Frandsen upbeat despite injury

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Kevin Frandsen may be a fierce competitor, but those who figured he would be distraught by a season-ending injury misjudged him.

On the day that an MRI exam confirmed Frandsen has a ruptured Achilles that will likely cost him the season, he showed up to the clubhouse joking with his teammates.

Frandsen, whose brother died of cancer, said he has the proper perspective on his injury.

"I've dealt with enough in my life to know there are a lot of worse things in the world," Frandsen said Tuesday. "I'm a privileged individual to play this game. If you get injured playing sports and it's not life-threatening, that happens."

Frandsen had missed a week with a sore Achilles, and he blew it out almost immediately upon testing it in a minor league exhibition game on Monday. He collapsed rounding second.

Frandsen said he did not second-guess the decision to play.

"If we would have waited I probably would have blown it out in two weeks (in a regular season game) going from second third and I'd have been tagged out and we'd have lost the game," he said. "It was bound to happen."

Frandsen will undergo surgery back in Bay Area. Frandsen was walking with crutches, his left foot in a protective boot.

Frandsen said he will hang around and root on his teammates the rest of the season, looking toward playing in 2009.

"You saw how hungry I was this year, I wonder what it'll be like after another year," he said.

BRIEFLY

Aaron Rowand had to leave the game after getting hit in the right leg. He suffered a contusion. Rowand said he expected to be able to play today. "My left leg was quick enough to get out of the way, but my right leg wasn't," Rowand said. "It's no big deal. It'll be sore for a couple days, but I should be fine."

Jonathan Sanchez gave up four runs in five innings. Since making a change in his delivery, Sanchez has allowed eight earned runs in 18 innings. He has not walked a batter over his past 10 innings, and he started 18 of 25 hitters with strikes on Tuesday.

Today begins the Giants' final run through the rotation before the season starts. Barry Zito will pitch tonight in Fresno. Matt Cain will start Thursday's game against Seattle at AT&T Park, followed by Tim Lincecum, Kevin Correia and Sanchez, respectively, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the A's. Saturday's game is in Oakland, and the others are in San Francisco.

Infielder Justin Leone was reassigned to minor league camp.

The Giants are hosting a free party on Monday at AT&T Park, while the team is playing its opener at Dodger Stadium. Starting at 11 a.m., fans can take batting practice on the field and watch the game on the video board. The first 5,000 fans get free hot dogs.

Contact staff writer Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.