The Giants have a competition of sorts for the second-base position.  Yet, coming off a strong Arizona Fall League showing (.331/.392/.421) that mimicked his career minor-league line (.327/.391/.458), Kevin Frandsen is the favorite to win the second-base job. His first comparable player is Kevin Sefcik, who spent portions of six years as a back-up for the Phillies in the 1990s, hitting more or less (.275/.351/.371) what we might reasonably expect Frandsen to hit at the major-league level.

Mark DeRosa, Frandsen’s second comp, has had the career that might be considered Frandsen’s upside. The University of Pennsylvania Quakers’ quarterback was drafted by the Braves in the seventh round of the 1996 draft. He’s not been fazed by any of the innumerable new responsibilities he’s been handed over the years, and has become a bit of a super-utilityman. (Despite DeRosa’s many uses, the Cubs traded him in his last contract year to the Tribe, and while that should have provided the Indians a ready excuse to move Jhonny Peralta to third and Asdrubal Cabrera to short, it appears they’ll put DeRosa at third and simultaneously play three infielders at their second-best defensive positions.)

DeRosa’s power spike last year shouldn’t be expected every season. As a matter of fact, DeRosa can be a bit streaky. After missing most of April 2006 with a sprained ankle, DeRosa rejoined the Cubs roster and tore the cover off the ball. At the end of June, he was hitting .346/.401/.514. But 31-year-old infielders rarely morph into Ty Cobb-hitting outfielders overnight, and DeRosa came back to earth, batting a more DeRosa-like .265/.333/.423 the rest of the way. The Tribune Company, of course, bought the May-June surge and gave DeRosa his current contract. Should Frandsen surf a similar wave in 2009, let’s hope the Giants don’t start shoveling money his way.

Steve Dillard, Frandsen’s third comp, spent seven years (not counting one game in 1975) as a utility infielder for the Red Sox, Tigers, White Sox and Cubs. He hit .243/.297/.343. Joe Strain, the fourth comp, was a Giant (1979-80) and then a Cub (1981) and hit .250/.292/.288 in 572 career at-bats. Giants fans hope Frandsen does better than either. What Frandsen has going for him are work ethic and contact-rate. But he doesn’t draw many walks, has middling power, and is an average fielder. All of those things may be an improvement over last year’s second basemen, but they should mean the Giants are still looking to plug that hole.