielder’s job.