Player A:
270 minor-league games, 1207 PA, 771 outs, 190 Runs Created, .845 OPS (.308/.391/.454), 71 2B, 21 HR, 125 BB.
Player B:
245 minor-league games, 1102 PA, 729 outs, 170 Runs Created, .849 OPS (.327/.391/.458), 75 2B, 13 HR, 62 BB.
Bill James projects Player B at a .724 OPS in 144 games next year (.280/.322/.402)
Player A is Dustin Pedroia, the AL MVP. Bill James projects an .848 OPS for him. That's reasonable given Pedroia's ML track record.
Player B is KEVIN FRANDSEN. Our boy turns 27 this May (D.P. turns 26 in August). That is a "shit-or-get-off-the-pot" number. Here's a piece from a Chris Haft story last month:
It has been a typical offseason for Frandsen. He has resumed training at Athletes Performance Institute in the Phoenix area alongside his personal workout partner, American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia of Boston, and other Major Leaguers such as the Dodgers' Andre Ethier, the Pirates' Freddy Sanchez and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton.
Frandsen fully expects to reach their level.
"If I get the opportunity," he said, "I think a lot of people know what I can do."
I'm on the Kevin Frandsen bandwagon. I want to see this guy grab the second base job by the throat and not let it go, and I want to see him start 150 games and pound out a Fred Lewis-like line (.282/.351/.440 for an OPS+ of 105).
Am I nuts?
What say, men? Give me your take KF--what do you project for him in MMIX?
4 comments:
I'm with you. Not only is he just a better player than the other candidates (personally, I'll always take who plays fundamentally sound over speed), but he is quite simply a much smarter player. He is also no slouch at the plate having broke the hits record at SJSU and he owned minor league pitchers, especially his last stint in AAA. Also, lest we forget his last 35 games in MLB where he sustained an average over .350. He plays hard and understands the game. He is a team guy and a fan guy. He reminds me of the days of Clark and Thompson; days I'm sure everyone longs for.
Robby Thompson had a career OPS+ of 105!! q.v. B-R
If Frandsen can hit near the league average (.270/.342/.430 in 2008) he'd be great.
My feeling is Frandsen's biggest weakness is his glove. He'll prove to be an average second baseman. His minor league numbers aren't too shabby, and I'd say give him the job right now if he was batting in the Sox lineup. In 2007 he did finally string together some AB's, and looked pretty good.... I'm rooting for him... NL MVP in 2010!
To be smarter than Velez is no qualification for anything.
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