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| Rafael Furcal was the ultimate table-setter for the Dodgers on Wednesday. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and helped LA down the Cardinals 5-3 in the NLDS opener. |
Our View: Furcal didn't have the best regular season, but as long as his bat heats up in the postseason Dodger fans likely will carry a short-term memory. His ability to get on in front of the big boppers was crucial to LA's success and played to their small-ball type strengths.
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| Rafael Furcal went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in the Dodgers 3-1 loss to the Padres on Tuesday. |
Our View: Furcal is hitting .333 for the month with two homers, nine RBI and five steals. He's still batting just .269 on the season though, as it has been a down year for the Dodger leadoff man.
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| Rafael Furcal tore it up on Tuesday. He went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI out of the leadoff spot in the Dodgers 14-2 win over the Nationals. |
Our View: Furcal is having a down season on all accounts, but if for some reason you started him on Tuesday, pat yourself on the back. He's now riding a six-game hitting streak and may be showing signs of finally breaking out.
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| Rafael Furcal is getting Wednesday off for the Dodgers. He will be replaced by Juan Castro at shortstop for the Dodgers' game against the Pirates. |
Our View: Furcal isn't having the kind of season many thought he would, and his lack of speed has been the biggest disappointment. He has only seven stolen bases this season, and his .255 average is far too low for a lead-off hitter.
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| Rafael Furcal went 2-for-5 with a run scored in tonight's 4-3 loss at Arizona. He hit a single and a double. |
Our View: Furcal has a hit in four of his last five games, and collected multiple hits for the first time since August 6, when he went 2-for-5 against Atlanta.
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| Rafael Furcal's leadoff home run ended up being all the offense the Dodgers would get on Wednesday, as the team lost to Milwaukee 4-1 at home. |
Our View: It was Furcal's first home run since July 21. His .267 is 21 points higher than it was that day, however.
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| Rafael Furcal went 3-for-4, and recorded the Dodgers' lone RBI in tonight's 6-1 loss at St. Louis. All three of his knocks were singles. |
Our View: Furcal extended his hitting streak to seven games, and is batting .345 in July. The veteran should remain a solid fantasy shortstop as long as he stays healthy.
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| Rafael Furcal went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI on Monday, as the Dodgers routed the Reds 12-3 in L.A. |
Our View: After missing most of 2008, however, Furcal is having a down season. He's off his career pace in almost every major offensive category, though it wouldn't be surprising if he got hot in the second half.
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| Rafael Furcal went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on Monday, but the Dodgers lost 5-4 to the Mets in New York. |
Our View: Furcal is slowly coming around after a bad start. If someone dropped him in frustration, he is probably worth an add and is also a good candidate to buy low.
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| Rafael Furcal went 4-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the Padres on Friday. |
Our View: Furcal has yet to hit above .250 in any month this season. He's been a fantasy disaster and the things that owners want most from him (steals) have been tremendously lacking. Firday's swipe was just his fifth.
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| Rafael Furcal's pinch-hit single in the eighth inning was the difference on Wednesday, as the Dodgers blanked Colorado 1-0 a day after the Rockies did the same to them. |
Our View: Furcal is having a disastrous 2009 season, batting just .240 through 275 at-bats, 44 points below his career average. Unless you are in a deep league with very limited options, it could be time to start exploring other options at shortstop.
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| Rafael Furcal hit seventh in Sunday night's loss against the Phillies. He was 1-for-3 with a walk. |
Our View: Furcal has been dreadful this season and he lost his spot at the top of the order. He's hitting just .243 and his fantasy value continues to tank.
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| Rafael Furcal went 2-for-2 with an RBI in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. |
Our View: Furcal did not start the game as skipper Joe Torre wanted to get him some rest while coming off a long overnight flight from Chicago. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter.
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| Rafael Furcal scored one of the Dodgers' runs and drove in the other on Thursday as Los Angeles defeated the Cubs 2-1. Furcal was 1-for-3 with a walk in the game. |
Our View: Furcal has been a big disappointment so far this season, as he is hitting only .240 on the year. When he gets things figured out he can be a very good fantasy player, but until then you may want to find another option.
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| According to the LA Times, Rafael Furcal is out of the starting lineup once again on Tuesday. |
Our View: Furcal's back appears to still be bothering him because he was penciled in for tonight. Juan Castro will start in his place and one would think that Furcal would be back in the lineup on Wednesday.
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| Rafael Furcal was scratched from the lineup on Monday due to a sore back, according to the AP. |
Our View: Furcal missed most of last season due to back problems which eventually caused surgery. There's no word yet if he is expected to be out for an extended period, which probably means it is nothing too serious.
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| Rafael Furcal was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI in the Dodgers 10-3 win over the Nationals on Wednesday. |
Our View: Furcal raised his average from .248 to .264 tonight. He's been a better hitter than this throughout his career and we expect him to pick it up throughout this month. Once he does, he could put up some pretty impressive numbers as the leadoff man for one of the game's better offenses.
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| Rafael Furcal was given the day off on Thursday as part of manager Joe Torre's attempt to keep the shortstop healthy this season, according to the Los Angeles Times. |
Our View: Torre has stated that Furcal, who was injured for much of the 2008 season, will sit roughly one game per week in order to stay fresh. While this could become a bit annoying for his fantasy owners, it may be for the best in the end and help keep the speedster off the DL. Blake DeWitt started in Furcal's place at shortstop.
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| Rafael Furcal went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored as the Dodgers defeated the Padres 4-1 on Monday. |
Our View: Furcal got off to a blazing start last season before a back injury shut him down for most of the season. His back appears to be 100 percent once again and he should make for a fine option at shortstop as long as he stays healthy.
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| Rafael Furcal is still slumping at the plate, but managed to drive in a run Tuesday. We was 0-for-2 on the day and lowered his anemic spring average to .161. The RBI was his second. |
Our View: His spring struggles obviously aren't something to smile about, but Furcal is not in jeopardy of losing his job. He may slip a few spots on draft boards due to the fact that he hasn't shown much upside since his injury, but he's still a top-5 fantasy shortstop.
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| Rafael Furcal went 0-for-5 on Monday in the Dodgers' 4-3 loss to the Mariners. He also made his first error of the spring. |
Our View: Furcal is now 5-for-29 (.172) this spring. There's no chance he won't bat leadoff for the Dodgers this season, but the team would really like to start seeing some indication that giving him a hefty contract this offseason was not a mistake. He had back surgery last season, and was rather mediocre following his return towards the end of the season.
