In utility role, Frandsen has to be ready for anything

Before this season, Kevin Frandsen had trotted to the outfield only 14 times in 398 career games. Now, with the Nationals thin in the outfield because of injuries that sent Denard Span (concussion) and Scott Hairston (oblique strain) to the DL, and with Nate McLouth nursing a sore left knee, Frandsen is quickly becoming reacquainted with warning tracks, walls and tricky bounces in opposing ballparks.

Tonight marks the veteran's third straight start in left field, but to hear Frandsen tell it, that's just an occupational hazard when you're a utility man.

"As a utility guy, you come in and prepare yourself to start every day," he said before the Nationals opened a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins on Monday. "If you don't, you get sideswiped. If you don't come in preparing yourself for that start, then you're behind the eight-ball. So I prepare myself like I'm an everyday player."

That's not always so easy to do. And coming to the Nationals just before the start of the season, after the Phillies released him when he balked at an assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Frandsen has been working overtime to develop a routine in new surroundings.

Shifting to the outfield over the past few games has been an adjustment, but a welcome one.

"It's nice to be actually in a routine," he said. "It was tough the first couple of weeks. ... Obviously, excited for my opportunity. Coming in, I knew exactly what my role was. When you get some unfortunate breaks in here with the injuries, it's gotta be next man up."

That could be third baseman Ryan Zimmerman heading to the DL with a broken right thumb, or a short-term need in the outfield. Yesterday, he had barely an hour's notice when McLouth came down with a sore knee to prepare for his start.

But that's where a utility man's knack for emergency preparedness comes in to play.

"Being a utility guy and being on the field with all the (hitting) groups for so long, you go out and shag," he explained. "When I was in Philadelphia, I would go all the time and do early work with Juan Samuel. I worked on that even during spring training. I feel like that preparation there helped me out."

Frandsen's hot start at the plate has made it easier for manager Matt Williams to call on him. Frandsen enters tonight's game hitting .476 (7-for-15) on the year.