When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

08.28.2007
Free Frandsen

Last week's Challenge to a Giant went quite well. I called out Barry Zito to finish the year with an ERA lower than his career high 4.48. Last night he threw his third straight gem and is down to 4.59.

So let's try another challenge. This one's for Bruce Bochy: put Kevin Frandsen in every starting lineup from here until the end of the season. He can rotate between second, third and short, but get him in there with SmokeyRay Durham the main displacee. There's no reason to showcase Ray anymore with the hope that someone will trade for him. His most recent hammy strain put the last nail in that conceptual coffin.

Tonight's lineup prediction

CF Davis
2B Frandsen
RF Winn
LF Bonds
C Molina
3B Feliz
1B Ortmeier
SS Vizquel
P Cain

Speaking of throwing smokey, here's some suggested reading: a deeper look at why Matt Cain is so damn good.
Also on the Network:



[August 28, 2007 7:03 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Anonymous said

Your HTML is messed up, dude.

[August 28, 2007 7:26 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Josh from Hollywood said

Fantastic piece on Cain. Thanks for the link.

[August 28, 2007 7:39 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

HTML fixes brought to you by Lefty's magical code elves. When it's time for a change...

[August 28, 2007 7:45 PM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

"I Have A Dream." - Aug 28th, 1963. MLK

We can Dream too can't we?

[August 28, 2007 8:17 PM]  |  link  |  reply
trilljester said

Remember Speedy Oil Change and Tuneup!

Oy...

[August 28, 2007 8:17 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

I totally agree about Frandsen and Durham. My take since the beginning of the season is that anytime Durham has any of his nicks and strains and what have you, you automatically DL him for 15 days and start Frandsen in his place.

Frandsen has had some success starting this season. As I had noted mid-year, Frandsen was hitting well when put in starting situations, but his PH appearances was dragging his stats down. Then when he had his slump, he doesn't start enough to get off the hump on that, so it dragged on.

Now that he's hitting a bit, particularly for power, the Giants should definitely just start him, mainly at 2B and 3B (Feliz might be hitting for better peripherals but that's useless unless he improves overall, which he hasn't), maybe just alternate, plus a start a week at SS maybe.

We need to see what we got, perhaps he can get near starting in 2008 like Feliz did in years past, by mainly starting at 3B (3-4 starts), plus a start each week at SS and 2B, with Aurilia getting the other starts at 3B, perhaps alternating with Klesko or even Ishikawa at 1B. Plus when Durham, as I had recommended, inevitably has his nicks and strains, just DL him immediately, start Frandsen at 2B, and play Aurilia at 3B.

You should have challenged Zito to get below 4.00! :^D

[August 28, 2007 9:37 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Tonight's actual lineup:

Davis, CF
Vizquel, SS
Winn, RF
Bonds, LF
Molina, C
Feliz, 3B
Aurilia, 1B
Frandsen, 2B
Cain, P

With a lefty starting for COL, I wanted to see Ort instead of Aurilia at 1B. Otherwise, I was pretty close.

[August 29, 2007 12:57 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

Of course as soon as I call for more Frandsen he makes two brutal errors and injures himself.

[August 29, 2007 1:05 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Lars said

Heh...I thought of you, Lefty when he botched the double play ball.

It's all good. They won and the kid got playing time. Hopefully, he won't be out for too long.