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| Rafael Furcal went 1-for-3 on Wednesday with a run scored. He also started a double play in the field. |
Our View: Furcal's batting just .250 so far this spring and should certainly be considered risky heading into the season. However, he should be considered a high-risk high-reward player as he was batting .357 when he went down with back problems last season.
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| Rafael Furcal arrived on time to Dodger camp and is a big supporter of the club signing Manny Ramirez, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Furcal has a lot to prove to fantasy owners after playing in just 36 games last season. Furcal is coming off back surgery but he said that it is not bothering him and he is ready to go.
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| According to the AP Rafael Furcal denies ever agreeing to a deal with the Atlanta Braves, as the Braves previously had stated. “That is not true,” Furcal said. “We never, not my agents nor me, agreed to anything with the Braves.” The Braves later stated that they would no longer negotiate with the agency that represents Furcal. |
Our View: Furcal is coming off of back surgery and played in just 36 regular season games last season. This may be a blessing in disguise for the Braves. Furcal re-signed with the Dodgers.
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| The Rafael Furcal signing with the Dodgers is official, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. |
Our View: Furcal will give the Dodgers a consistent lead-off hitter if he can stay healthy, which was a problem last year when he only appeared in 36 games due to back problems.
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| Braves president John Schuerholz has called the actions by Rafael Furcal's agents despicable for how they dealt with his club before going back to the Dodgers for further negotiations, according to the Associated Press. Schuerholz has also said that he won't deal with clients of these agents in the future due to how this situation unraveled. |
Our View: Most of the clients of Furcal's agents, Paul Kinzer and Arn Tellem, don't make sense for the Braves this offseason anyways. However, they could have been interested in Randy Wolf as the Braves still have rotation spots to fill
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| Rafael Furcal never agreed to a deal with the Braves as was speculated, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: The Braves wanted to employ Furcal at second base, but Furcal wanted to remain a shortstop, which is one of the main reasons he opted to return to the Dodgers.
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| SI.com reports that Braves GM Frank Wren has notified Arn Tellem and Wasserman Media Group that they will no longer negotiate with them following the Rafael Furcal debacle. |
Our View: The agency is one of the biggest and most powerful in baseball so it will be interesting to see how long this stands. The Braves apparently had a deal in place that would bring them the free-agent shortstop, but the deal slipped out from under them at the last minute.
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| Updating an earlier report, Rafael Furcal has decided to sign a three-year deal with the Dodgers worth $30 million, according to the ESPN. The contract also has a club option for a fourth year which will vest if he makes 600 plate appearances in the third year of the deal. The deal is pending a physical. |
Our View: Furcal hit .357 last season but only managed to play in 36 games due to his back problems, which is the reason that the Dodgers were initially reluctant to go beyond two years.
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| Rafael Furcal has decided to re-sign with the Dodgers, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. |
Our View: Terms of his deal are not yet available, but we'll let you know when they become known. Meanwhile, the Braves are stuck feeling like the last kid picked in kickball. We hope Kelly Johnson didn't purchase that outfielder's mitt quite yet.
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| After reports that Rafael Furcal had reached an agreement with the Braves, more reports came that the Dodgers were still in consideration, and that seems to be the case now, as Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that Furcal is close to finalizing a deal that would land him back in Los Angeles. |
Our View: We'll believe it when we see it, as Furcal rumors have been numerous since the winter meetings last week, though at this point, it's likely safe to assume only the Braves and Dodgers are in the hunt.
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| Don't get that tomahawk chop ready for Rafael Furcal's return quite yet. He may not end up as a Brave after all, according to Yahoo Sports. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said he believed that he was still negotiating for Furcal's services. |
Our View: It's unlikely that Furcal will go anywhere other than the Braves or the Dodgers at this point, but it's still not cut and dry as to which team it will be. The Dodgers have been reluctant to offer him more than two years to this point, but it might take a three-year deal to keep him now that he got an offer of that length from where he started his career.
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| The Dodgers are reportedly still talking to Rafael Furcal despite the news that he is set to ink with the Braves, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti said, "We're still in conversations with them. I don't have a feel whether to be optimistic or not. I just know we're still talking. They assured us it's not a done deal. There's a certain level we're not going past. We aren't aware of other deals."
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Our View: Colletti could add more money to a deal for Furcal, but is not expected to offer more than two years. The Braves' offer is a three-year deal, with an option for a fourth.
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| Rafael Furcal's deal with the Braves is reportedly going to be for three years at $30 million, according to the Associated Press. It also includes an option for 2012 that could become guaranteed. |
Our View: He is believed to be close to accepting the Braves' offer, so the Athletics will have to pursue others options at shortstop.
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| Rafael Furcal is reportedly going to sign with the Braves, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: The Athletics were said to be the frontrunners to land Furcal, but the Braves made a late surge to reel him in. Their offer is reportedly for three years, with a vesting option for a fourth. Furcal could play shortstop or second base with Atlanta.
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| Rafael Furcal will accept an offer from one of four teams by Tuesday, according to Yahoo! Sports. Furcal is considering offers from the Oakland A’s, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals and one other team, according to his agent. |
Our View: The A's are believed to be the front runners with a four-year, $40 million offer on the table. He is a career .286 hitter who has stolen 20 or more bases in a season on eight occasions.
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| Oakland has offered Rafael Furcal a four-year deal worth $40 million, according to ESPN. |
Our View: The Dodgers would like to retain him, but are not believed to be close to Oakland's offer. The Royals are also still interested, but may not have the flexibility to land him. If he inks with the Athletics, he would likely bat at the top of an improved lineup that features Matt Holliday.
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| Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes the Athletics are the frontrunner to land prized free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. |
Our View: Oakland has raised their initial four-year bid to Furcal, and it is believed to be the only four-year offer currently on the table.
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| One agent says Rafael Furcal has not accepted a contract offer elsewhere because he would like to return to LA, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports. However, the Dodgers don't want to give Furcal a three or four-year contract unless there are provisions that protect them from injury. |
Our View: The Dodgers still have a clear spot open for Furcal if he really does want to return.
