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| Ishikawa, Frandsen Shine In Early Spring Action |
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By Joe Ritzo 3/2/2009
Stars From '05 Championship Team Could Play Leading Roles In San Francisco
Kevin Frandsen is off to a strong start this
spring as he battles for the second base job
(photo by Damon Tarver) |
Travis Ishikawa and Kevin Frandsen formed the right side of the infield in San Jose during the 2005 season and both played leading roles to help the team to a league championship. Ishikawa blasted 22 home runs from his first base position to pace the club while Frandsen at second base hit .351 to win team MVP honors. Now fast forward to 2009 and the duo is again looking to form the starting right side of an infield together – this time in San Francisco.
Entering spring training, both Ishikawa and Frandsen were expected to be involved in fierce battles for the starting nod at their respective positions. Ishikawa impressed in San Francisco last summer after his mid-August promotion when he hit .274 with three homers in 95 at-bats, however he’s still very inexperienced at the major league level. There are concerns about whether Ishikawa will be able to handle a full-time role, in particular due to his previous struggles against left-handed pitching. Ishikawa figures to get his strongest competition this spring from the power right-handed bats of Josh Phelps and Scott McClain, major league veteran Rich Aurilia and former San Jose Giant John Bowker.
Frandsen was expected to contend for the starting second base position last spring, but the San Jose native ruptured his Achilles tendon during a practice game forcing him out of action until late-September. As a result, Frandsen managed only one at-bat last season although it was a remarkable recovery to even garner any 2008 playing time. He then thrived in the Arizona Fall League and is completely healthy this spring as he battles another former San Jose Giant Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez for the starting second base job.
The early returns from both players this spring have been very positive. Ishikawa started the exhibition slate last Wednesday against the Cleveland Indians with a 3-for-3, two-homer, four-RBI output. Overall, Ishikawa is batting .500 (6-for-12) and is the only player on the squad to have homered more than once.
Frandsen also is swinging a hot bat as he smacked a home run in San Francisco’s game last Friday against Kansas City accounting for the Giants’ only run in the contest. Entering play this week, Frandsen is hitting .500 (4-for-8) with a double, a home run and three RBI’s.
While Ishikawa seems to have the clear, early advantage in the first base battle, Frandsen is receiving strong competition from Burriss. The speedster and member of the 2007 San Jose club has collected three hits, including a double, in his first nine at-bats. Also of note, Velez is 2-for-10 with an RBI and a stolen base in early spring action. However, Velez is also seeing considerable playing time in left field and may act as a utility player if he were to make the team.
PUCETAS IMPRESSIVE IN SPRING DEBUT
Kevin Pucetas has enjoyed nothing but success as a professional, so it should have come to no surprise that he dazzled in his major league spring training debut last week. Facing the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in Scottsdale last Thursday, the 2008 California League Pitcher of the Year worked two scoreless innings of relief. Pucetas surrendered a single and a walk in his first inning of work, but worked out of trouble thanks to a double play started by third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Pucetas then fired a 1-2-3 second inning of relief to finish his outing.
The 24-year old, who was a non-roster invitee to major league camp, owns a remarkable 32-7 career record in his first three professional seasons. With Jonathan Sanchez having left the team temporarily to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Pucetas figures to be a candidate to fill the open slot in the starting rotation. Ultimately, he’s expected to begin the 2009 season with either Connecticut or Fresno.
OTHER 2008 SJ GIANTS
In addition to Pucetas, several other players from the 2008 San Jose Giants have received early playing time in spring action. Utility player Matt Downs doubled coming off the bench in Saturday’s contest versus Seattle and is currently 1-for-4 (.250 AVG) in three games played. Downs, who played almost exclusively on the infield as a member of the San Jose Giants, has been playing right field in spring games thus far.
Buster Posey has delivered a sacrifice fly and has struck out in his first two spring plate appearances while Jackson Williams came through with a single in his only spring at-bat. On the pitching side, Jesse English endured a somewhat shaky outing last Wednesday, but still produced a save. The left-hander entered the game against Cleveland with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and immediately plunked the first batter he faced to bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, English then induced a deep fly ball out to the left field warning track finishing the game and preserving a 10-7 Giants win. English was placed on the 40-man roster last November.
Henry Sosa (1 IP, 0 R, 1 SO) and Waldis Joaquin (2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R) also impressed during brief relief outings last week.
ODDS AND ENDS
* All minor league pitchers and position players are due to report to minor league camp by this Thursday, March 5. The first minor league exhibition games are scheduled for March 18.
* San Francisco’s spring training record sits at 2-3 entering Monday’s action. The Giants defeated Milwaukee by a 5-2 score last Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.
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