Giants Baseball: Omar Vizquel Injures Knee

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...you go and do something like this!

It's sad to say, but the San Francisco Giants won't be fielding their starting shortstop come opening day. Omar Vizquel tore the medial meniscus in his left knee and won't be able to return to the field for four to six weeks.

He was flown back to San Francisco and was operated on today. Team doctors said the surgery went exactly as planned and he'll be on schedule to return sometime the first week of the season, barring any setbacks.

However, the 41-year-old shortstop may not heal as quickly as we need him to. With age comes longer healing times and it could be the end of April before we truly see him take the field and playing at 100 percent.

What this means for the Giants, is that Kevin Frandsen will get the opening day starting job at short, ending his competition with Ray Durham for the job at second. This also means that we will see Rich Aurilia as the starting third baseman, unless the Joe Crede deal goes through before the end of spring training.

I just hope that this doesn't put more pressure on the front office to bring someone on that we don't need. I'd hate to see us lose a great prospect just to put on a Band-Aid.

Spring Training games officially begin tomorrow with the Giants facing the Cubs at home in Scottsdale. Stay tuned!