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| The Kansas City Star reports that if the Royals are going to sign free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, they will have to trade outfielder Jose Guillen and his $12 million salary. |
Our View: The Royals would be more than happy to meet the terms Furcal wants, which is four years at around $10 million, but their payroll right now won't allow it.
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| Rafael Furcal will choose his new MLB club by the middle or end of next week, according to ESPN. |
Our View: The top contenders remain the Dodgers, Athletics, Royals, and Blue Jays. Kansas City believes it would take a four-year, $44 million deal to reel in the prized free agent shortstop.
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| The Dodgers plan for more talks with Rafael Furcal's agent by the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday, according to the Press-Enterprise. GM Ned Coletti indicated the short-term deal offered to Furcal was an incentive-laden one. "All we're looking for is reasonable assurance we have someone who can play full-time," Colletti said. |
Our View: Earlier in the week it was reported that re-signing Furcal was the No. 1 priority for the Dodgers this offseason. The A's, Royals and Indians are among the teams interested in the shortstop who managed just 36 regular season appearances last year.
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| Updating an earlier report, the A's and Royals are in on Rafael Furcal in addition to the Dodgers and Blue Jays, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The Dodgers are said to be making re-signing Furcal their top priority. |
Our View: Furcal is still looking for a four-year deal and has already rejected a deal of that length from the A's. Furcal likely will have to settle for a lower deal than he's looking for due to the slumping economy.
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| The Dodgers and Blue Jays are both looking to make serious runs at Rafael Furcal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. |
Our View: Now that K-Rod has signed a contract that is much lower than the one that he originally sought, Furcal's price may drop as well. The Dodgers are still willing to give him a multi-year offer, but the dollar amount won't be outrageous.
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| MLB.com reports that J.P. Ricciardi confirmed the Blue Jays are at least entertaining the idea of trying to sign free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal . "We had a cordial meeting," Ricciardi said on Tuesday. "We kind of just revisted some things, but it was more of an information type thing." |
Our View: The Blue Jays would likely have to free up some cash if they were to pull this off, but that's not a total stretch given the amount of trade talks that are going on in Vegas.
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| SI.com reports that the Dodgers have made re-signing shortstop Rafael Furcal their top priority. |
Our View: The market for shortstop is thin and the Dodgers have apparently noticed. They join the Indians, Giants and A's among others are all pursuing Furcal to some degree.
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| The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Indians' GM Mark Shapiro will meet with Paul Kinzer, agent for shortstop Rafael Furcal, this week, but it's unlikely that will bear fruit.
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Our View: The Indians, initially interested in Furcal this off-season, withdrew because of concerns about his surgically repaired back. If the Indians sign a shortstop, it likely means a move to third base for Jhonny Peralta.
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| The Toronto Blue Jays might be players in the Rafael Furcal sweepstakes, according to Yahoo! Sports. |
Our View: The Blue Jays will not get A.J. Burnett back, so they can possibly allocate those dollars to the free agent shortstop.
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| Sports Illustrated reports that the Indians could be a new team in the mix for star free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, who recently rejected Oakland's $36 million, four-year offer and will resume shopping for a new team. |
Our View: Jhonny Peralta would likely move to third base if such a deal should be struck. Furcal hit .357 in 143 at-bats last year.
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| Rafael Furcal rejected the A's four-year contract offer on Friday, according to MLB.com. The deal was believed to be between $35-to-40 million. His agent, Paul Kinzer, said that talks could reopen if Furcal lowers his asking price. |
Our View: Furcal's best option other than the A's is probably to return to the Dodgers. The Tigers are in the market for a shortstop, but won't pay for Furcal and the Giants and Cardinals both found their shortstops in Edgar Renteria and Khalil Greene respectively.
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| The Athletics and Dodgers are the top contenders to land Rafael Furcal, but Jayson Stark of ESPN believes the Orioles could be a wildcard. |
Our View: The Giants dropped out of the running after signing Edgar Renteria, as did the Cardinals after landing Khalil Greene. The Braves are not interested in moving Yunel Escobar either after trading Brent Lillibridge for Javier Vazquez. Baltimore is in need of a shortstop, and would have the funds to sign him if they decide not to pursue Mark Teixeira or AJ Burnett.
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| Rafael Furcal still wants four years, but with the Giants offer of three years getting spurned, they have now turned their attention to Edgar Renteria and it has been reported that they are close to a deal with him. |
Our View: Furcal is the top shortstop in free agency, but the economy and slow developing free agent market may force him to take a lesser deal.
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| Rafael Furcal traveled to Oakland on Tuesday to meet with A's officials about possibly joining Oakland as a free-agent, according to the Athletics official web site. |
Our View: Furcal is considered one of the biggest free-agents on the market, even after an injury plagued season in LA.
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| GM Walt Jocketty commented that he had a brief conversation with Rafael Furcal's rep, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. |
Our View: Jocketty is more interested in trading to acquire talent, rather than get into a bidding war for the hot free agent shortstop.
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| Impacto Deportivo reported an untrue rumor that the Braves offered Rafael Furcal a four-year deal for $52 million, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: The Braves are in fact interested in Furcal, but cannot make a move on him until they unload shortstop Yunel Escobar or second baseman Kelly Johnson. Furcal could have a new MLB home by the time Atlanta deals either of the mentioned infielders.
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| Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal is not likely to re-sign with the Dodgers, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: The Dodgers are concerned about his medical history, and the club is not likely to offer him a four-year deal that he covets. Oakland is still believed to be the most interested in acquiring him.
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| Rafael Furcal has not been offered a contract by the Mets to play second base, and in fact the two sides have not even talked, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: There was a report from a Spanish-language paper that said the Mets were offering Furcal a lot of money to play second, but the team has other more pressing needs that they'll likely address first.
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| El Caribe is reporting that the Athletics have offered free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal a four-year, $48 million deal, but a close team source states that the rumor is untrue, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: It is still true that Oakland is highly interested in acquiring Furcal. There was a report a few weeks ago that one MLB club had a three-year, $39 million offer on the table for him, but it was never disclosed if it was by Oakland.
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| The Mets have offered free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal an "intriguing" contract, according to the MetsCiti-Blog.com. Furcal is on his way to the U.S. to talk about deals from the Mets and Athletics, and possibly others with his agent. |
Our View: Furcal would have to play second with Jose Reyes manning shortstop. It seems like an unlikely fit, but perhaps if the Mets give him enough money, Rafael could be talked into the move.
