Durham DL = Frandsen Call Up = Me Saying YEA!

It's about time. After the start of the annual Durham dance with the DL about a week ago, with the prequel of his foot problems in spring, I was hoping the Giants would have learned from THREE FRICKING YEARS OF THIS and just bite the bullet and DL him, meanwhile calling up Frandsen. They have been too patient with Durham before, just put him on the DL the moment he pulls up lame like this, otherwise it is a week or two of "will he, won't he" before he either heals or go on the DL.

They need to realize that his body is a shrine, a shrine to the god of lingering injury, just bite the bullet since we have a hot prospect like Frandsen. May as well give him some quality time up here and see how he does, especially since he has been hot so far whereas Durham had been cold. Which is another reason to just put him on the DL, it's not like he was hitting a storm before his latest injury

Best Case Scenario

Maybe he's the real deal. If he shows that he can handle things up here while Durham is healing, then that gives the Giants the option of trading Durham to pick up a good prospect, hopefully to an AL club (so he won't harm our chances of making the playoffs). Then Frandsen can come up after the trade and take over as the starting 2B before 2007 and we will get a good prospect or two because when Durham is healthy, he is a great contributor to the offense.

Worse Case Scenario

Maybe Frandsen sucks. Then at least he gets some experience in the big show, it should make him that much more hungrier to make it up to the majors. Travis Ishikawa was interviewed after coming back from his short stint with the Giants and he was amazed by how big a difference there is in how he is treated in the majors vs. the minors. And it shouldn't hurt Frandsen's psyche, unlike how Salomon Torres was spooked by his beating, he seems to be mature and his brother's long bout with his illness before passing will help him keep his perspective on things as well as motivate him to do better because the Giants was his brother's favorite team (as well as his).

Something In-Between

And life usually throws something in-between at any of us. He will have some good games, he will have some games where he looks lost, he will do OK in other games. Fans will be encouraged for the future but not clamoring to keep him in the lineup and jettison Durham.

My Thoughts

This is what I asked for in one of my pre-season posts, that Durham be put on the DL sooner than later and let Frandsen begin his transition to becoming the Giants starting 2B. So I'm pretty happy, though it would have been better if they did this earlier. And Frandsen has not disappointed yet, going 3-4 with 3 runs scored as the Giants lead 10-2 after 8 innings, so that has to be pretty sweet and he must be on cloud nine right now, sitting next to his brother, reminiscing about the days they would daydream about doing just this type of heroics. But either way, I think this will be good for Frandsen, good for Durham, and good for the team, not having to wonder if Durham is starting today or not and, more importantly, not putting the name "Jose Vizcaino" in the starting lineup.

Other Notes

What a game! This is what we dreamed about when we got Alou. Schmidt had a great game, looks like he is finally ready for the season. Frandsen had a dream beginning to his major league career. Feliz actually got 3 hits AND a walk, he has been hitting well at home, his struggles have been mainly hitting at road parks where he normally don't do well, plus I think sitting on the WBC bench probably set him back in getting ready for the season, he's finally out of spring training mode apparently.

And more importantly, Alou is batting Winn 3rd and leading off with Vizquel, as I noted in a pre-season quote, Vizquel does better leading off, historically, and Winn's power is nice in the 3rd spot. He is probably the most prototypical 3rd hitter on the team, providing hitting, power, and speed from this important spot in the lineup. And Frandsen (and Durham later when he gets well) is fine for the 2-spot, getting hits, using his extra (vs. Vizquel) power to drive in Omar or to get on base to force pitchers to face Winn, Bonds, Alou in a sort of modern day Murderer's Row, Giants' style.