Andrew Baggarly - MercuryNews
A hitting coach is supposed to study his players' swings. For years, Kevin Frandsen had it the other way around.
Frandsen spent countless afternoons playing whiffle ball at Capitola State Beach, poking his head over his shoulder, opening his stance, choking up on the bat and furiously shaking it just like Carney Lansford did.
"My brother was older - he always got to pick first and he took the Giants," Frandsen said of D.J., who died in 2004 after a lifelong battle with cancer. "That meant I had to be the A's, and Carney was my favorite because he was easy to do."
Frandsen, a San Jose native, had no way of knowing that years later he'd be in the major leagues and Lansford, a Wilcox High alumnus, would be his hitting coach.
"I was a Giants fan, but I saw a lot of A's games growing up too, and the guy just raked all the time," Frandsen said. "I was so excited when he came here. I knew his mentality as far as being accountable. And obviously, he knows his stuff. He can back it up with a batting title."
Frandsen knew about Lansford's coaching style because they briefly worked together at Hardtke World of Baseball in Campbell. Lansford would assist there from time to time while his sons were younger.
So Frandsen already knows Lansford will have an impact as the Giants seek to address their situational hitting - a major area of failure for last year's team. For now, Lansford hasn't made many suggestions.
He is still watching, listening and learning each hitter's tendencies.
"What I really want to do is just keep them on top of their game," Lansford said. "With most of these guys, no major changes need to be made, especially with the guys who have a chance to be on this team. The only thing I'd like to do is help the veteran guys who struggled last year, Omar (Vizquel), (Rich) Aurilia and (Ray) Durham: straighten them out and get them on track.
"I sat down with Richie and Durham, talked to them about what they think went wrong. Ray just got in bad habits last year. We get him back on track, he should be much better. I'd like to talk to Omar, but right now he's battling a little knee problem, so I want him to get past that first."
Several players in camp, both young and old, have noted that they appreciate Lansford's listen-and-learn approach. Too many hitting coaches teach one theory or style, and try to make everyone adapt to it.
"Everybody starts a little different, but the goal is to end up in the same hitting spot," outfielder Aaron Rowand said. "There's not just one mold."
Said Frandsen: "He works with what you have. He's not trying to change your stance, or make you hit exactly the way he did."
If that was Lansford's plan, it would be obvious by now. The whole camp would be shaking.
"You know, I didn't even know I did it," he said, of his oft-imitated hitting style. "You're thinking so much on the pitch and the pitcher. It's just what I naturally did.
"No, you won't see the guys doing that. That's not something you teach to anybody."
• For at least one swing, all was right with Durham. He crushed a home run onto the berm in left field against left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, who otherwise has been one of the sharpest pitchers in camp.
Durham initially denied he took Sanchez deep, but then fessed up - and lost any veil of modesty.
"Yeah, it cleared the trees way out there, too," he said.
• Bengie Molina (strained left quadriceps) took batting practice and hopes to resume catching in a day or two.
• Manager Bruce Bochy returned to San Diego to take care of personal business. He is expected to return in time to oversee today's workouts.
• Former Atlanta Braves right-hander Kevin Gryboski is participating in the Giants' minor league mini-camp. Gryboski has spent the past two years trying to come back from a shoulder injury.
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