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| It appears that it will come down to the Giants or the A's for free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. Giants GM Ned Calletti told Foxsports.com, "It's moving pretty fast. I don't know if we're going to be in it or not." |
Our View: Furcal only played in 36 games last year because of injuries but that didn't deter many teams. There are at least six to seven teams that were said to have interest in the shortstop.
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| Yahoo! Sports reports that Rafael Furcal has been offered many three-year deals, but he wants a four-year contract. Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer confirmed that the Orioles, Braves, Giants, Cubs, Dodgers and A's are interested, along with one unnamed "mystery" team. |
Our View: Furcal managed to appear in just 36 games last season before performing well in the playoffs. The 31-year-old shortstop hit .357 in the limited action, but it was his first season that he ever finished hitting over .300.
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| Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi stated that he is not interested in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: Furcal would be a strong addition to the Jays' middle infield, but this is to be expected, as Ricciardi previously mentioned that the Jays were going to be idle in free agency, other than to try to retain hurler AJ Burnett.
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| The Athletics remain in pursuit of landing Rafael Furcal, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: The club viewed his medical reports, which show his back has fully recovered. The A's would likely be able to sign him for a favorable price and he wouldn't cost draft picks.
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| The Cubs are reportedly interested in Rafael Furcal, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: Furcal's agent (Paul Kinzer) noted that talks with Chicago have not been serious as of yet. The Giants and Athletics are believed to be the top contenders for the productive shortstop.
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| Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal has gotten the strongest interest from the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's, and that he is looking to sign a deal before the Winter Meetings, which start December 8, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Along with the two Bay-area squads, Furcal's former team, the Dodgers, as well as St. Louis were said to be among the teams who were the most interested in signing him. It will likely take a deal around four-years and $40 million to get it done.
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| Rafael Furcal has interested about 10 teams, according to MLB.com. Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer, has said that the Cardinals, who have a hole at shortstop, have not inquired about his client. |
Our View: Furcal's back trouble will make some general managers anxious, but with top-tier shortstops being a rarity on the free agent market, it might not affect Furcal's contract too much with so many interested clubs.
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| The Giants are very interested in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to the Mercury News. |
Our View: Signing Furcal, or one of the other free agent shortstops, would allow the Giants to move Emmanuel Burriss to second base, where he would compete with Kevin Frandsen for playing time.
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| The Braves would be interested in signing Rafael Furcal if they acquire Jake Peavy, according to Fox Sprots. |
Our View: The Braves never really wanted to let Furcal go in the first place, but they didn't think they could afford to keep him while being in a rebuilding mode. Furcal's back trouble is the only real concern in signing him.
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| The Oakland A's have serious interest in acquiring shortstop Rafael Furcal in free agency, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. |
Our View: Furcal wants a four-year deal, and he'll likely get around $10 million per year, and with his recent back trouble, he could be a risk, especially for a small market team.
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| Rafael Furcal covets a four-year contract, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: There has been enough interest garnered in him that he feels he could land a four-year deal, despite missing 126 games in 2008 due to injuries, namely his back. The Dodgers are believed to only be interested in offering him a two-year deal. Oakland is displaying strong interest, but it remains to be seen if they will offer him a deal that satisfies him.
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| Oakland is displaying strong interest in shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: Oakland finished last in the AL in on-base percentage in 2008 and last in the leadoff spot, and adding Furcal would provide a significant boost to their production.
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| Shortstop Rafael Furcal has filed for free-agency and the Detroit Tigers have said that they will have some interest in the shortstop, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Even though Furcal did not have a huge 2008, he will see a big contract coming his way.
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| Shortstop Rafael Furcal filed for free agency on Monday, according to The Sports Network. |
Our View: An injured back cost Furcal a majority of the 2008 season, but when healthy, the 31-year-old hit .357 with five homers and 16 RBI in 36 games. He went on to play well in the playoffs, which likely relaxed the minds of a lot of GMs who were thinking of offering him a contract this season.
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| Rafael Furcal will be a free agent this winter and despite an error-filled Game 5 on Wednesday, he wants to return to the Dodgers. "Really, I want to come back," he said. "I love it here. I love the city. I love my teammates." General Manager Ned Colletti said the feeling was mutual, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We would like to have Raffy back," Colletti said. |
Our View: There will be a few teams getting in touch with Furcal this winter. It would seem a lot to ask of the Dodgers to keep Furcal, Manny Ramirez, and Derek Lowe among others. Expect somebody to go.
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| Rafael Furcal tied a playoff record by committing three errors in a single inning leading to two unearned runs in the Dodgers 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Phillies. Furcal also went 0-for-4 at the plate to drop his playoff average down to .258 though he did score nine runs in eight games. |
Our View: A poor end to what was shaping up to be a great season before back woes struck. The Dodgers will make every effort to bring back Furcal this off-season, and given health he will once again be considered as potentially one of the top-5 options in the game at the shortstop position.
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| Rafael Furcal went 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, and a home run in Game 3 of the NLCS. He did all of his damage against left-hander Jamie Moyer who took the loss. |
Our View: Furcal managed just 36 games in the regular season before back surgery sidelined him until just before the playoffs. The free-agent-to-be has been a key figure in the Dodgers victories throughout the postseason.
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| Rafael Furcal will bat leadoff in Game 1 of the NLDS, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. |
Our View: Furcal bas been bothered by a back injury that required surgery, and though he returned in late September it is a bit surprising to see him in the starting lineup given that he has had just nine AB since May.
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| Rafael Furcal is in tonight's starting lineup at shortstop and is batting leadoff, according to the LA Daily News. |
Our View: This is encouraging news, but it remains to be seen if he can handle a full game.
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| Rafael Furcal struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning on Wednesday, in his first appearance since he went on the disabled list May 6 because of back problems, according to the AP. |
Our View: Joe Torre would like to start Furcal some prior to the postseason.
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| Rafael Furcal noted that he is healthy enough to return to duty and is ready for whatever the Dodgers want him to do, according to the LA Times. He has recovered from lower back surgery. |
Our View: Manager Joe Torre intends to give him a little bit of action at some point this week, but won't likely get enough at-bats to make him fantasy worthy.
