MLB: Omar Vizquel injures knee, out 4-5 weeks

Mad Dog Russo..."Oh, no...the Giants desperately need him!”

Veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel has torn the medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee and is expected to miss four or five weeks.

Vizquel, who will turn 41 in April, was flying back to San Francisco on Tuesday to meet with Dr. Ken Akizuki, a Giants team physician.

“My knee was feeling good,” Vizquel said. “I wanted to give it a hard shot in order to make a decision. It didn’t work. I felt a little pop when I was running.”

In Vizquel’s absence, Kevin Frandsen will take over primary duties at shortstop, which in essence ends Frandsen’s competition with Ray Durham at second base.