BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Padres Lose Gwynn for Four Weeks

The San Diego Padres’ playoff hopes took a huge blow Tuesday when it was discovered that All-Star right fielder Tony Gwynn will be out a minimum of four weeks because of a partial tear and fraying of his right Achilles’ tendon.

“Anytime you lose a guy like Tony Gwynn,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said, “you can’t help but be affected. He’s been trying to play through this thing, but it’s been killing him.

“He’s frustrated, he’s tried of playing in pain.”

The Padres will shuffle their outfield in Gwynn’s absence, moving Rickey Henderson from left field to right field, and playing rookie Marc Newfield in left. They will replace Gwynn on the roster today by purchasing the contract of outfielder Rob Deer of triple-A Las Vegas.

“You can never replace the guy,” Henderson said. “The guy who steps in has to do the best job he can do and hope the other guys pick up a little bit.”

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Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who has lost 12 pounds since being hospitalized because of his heart attack and ulcer, said he is slowly regaining his strength. He walked around his neighborhood Tuesday, and is feeling stronger each day.

Certainly, there’s no home in his entire neighborhood whose phone is busier these days. Considering Lasorda does not have call-waiting, or an answering machine, it’s probably easier to reach the President than Lasorda.

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All-Star catcher Mike Piazza decided to take Tuesday’s game off, and plans to catch the last five days before the All-Star break.