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| Manager Joe Torre is not sure if shortstop Rafael Furcal (back, hamstring) will be able to return during the regular season. "It's a slow process," Torre tells MLB.com. "Realistically, to get him into game shape, it might be the postseason, if we're a part of that. His being able to play a significant amount of time is a long shot." |
Our View: Fantasy owners know all too well what a "slow process" it has been with Furcal. We don't expect much, if anything, out of this shortstop over the final weeks.
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| Rafael Furcal, who is recovering from back surgery, is unsure of manager Joe Torre's estimation that he will return to the Dodgers next week, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: He felt uncomfortable while in the batter's box (while facing Takashi Saito) and doesn't want to interfere with the Dodgers' rhythm by returning. Furcal is also dealing with a sore hamstring.
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| Rafael Furcal, who is attempting to return from back surgery, took batting practice for the first and barring a setback could return next week, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. |
Our View: Furcal is also reportedly dealing with a sore left hamstring, and given the ups and downs he has faced this year it's hard to think he won't suffer another setback. However, his addition to the team, if they make the playoffs, could be a huge boost even if he is only available as a pinch hitter.
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| The Los Angeles Times reports that Rafael Furcal could be activated in the upcoming week for the Dodgers. He is taking grounders and running full speed. |
Our View: Manager Joe Torre cautioned that nobody should expect him to come back and play every day, given how much time he missed. In the final weeks of September, however, expect Furcal to play enough to have some fantasy impact.
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| Rafael Furcal's rehab from back surgery has exceeded the estimated recovery period, and the Dodgers have lost hope of getting the shortstop back on a full-time basis this season, according to the LA Times.
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Our View: The Dodgers actually might not get Furcal back at all this season, but the best-case scenario (according to skipper Joe Torre) is for Furcal to regain enough strength to share playing time with Nomar Garciaparra.
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| Rafael Furcal could be out for the remainder of the season, according to the Los Angeles Times. He will undergo a a microdiscectomy on his back today. The procedure involves removing a piece of bone to relieve pressure on a nerve. |
Our View: It was known Furcal was going to be out at least eight weeks, but the rest of the season had not been publicly talked about. Furcal was tearing it up in fantasy play, with a .366 average and eight stolen bases.
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| It has been decided that Rafael Furcal will undergo surgery on Thursday to relieve pressure on a disk in his lower back, and he could be out at least eight weeks, according to the AP. He has not been able to recover from a lower back strain and skipper Joe Torre said, "It’s a blow, but it’s reality. He went out there, played a game and that was that. It’s frustrating. He was, from what I understand, ready to just do this and get it done and get it over with. They anticipate this will solve everything."
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Our View: Torre will feature Angel Berroa at shortstop, and will also consider Nomar Garciaparra for the spot, when he comes off the DL, possibly before the All-Star break.
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| Two months after going on the disabled list and only two games after making his first minor league rehab start, Rafael Furcal is back to square one with no light at the end of the tunnel, this according to the LA Times. The current pain he is experiencing is concerning and when he will return to the team is not known. "Obviously it's not good news," Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said.
"He felt so good about himself, with this exercise program he was on. I'm sure for him it's really frustrating."
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Our View: Furcal played shortstop for Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, recording a double and RBI in three at-bats. His first game since May 5. Furcal woke Tuesday with discomfort and returned to Los Angeles where he will be examined by Dr. Robert Watkins. Furcal missed the final two weeks last season and played just 32 games this year before being placed on the DL.
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| Beat writer Tony Jackson is reporting the Dodger shortstop Rafael Furcal awoke with more pain and discomfort in his back today, according to the LA Daily News. |
Our View: The Dodgers have brought their prized infielder back to LA for further medical testing and Jackson is hoping to hear additinal news tomorrow. Make sure you check in with RotoTimes and Fanball to get those updates as they become available.
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| The Los Angeles Times reports that Rafael Furcal is taking part in rigorous workouts that include running zigzags and taking ground balls from third base coach Larry Bowa. "I felt much better than before," said Furcal, who last played May 5. "I can't wait to be on the field. I'll look like a little kid out there." |
Our View: Furcal is hopeful that he can start a minor league rehab assignment in Las Vegas next week.
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| Rafael Furcal increased his workout regiment, as he took grounders and threw from short to first, this according to the Los Angeles Times. "I'm tired from not having played for so long," Furcal said. The Dodgers veteran shortstop said that he hasn't been told by anyone that he might have to undergo surgery on his back if the latest round of treatment doesn't work. |
Our View: Furcal hasn't played since May 5, and there is still no timetable for his return.
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| Rafael Furcal disagrees with Manager Joe Torre's statement that he doesn't know whether Furcal will be able to complete a rehab assignment in time to return to the Dodgers by the All-Star break, according to the LA Times. Furcal stated that the bulging disk in his back is about 90% healed, and is optimistic he could return before the All-Star break, which begins July 14.
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Our View: Furcal noted that the discomfort he had recently experienced while jogging had mostly subsided, and he hopes to resume swinging a bat by next week.
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| The LA Times reports that Rafael Furcal has been limited to playing catch. Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said he didn't expect his shortstop back until after the All-Star break. |
Our View: Furcal, suffering from a bulging disk in his back, was tied for the team lead in runs scored with Russell Martin when the Dodgers opened their three-game series in Cincinnati even though he hadn't played in more than six weeks. Think the leadoff hitter wasn't valuable to the offense?
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| Manager Joe Torre told the LA Daily News that Rafael Furcal isn't likely to return from the DL before the All-Star break. Furcal is recovering from a strained lower back. |
Our View: This isn't surprising given what we've heard about Furcal's progress (or lack thereof) lately. Angel Berroa will continue to man shortstop until Furcal is ready.
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| Dodger shortstop Rafael Furcal has learned he is not likely to return to action for at least two more weeks, according to the LA Daily News. |
Our View: Furcal was examined by doctors over the weekend and have suggest Furcal withhold from baseball activities for at least two more weeks as he struggles with lower back pain. Should Furcal return to some sort of baseball activity in two weeks, he will need at least a week of additional rehab work to get ready for a return. In other words, it will be the All-Star break when Furcal returns.
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| Rafael Furcal, who is recovering from a lower back strain, has targeted June 17 as his date of return to the Dodgers, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Furcal will travel with the Dodgers for their upcoming series against the Padres that begins Monday and will work out with the team over the three-game set. If Furcal doesn't suffer a setback in San Diego, he will be sent on a minor league rehab assignment when the Dodgers head for an inter-league series against the Tigers in Detroit. Furcal hasn't played since May 5.
