Quentin to have knee surgery....out up to 4 Weeks

First night game of the spring tonight and a bunch of news from Padres camp today...

We found out that new outfielder Carlos Quentin will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery on the off day Monday back in San Diego.  It's his right knee and there is torn meniscus and some other 'floating particles' that are causing him pain.  The original problem took place about 4 days into camp.  Quentin's right knee was being treated and monitored and was feeling better until sliding into 2nd base during a game last week.  The knee swelled up that night and after consulting with the training staff, the decision was made to have the surgery now, to as Buddy Black said, "knock it out" and not compromise a significant chunk of the season.  It's usually about a 4 week injury, but every case is different of course.  Quentin sounded confident that he would only miss a couple of weeks of the season, but of course nobody is sure of that exact time frame.

In other news...

Chris Denorfia could see some time in the game tonight.  He's been out all spring with a lower back injury.  He's played in a couple of minor league games recently and Buddy Black told us not to be surprised to see "Deno" in the game against the Royals.

Nick Hundley's side (right) is getting better, he hopes to be back in the lineup by Tuesday.

Orlando Hudson is going through "baseball activities" today and could be healthy enough (right groin strain) to play by the middle of next week.

Mark Kotsay, the Padres 37 year old outfielder, got 6 at bats today in a minor league game.  Just to stay fresh.

Padres lineup tonight:

CF - Cameron Maybin
RF - Will Venable
3B - Chase Headley
LF - Jesus Guzman
1B - Yonder Alonso
 C - John Baker
2B - Jonathan Galvez
SS - Andy Parrino
SP - Cory Luebke

The Padres will not use the DH tonight, but the Royals will.  Strange huh?  Luebke is scheduled to go 4 innings and Jeff Suppan is also slated to go 4, with Huston Street and Brad Boxberger each penciled in for 1.  I know that equals 10 innings but again, Boxberger is there in case somebody needs a bailout during an inning.  Remember it's in PENCIL!!

It's getting very windy and cloudy here in Arizona, and the flags are blowing straight out toward center field.  The rain is expected here by sometime around 10pm tonight.  Tomorrow's games (@ Scottsdale v. Giants and @ Tucson) could be iffy.  Stay tuned!

Join Bob Scanlan and me tonight on XX 1090 for the game, starting at 7pm.