Kevin Frandsen Re-Signed By Phillies, Proceeds To Bash Every Sports Writer In Philly

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Kevin Frandsen (28) hits a single against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning at Turner Field. The Phillies defeated the Braves 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Today was the final day that the Phillies had to tender a contract to their arbitration eligible players, sign them to a deal to avoid arbitration, or non-tender them. One of the players who the Phillies had to make a decision on before tonight’s 11 P.M. EST deadline, was utility-infielder Kevin Frandsen.

The 31 year-old Frandsen led the national league in pinch hits last year, but only hit .231. He does bring some pop off the bench, as he hit five homeruns and drove in 26 RBI’s. Perhaps his most valuable trait is that he is a serviceable first-baseman, second-baseman, and third-baseman. I’m just not sure that the Phillies needed someone that flexible, because he will keep Darin Ruf, Freddy Galvis, and Cesar Hernandez from getting at-bats–and perhaps being on the MLB roster.

Either way, Frandsen appears to be happy to be returning to Philadelphia.

He even took time to take a shot at thegoodphight.com, who he believed recently gave his 2013 season a D rating.

Things got interesting from there.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Frandsen got the joke.

The Good Phight really turned the joke back on Frandsen, because it was actually Crashburn Alley who gave the D rating to Frandsen.

And Frandsen even went at Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.

I’m not saying that I didn’t get a laugh out of this, but Frandsen just screwed himself. Contrary to his beliefs, public pressure does get back to sports organizations, especially when Citizens Bank Park isn’t selling out anymore. Blogs/Websites/Media Outlets, form the opinion of many local sports fans (whether that is right or wrong, is a topic for another time). So as hard as we are on athletes in Philadelphia, we are also human. If Frandsen came at me, I wouldn’t let it cloud my judgement of him as a player, but that isn’t to say that The Good Phight, Crashburn Alley, and CSN Philly won’t. If Frandsen has a slow start, three local media powerhouses now have extra ammunition to call for him to be designated for assignment to make room for a younger player like Galvis, Hernandez or Ruf. That seems like a lot of unnecessary pressure to put on yourself.

The Phillies also tendered contracts to all of their other arbitration players.

I like the Kendrick move, because while he is likely to get a salary above 6 million, he will give the Phillies a lot of innings. Innings are important considering the Phillies don’t have much certainty in the starting rotation after Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.

Unlike most of Philadelphia, I am high on Ben Revere. I think he is going to be a great leadoff hitter, with basestealing ability, who figures to be cheap for a few more years. Great move.

Antonio Bastardo is not a move that I like, because he is coming off of two bad years and a PED suspension. I didn’t expect the Phillies to non-tender him, but those just seemed like the ideal circumstances to move on from a guy. The fact that he is left-handed is the only reason the Phillies kept him.

John Mayberry is a Ruben Amaro player. Someone who really isn’t good at much, but he is closing in on age 30 and figures to be an expensive bench piece. Having him on the roster over Darin Ruf, or Cesar Hernandez flat out disgusts me.

None of today’s move surprise me. The Phillies haven’t had a winning season the last two-years, but Ruben Amaro thinks a few minor tweaks will turn the Phillies into a World Series contender. That’s just what I’ve come to expect from him.