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| Rafael Furcal commented on Monday that he is now in favor of going on a minor league rehab stint before returning from the DL, according to the LA Times. Furcal is now going to be patient with his rehab and said, "I want to go for three or four games (on rehab assignment). Play, see what happens. Because I don't want to start here and get hurt." Furcal is recovering from a lower back strain.
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Our View: Furcal feels better and has more strength, but does not want to suffer another setback. In his absence, Dodgers' shortstops have gone 10 games without a hit (0-for-32).
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| Rafael Furcal’s back-injury has become frustrating for the fantasy nation. The Dodgers' shortstop has been out of action since mid-May and as of today (June 2) the news on Furcal remains questionable. |
Our View: Furcal reportedly visited a back specialist this past week, but nothing definitive has surfaced regarding his condition. Until more information is available fantasy owners will have to keep Furcal in reserve for at least another week.
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| Rafael Furcal will probably have to play some games in a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas before returning to the lineup, according to the LA Times. Manager Joe Torre said he was still uncertain of when Furcal would be able to play again. |
Our View: Furcal, who is hitting a team-best .366, last played on May 5. The shortstop is in Los Angeles receiving treatment from team physical therapist Sue Falsone.
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| Rafael Furcal still has no definitive date for a return from his lower back injury, according to MLB.com. Even when healthy, manager Joe Torre believes that he will need several minor league games to get back up to game speed. |
Our View: What started out so fabulously for Furcal has quickly devolved into a very serious situation. Given the fact that he has suffered a couple of setbacks, one would assume that even when activated he could potentially be limited at least on the base paths which would obviously limit his value. Ching-lung Hu will likely continue to fill in, albeit with pathetic results at the plate.
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| The Dodgers once again ruled out Rafael Furcal for the upcoming weekend series in New York, the Los Angeles Times reports. Furcal is out due to a lower back strain and does not have a firm timetable for his return. |
Our View: Fantasy owners need to continue being patient with the dynamic shortstop and leadoff hitter. Meanwhile, the club is getting a decent look at youngster Chin-lung Hu.
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| Rafael Furcal's sore lower back has greatly improved, but trainer Stan Conte said Furcal isn't expected to accompany the Dodgers on their upcoming seven-game trip primarily to avoid sitting in a plane for six hours on the flight back from New York, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Chin-lung Hu will continue to play shortstop. Furcal is hitting .366 over 32 games, with eight stolen bases and 34 runs scored, and will be worth the wait when he returns.
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| Rafael Furcal was expected back in the lineup tonight, but he won't be activated from the DL after all following a setback in his recovery from a lower back strain, according to the LA Daily News. He woke up yesterday morning with stiffness in his back, and he probably won't be available for the next couple days. |
Our View: Chin-lung Hu will continue to play short, likely through the weekend, and we should see Furcal back early next week.
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| The Dodgers are expected to activate Rafael Furcal from the DL in time for tonight's game against the Cardinals, according to Sports Network. Furcal hasn't played since May 5 because of a lower back strain. |
Our View: Furcal was ripping the ball before his injury, so hopefully he'll get right back on track.
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| Rafael Furcal remained on the DL Wednesday, the first day he was eligible to be activated, according to the LA Times. Furcal, who is nursing a lower back strain, stated there was no chance he would play in a minor league rehab game today, a possibility that was mentioned by Manager Joe Torre. He could be activated on Friday. Furcal hasn't played in more than two weeks, but noted he doesn't think he has to go to the minors to regain his timing and would prefer to be put in the Dodgers lineup right away when he's healthy enough to play. Furcal added, "The game is the same everywhere. If you're healthy, you can play."
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Our View: Furcal holds a .366 average with 34 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 32 games, and hopefully Torre will let him return right away without having to serve a rehab assignment first.
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| Rafael Furcal stated on Tuesday he is feeling no pain in his lower back, but Dodgers' trainer Stan Conte said Furcal would "have to do a pretty good sell job" to be moved to the active roster today, which is the first day he is eligible to be activated from the 15-day DL, according to the LA Times. Since Furcal didn't start working out on the field until Monday, Conte said there was uncertainty about how his back would hold up to sustained activity. Conte added that he was also worried that because Furcal hasn't played in two-plus weeks, he could pull a hamstring or a calf muscle.
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Our View: Manager Joe Torre also commented there was a chance Furcal could be sent on a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the Dodgers. Roto-owners shall remain patient. He will be worth the wait when he returns, as he holds a .366 average with 34 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 32 games.
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| The LA Times reports that Dodgers' shortstop Rafael Furcal took ground balls and hit on the field for the first time since being put on the disabled list. |
Our View: Furcal is eligible to be activated from the DL on Wednesday, but skipper Joe Torre guessed that he wouldn't play until the Dodgers open a three-game series the against St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
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| Rafael Furcal, out with a sore back, hopes to come off the DL on Friday, according to MLB.com. Furcal will increase his baseball activities on Monday in hopes of joining the club by the end of the week. |
Our View: Furcal is eligible to return on Wednesday, but the team will give him a couple of more days to get himself right.
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| Rafael Furcal has an outside chance to come off the DL on Wednesday, according to the LA Daily News. Furcal said Friday that his lower back felt much better after receiving a cortisone shot on Tuesday. He doesn't think his lower back tightness will become a chronic problem either.
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Our View: But with the Dodgers off on Thursday and Furcal not expected to resume baseball activity until at least Sunday, Friday night's game against the Cardinals is likely a safer bet for Furcal's return.
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| After days of back and forth, the decision was finally made to place Rafael Furcal on the DL on Tuesday because of his sore back, according to the Associated Press. The move is retroactive to May 6th making him eligible to be activated on May 21st. |
Our View: Furcal will have a cortisone shot on Tuesday and start rehab on Wednesday. It would appear that light hitting Chin-lung Hu will continue to see the most playing time, but he isn't worth picking up at this point, even in an NL Only league.
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| Rafael Furcal doesn't know when he'll return from a sore back. He has missed five straight games and doesn't sound certain about a Tuesday return. "I don't know," Furcal tells the Los Angeles Times. "We have to wait and see how it feels. This is the type of thing where it feels fine one day and it doesn't the next." |
Our View: Furcal sounds a bit frustrated, which is understandable considering his hot start and the team's struggles without him. Fantasy owners are rolling the dice if they use him this week.
