MLB.com's Todd Zolecki caught up with former Phillies infielder Kevin Frandsen this afternoon as the Phillies prepared to take on the Washington Nationals. Frandsen's pretty unexpected departure from the Phillies the Sunday before the team came north to begin the regular season. Frandsen appears to have an axe to grind in the interview. Here are some highlights.
First, Frandsen was not happy about being cut:
I was pissed. I was pissed. Like I said, I knew where I stood with Ryno and Bo and all those guys and Hendu. But I was pissed. If they thought I was roster flexibility, that’s what they thought. But I didn’t think that of myself. I earned my way to being on the bench, to being a vital part over there. That’s what I thought and that’s the feeling I have and I’m going to go with it.
Frandsen believes clearly that he could still help the Phillies in the infield. The team was not happy with Frandsen's defense, as evidenced by Frandsen's rare use outside of first base last season.
Still, Zolecki thinks Frandsen could have helped the Phillies:
He is hitting .289 with two doubles, two RBIs and a .714 OPS in 43 plate appearances, which is noteworthy as Phillies third basemen have a combined .483 OPS, which is the worst mark in baseball.
For that to matter, though, the Phillies would have had to feel that Frandsen can play third base. They did not and they decided to let him go.
The Nationals appear to think that Frandsen isn't an infielder, either. Frandsen has mostly been an outfielder for the Nationals this season; the only exception being one game in which Frandsen played second base for two innings.
Check out this video of one of his interesting outfield plays:
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