Amaro: Frandsen unlikely to return as a regular this season
Kevin Frandsen's season is not over, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated Tuesday that the stress fracture that has kept the third baseman out of the starting lineup for seven straight games is severe enough that he will not be able to return as a regular in the lineup for the remainder of the season.
Amaro: Frandsen unlikely to return as a regular this season
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Kevin Frandsen's season is not over, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated Tuesday that the stress fracture that has kept the third baseman out of the starting lineup for seven straight games is severe enough that he will not be able to return as a regular in the lineup for the remainder of the season.
"Frandsen's situation is he has a stress fracture in his (left) ankle, so he has to play to tolerance," Amaro said. "So he might play one day, then get another day off. He might come in for an emergency situation or he may come in to pinch-hit. It depends on how he feels.
"He's not going to be our regular third baseman. I don't think he can do it physically. I don't want to have a guy playing on a broken ankle. Even though it is just a stress fracture, we're not going to put him out there and have him try to do something he can't do."
Frandsen said his ankle feels considerably better than it did when it first forced him out of the lineup a week ago in Cincinnati and that he is determined to get back on the field. He has made just one pinch-hit appearance since suffering the injury and came through with an infield RBI single in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against Colorado.
"I got a big hit in that game and if that's what is asked of me then that's what is asked of me," Frandsen said. "I'm gearing up to play, though. I feel like I can play."
Catcher Carlos Ruiz, meanwhile, started his first game behind the plate since Aug. 2 Tuesday night. He had made his first appearance since Aug. 2 as a pinch-hitter in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader and he also entered that game as a defensive replacement. Ruiz had been on the disabled list with a severe left foot injury.
Amaro said that Ruiz's playing time will continue to be limited.
"He's not playing every day," Amaro said. "He might play once every four or five days. We'll see how he feels. We're going to have to monitor him very carefully."
We love what Frandsen has done, and we wish him well, but when you take 'roids, your joints pay the price.— andrewfrombrooklyn- andrew, go grope yourself some more; enjoy!— JBinPA
- Reward
asche for a fine season, bring him up and platoon with whoever is healthy enough on any given night. He might surprise everyone and man up.— Philvegas - Thay can't play Martinez every night, either. Wiggy is going to have to play some 3B. I know he is awful over there, but he can it. Sometimes, like right now due to injuries, you have to take the good with the bad.— Paul SoTX
- Thanks go to Kevin Frandsen for injecting some life in this team and started this spark that may be a 8 alarmer for other teams hopes if it keeps up. Heal up and we'll see ya in spring training. Job well done!— DelawareRiverRat
- I'm watching the game this evening and doesn't the Minister of Propaganda, also known as Wheels, say about Kratz...and this is close to a direct quote... that he has shown the potential to be the backup catcher next year, if that's the direction they want to go.
Talk about damning someone with faint praise. From Ruin's lips to our ears...— dasher - dash, you couldn't be more right.....maybe Wheels has a nephew Monty has promised the position to next year? Maybe Kratz has some kinda defect we don't know about and Wheels does? Maybe Wheels, ever the shill for ownership is just trying to give them an 'out' if they want one? — Mark1npt
- I'm glad I wasn't the only one nauseated by that "if that's the direction they want to go" line. — bearsfriend
- Kratz has been outstanding. Chris Wheeler has no credibility and no honor. The very fact that this waste is still on TV, when most Phillies fans have no respect for him, is an affront by the management. Sickening. — Bob1
- Yeah I caught that too. Hopefully its nothing to read into. The reason I say that is the majority of feedback from those two about Kratz has been great and constantly positive. Was a weird comment though. A power hitting backup catcher with a solid bat, good d , and leading the league in throwing out base stealers. What more would you want for a backup catcher?? Oh yeah and league minimum $..really shouldnt be a tough call. — philsfan in the atx
- They ought to put Raul Valdes on the 60-day DL and use that roster spot to bring Asche up.— s
- @s...I'll bet you dollars to donuts that's exactly how this goes down......even if Valdes' surgery goes well, he won't be much use to us til the WS at the very end of Oct anyway.....love Frandsen and do believe he can play a good bit down the stretch. As long as he doesn't run too much or slide too much he should be ok up to hispain tolerance.....AinBrooklyn, you're an idiot, you're an A alright. A stress fracture of the fibula is NOT caused by steroids.....and that big 1 HR he has to his credit this year further proves my point.— Mark1npt
- I'd really like to see Asche and Gillies (and Ruf actually get in a game). I'm not sure either one is going to happen. With Frandsen and Polanco both hurting I don't see much downside to giving Asche a look.
It's been good getting a look at De Fratus and Aumont.— s - Feel bad for Frandsen. Look forward to seeing him and Kratz on the roster next year. Some new and energetic faces, even though they hit the 30 year old mark.— watsonmr
