2009 San Francisco Giants: Second Base
A Look at the Infield
For several years now, the National League West has been considered the weakest division in baseball. There has not been a perennial powerhouse in the division for quite sometime, leaving the door open for any team to take the division crown. The Giants have solid pitching, but will need to couple that pitching with excellent defense and timely hitting. The Giants are looking for a regular second baseman who can provide the team with solid defense and steady hitting. The top three contenders for the second base opening are Kevin Frandsen, Emmanuel Burriss, and Eugenio Velez.
The Favorite: Kevin Frandsen
It might be hard to envision 26-year old Kevin Frandsen, as the favorite for the second base job coming out of Spring Training. Frandsen had only one at-bat last season following a terrible Achilles injury. Frandsen rehabbed quickly and was able to get his one at-bat, something that team doctors viewed as highly doubtful. Frandsen has said publicly that the injury allowed him to step back and learn about the nuances of the game of baseball. Following his injury shortened season, Frandsen played in the Arizona Fall League where he proceeded to hit .331 in 32 games. Frandsen also spent time at short replacing Burriss who battled injury and fielding problems. Frandsen may have an inside track because he is the most polished of the three players offensively. Frandsen makes solid contact, and plays within himself offensively. Defensively Frandsen is solid, but not spectacular. However, the Giants are in desperate need of offense following last season where they finished second to last in scoring for all of Major League Baseball.
The Top Contender: Emmanuel Burriss
The 24-year old Burriss made a big impression last season after being called up in late April. Burriss showcased his defensive prowess by starting 32 games at second base and 34 games at shortstop. Burress also showed off his great speed by legging out 24 infield hits and stealing 13 bases in 18 attempts. However, there have been many questions raised about Burriss. Burriss did hit a solid .283 as a rookie, but he only collected eight extra base hits in 240 at-bats. Additionally, Burriss has had a few lingering injuries to his oblique and his knee. These injuries may also explain Burriss’s ten errors in just 24 games in the Arizona Fall League. Burriss is actually the best defender among the three top candidates, but only when he is healthy. Frandsen’s offense may still give him the edge, but if Burriss can get healthy, he should make the competition very interesting.
The Dark Horse: Eugenio Velez
Velez had an up and down season with the Giants after making the Opening Day roster. Velez struggled to find any kind of consistency at the plate and in the field, prompting the Giants to send him back down to Triple-A midway through the season. The 26- year old Velez is the most dynamic of all three candidates. Velez has all of the raw athletic ability to be one of the game’s great players, but he presently lacks the experience and baseball IQ necessary to reach the next level. Velez is the fastest of all the Giants players, but he has trouble reading left-handed pitchers and their pickoff moves. Velez is also a defensive liability at this point in his career. Velez was originally an outfielder who was moved to the second base, and the transition has not been smooth. Velez is a hard worker who is constantly improving in every facet of the game, but he is still behind both Frandsen and Burriss. If Velez can find consistency at the plate and if he can learn to play adequate defense at second base, he just might find his way into the lineup. Velez’s speed and gap to gap hitting ability make him a valuable asset.
The competition for the second base job may not be settled until the end of Spring Training, but one thing is certain: Whoever wins the job will have earned it.
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