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		Five years later, Frandsen still trying to stick By Morris Phillips June 9, 2010

	Five years later, Kevin Frandsen is still trying to make an impression. What else would you conclude following the San Jose native’s mad dash from his defensive position at third base all the way to the first base line in attempt to snag Eric Patterson’s pop up in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game against the A’s? Frandsen called off catcher Mike Napoli and first basemen Michael Ryan as if he had it all the way, only to watch the ball land fair just off the line as he dove all out with the ball just out of his reach. The pop up landed just 10 feet from Napoli’s perch behind the plate, but Frandsen felt it was his play—at least, until the last second. But when two organizations give up on you, in the span of a month, and you’ve been trying to establish yourself as a big leaguer since 2006 without any lasting success, you might attempt to make plays all over the diamond too. Anything to make an impression. Frandsen was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round in 2004 as the local kid trying to make good. Frandsen was an all-state performer in high school at Bellarmine Prep and then moved across town, where he established the school record for hits at San Jose State with 246. When the Giants took notice, he figured it be only a matter of time before he started having success at Pac Bell Park. But in 41 games in 2006 and then 109 in 2007, Frandsen played well backing the aging Ray Durham at second base, but not well enough to displace Durham. In 2007, Frandsen homered five times and hit .269—respectable, but not numbers that would force the organization to make a place for him permanently. And then in spring training prior to 2008, Frandsen ruptured his Achilles and missed almost the entire season, playing only in one game in September. But he kept his star shining bright by having a promising fall league campaign that year in Scottsdale where he hit .331. But by spring 2009, Eugenio Velez and Emmanuel Burriss had both gotten their feet wet at the major level, both playing consistently for stretches during the 2008 campaign. Neither Burriss or Velez appeared to have the promise of Frandsen, but that picture got murky with Frandsen’s season of injury and inactivity. So in spring training of 2009, a three-way competition was waged, and Frandsen was the odd man out to start the season. He fumed, drawing the ire of GM Brian Sabean and others in the organization, and his fate was sealed. Frandsen played just 23 games in 2009 at the big-league level, and he struggled, managing to get just seven hits with a .140 batting average. So prior to this season, it was no surprise when he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox before the season began. But he lasted only a month in the Red Sox’s organization, without a major-league call up, before he was designated for assignment, and the Angels claimed him the next day. The Anaheim organization placed Frandsen in Salt Lake City and he was productive there, hitting .286 in nine games. When the Angels’ third basemen Brandon Wood started having troubles with his hip and was put on the disabled list, Frandsen got the call and a new position. And in 15 games with Anaheim, Frandsen has been wonderful, hitting .366 with a pair of 3-hit games, all while the Angels have started to surge in the AL West, moving from third place and five games under .500 to first place on Monday, after beating the A’s, 4-2. Frandsen, 6’0’’ and 185 pounds and now 28 years old will never produce eye-popping numbers, but his hot streak couldn’t have come at a better time for himself or the Angels. Even after a 15-game look, Frandsen appears better established with Anaheim than he ever was in San Francisco. How about that and how it spotlights fresh starts and clean slates?