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| Rafael Furcal missed his fourth straight game on Saturday and could sit again on Sunday due to a sore back, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Dodgers are off on Monday. |
Our View: Fantasy owners looking to set their lineups for the week ahead can plan on Furcal returning by Tuesday.
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| Rafael Furcal missed his third straight game on Friday due to lower back spasms, according to the LA Daily News. |
Our View: He is expected to return on Saturday. Chin Lung-Hu started the three games in his place, but only went 2-for-11 (.182). Furcal is hitting .366 with 12 doubles, two triples, and eight stolen bases over 32 games, and it remains to be seen if the ailment will slow him down when he returns to action. He also scored 34 runs so far.
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| Updating an earlier report on Rafael Furcal, word is that his sore back is improving and that he should be back in the lineup for Friday's game with the Astros, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Furcal has been the Dodgers catalyst this season creating havoc at the plate and on the bases. Keep a close eye on if he curtails his running once he returns.
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| Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday. The Dodgers have won 10 of their past 11 and are looking to complete a three-game sweep of the Mets. |
Our View: Furcal is being relaced by Chin-Lung Hu, who is hitting eighth in the batting order.
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| Dodger SS Rafael Furcal has been scratched from tonight's lineup as the Dodgers face the New York Mets, according to the LA Daily News. |
Our View: Furcal's back has been bothering him due to tightness, and while the team suggests it is not a problem, the News suggests trainer Stan Conte has hinted he may miss tomorrow as well. Furcal will be replaced by Chin-lung Hu. We will update as needed.
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| Rafael Furcal is open to sitting down with the Dodgers and discussing a contract extension, according to the Press-Enterprise. GM Ned Coletti would like to get the pending free agent under a long-term deal. "He's been our best player the first month of the season, and we want him to remain a Dodger," Colletti said. "I hope to sit down with his agent, Paul Kinzer, very soon and work towards getting an agreement done." |
Our View: Furcal has shown that his ankle problems from last year are in the past, as he's been a fantasy force with a .371 average, three homers, 28 runs and seven steals.
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| Rafael Furcal had a season-high five hits which led to three runs scored for the Dodgers. |
Our View: Furcal has been on fire since day 1 and he is now hitting .381 with 26 runs scored and seven SB through 27 games marking him as the second most valuable shortstop in the game during the month of April.
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| Dodger SS Rafael Furcal continues to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with his ninth double of the year as the Dodgers fell 1-8 to the Cincinnati Reds. Furcal was the only player in Dodger blue to earn multiple hits on the evening and did strike out twice. |
Our View: He now has 13 hits over his last seven games.
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| Rafael Furcal went 4-for-4, including a home run, with two runs scored and two RBI for the Dodgers on Wednesday. |
Our View: The team may not know what it's going to do with Juan Pierre, but they know exactly what to do with Furcal and that is put him in the leadoff spot, wind him up, and let him go. It's currently working as he is hitting .407 with 14 runs scored in 15 games.
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| Rafael Furcal is currently on a nine-game hitting streak, according to MLB.com. He will look to keep it going tonight against lefty Zach Duke and the Pirates. He is hitting 18-for-46 overall, with nine extra base hits, and one stolen base. |
Our View: He remains a strong fantasy option at shortstop if you missed out on the elite prospects.
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| Rafael Furcal went 3-for-3 at the plate with two walks and three runs scored as he upped his average to .432 in the early going. With all the attention paid to others at shortstop this season, Furcal seems hell bent on returning his name to the upper echelon of the shortstop ranks, something he will do very quickly if he continues to hit like he has through 10 games. |
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| Rafael Furcal was the only hitter on the Dodgers able to do anything against Jake Peavy as he went 1-for-3 with a run scored on Saturday. All this talk of the great hitters at the shortstop position has seemingly excluded Furcal who is hitting .400 over his first 20 AB. If healthy, and batting in the leadoff spot for the Dodgers, there wouldn't seem to any reason not to expect Furcal to score at least 100 runs with 30 steals, and those are fine numbers no matter what position one plays in the field. |
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| Rafael Furcal was 2-for-3 in Monday's home opening win over the Giants. The Dodgers shortstop added one run, one RBI and a walk from the leadoff spot. |
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| Rafael Furcal's three hits on Tuesday ran his spring average to .357. The Dodgers shortstop is one of those players that always seems to have a hot March (career 333 hitter), but then cools in April. Furcal is healthy and excited about the Dodgers chances this year. The .284 career hitter is on average, leaving the mixed league draft board in the middle of the fifth round. |
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| Rafael Furcal went 3-for-4 with two RBI against the Marlins on Tuesday. He notably picked up his third triple and seventh RBI of the spring. |
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| Rafael Furcal will be back in the lineup on Thursday, the AP confirms. He left Monday's game due to hamstring soreness. |
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| Rafael Furcal has arrived at spring training completely healthy. "I'm feeling good, I'm feeling 100 percent," Furcal said in the AP. "If I'm healthy, I can do anything." The shortstop dealt with a bad ankle for most of the 2007 season, but he's a good bet for a rebound in 2008. |
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| Rafael Furcal will not have to undergo surgery on his problematic left ankle. He had a recent MRI on the ankle, which was negative, according to the LA Times. Furcal injured the ankle in spring training, and it limited him throughout the year, which is a big reason why his numbers were down this season. |
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| Rafael Furcal is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his sprained left ankle on Monday, according to the LA Times. The MRI is just precautionary, but we'll have to see what the results are before knowing if he has any unexpected problems in the joint. |
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| Rafael Furcal won't play again this season due to a lower back injury. The shortstop underwent an MRI exam this week and trainer Stan Conte said Furcal has a "very mild bulge" of a disk in his spine that will heal with rest, according to the LA Times. Furcal hasn't played since Sept. 18 due to the ailment. |
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| Rafael Furcal sat out his fifth consecutive game with a sore lower back Saturday, though he wants to play agan at some point this season, the AP reports. |
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| Rafael Furcal missed his third straight game Thursday due to his sore lower back, the AP reports. I couldn't help the team in the condition I'm in," Furcal said. He remains day-to-day. |
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| Rafael Furcal's lower back injury isn't serious, but it was serious enough to keep him out of the lineup Wednesday for a second straight day. "It doesn't seem to be real serious," trainer Stan Conte said in the LA Times. "But there's definitely tightness in his low back. It's not radiating. It's not anything that looks like a nerve or a disk. It just looks some muscle tightness and some joint irritation." The Dodgers aren't sure when Furcal will return to the lineup. |
