Jake Roth-USA Today Sports
San Diego Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin is back in the lineup on Tuesday night after sitting out Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a sore shoulder. This will be the first time Quentin faces the music against the Dodgers since he charged the mound and broke L.A. pitcher Zack Greinke’s collarbone in a brawl back in April.
All eyes will surely be set on him when he steps foot in the batter’s box to face Dodgers starter Ted Lilly. The question is will the Dodgers want to retaliate and plunk Quentin for revenge? Remember, Greinke missed more than month because of the injury, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was outraged with Quentin for charging Greinke. Payback always seems to happen in instances like these, especially against a division rival.
Mattingly even told reporters this before tonight’s game: “He gets hit a lot, so if he gets hit, he gets hit.”
Not many people in the baseball world agreed that Quentin should have charged the mound. Let’s rewind back to that moment. The Dodgers were winning by only one run, it was the sixth inning and it was a 3-2 count. Does that sound like someone trying to throw at a hitter? I didn’t think so.
Is it payback time? Lilly is no stranger to this scenario. He has been accused of “paying back” teams during his days with the Chicago Cubs. In 2007 and 2008 he was accused of throwing at Atlanta Braves hitters Edgar Renteria, Brian McCann and Yunel Escobar after the Braves plunked Cub outfielder Alfonso Soriano. That was a long time ago, but Lilly has always been a loyal teammate and I wouldn’t be surprised if Quentin gets one in his back tonight if the situation calls for it.