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| Rafael Furcal pulled himself out of the starting lineup Tuesday because of lower back pain. "He's a guy that plays through a lot of aches and pains," manager Grady Little said in the LA Times. "But this just got too bad for him. There's no question about it when he says he can't go." Little said that Furcal, who has also dealt with ankle and shoulder injuries this year, is considered day-to-day. |
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| Rafael Furcal doesn't expect to undergo offseason surgery on the sprained left ankle that has bothered him all season. "It still bothers me a lot, but I feel a little more comfortable," he said in the LA Times. Furcal said his ankle hasn't been as sore after games recently and that he has felt better walking around. |
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| Rafael Furcal got a day off Sunday to rest up, his first day off since May 26. Furcal still is bothered by the sprained ankle he sustained during spring training, according to the Baltimore Sun. "It's really affected him," Little said. "It's hard to say to what degree, but we know it has affected his running. That stat sheet will show that." Tell us about it. Furcal had 37 steals last season but has only swiped 17 bases on 23 attempts this year. |
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| Rafael Furcal still is bothered by the sprained ankle he sustained in March. In fact, he said he might have to deal with the pain for the remainder of the season, according to the LA Times. He said it bothers him most fielding plays up the middle and batting right-handed. It's also sapped his power. It might also explain the speedster swiping just seven bases on 10 attempts this season. |
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| Rafael Furcal sat out Saturday because of stiffness in his right knee, which began Friday night, but said he expected to return Sunday, the AP reports. |
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| Rafael Furcal rapped out four hits Tuesday and is now 12-for-14 over the last three games. He's raised his batting average 79 points in the process, to .297. |
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| The Dodgers activated Rafael Furcal from the disabled list on Friday, according to the AP. Furcal, who had been sidelined since March 23 with a sprained left ankle, had one hit, one walk and one steal in a two-game rehab assignment for Class A Inland Empire. He is expected to start at shortstop for the Dodgers in tonight's contest against the Padres. |
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| Rafael Furcal had to leave Wednesday's rehab start with tightness in his sprained ankle, according to the Dodgers' official site. "It's tight when I push off," said Furcal. "There's no pain and no swelling, but it's like when you feel tight and you want to move and it feels heavy. I don't want to take a chance." Furcal was in line to be activated Friday, but that is up in the air now. |
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| Rafael Furcal played what he and the Dodgers hope will be his final rehab game Wednesday, according to the AP. The Dodgers will re-evaluate him on Thursday before deciding if he is ready to be activated. The shortstop is recovering from a sprained ankle. |
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| Manager Grady Little said he was hopeful that Rafael Furcal will return to action Friday, according to the AP. Furcal, sidelined since spraining his left ankle March 22, began a two-game rehab stint Tuesday night with the Inland Empire of the California League. |
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| Rafael Furcal will start a two-game rehab assignment at Single-A Tuesday and Wednesday, the AP reports. Furcal is scheduled to be the designated hitter in the first game and play shortstop in the second; if all goes well, he could be with the Dodgers on the weekend. He's coming back from a sprained left ankle. |
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| Rafael Furcal is eligible to come off the disabled list and will do so when he can swing left-handed and make turns on the bases without feeling pain in his left ankle, the Los Angeles Times reports. "I'd guess two or three more days," Grady Little said. "But that's a guess." |
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| Rafael Furcal, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle injury, could be activated during the Dodgers' upcoming homestand, according to the AP. "He's closer than he was yesterday," manager Grady Little said. "How close, we're not sure yet." |
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| Rafael Furcal still isn't ready to play, because he continues to deal with pain in his sprained ankle, according to the LA Times. The Dodgers want him fully recovered before getting back in the mix, so they can avoid a repeat of last April, when Furcal played through a leg injury and hit .198 for the month. |
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| Rafael Furcal is probably 1-2 more weeks away from returning, according to the Dodgers official site. Furcal, battling a sprained ankle, isn't ready to do any running or hitting yet. |
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| Rafael Furcal said his sprained ankle became swollen during the flight to Milwaukee, and he had a grimace on his face while playing catch before the game, according to the LA Times. Furcal is eligible to come off the DL Saturday, but manager Grady Little said "a target date has not been set." |
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| Although club officials remain hopeful, it looks like Rafael Furcal might not be ready by Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Furcal, coming off a sprained ankle, played catch with trainer Stan Conte Monday and threw very gingerly, even grimacing on some of the throws. |
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| Rafael Furcal has been placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 23, meaning he won't be eligible to play until at least Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reports. Furcal is dealing with a sprained ankle. |
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| Dodgers manager Grady Little said that Rafael Furcal's sprained ankle "is still improving," according to the LA Times. However, Little added that no firm decision has been made about Furcal's status for Monday's regular-season opener. |
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| Rafael Furcal will probably begin the year retroactively on the disabled list due to his sprained ankle, according to the Dodgers official site. Furcal is now running, throwing and hitting off a tee, but manager Grady Little is concerned about the lingering effects such an injury could have if Furcal rushes back. "We have to use common sense," Little said Wednesday. "If he starts with any limp, how long will he be at only 80 percent? It could prolong that time. If it takes four or five days into the season to get him 100 percent, you have to consider if it's worth that. I think it will be." |
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| Rafael Furcal had an MRI taken yesterday of his sprained ankle to see if there is any ligament damage, according to the LA Times. The results should be available today. |
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| The swelling in Rafael Furcal's sprained left ankle had reduced significantly Friday morning, less than 24 hours after he was injured in a collision with outfielder Jason Repko, the Dodgers official site reports. Furcal is hopeful he will return to action in a week. "It's a lot better today," said Furcal, who arrived in the Dodgertown clubhouse on crutches. "I used a lot of ice last night and slept all right. It looks better right away."
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| The Dodgers expect Rafael Furcal to be out "longer than a week," though they won't know for sure until the swelling in his ankle subsides, the Los Angeles Times reports. Furcal sprained the same ankle in 2002, which could help his recovery because scar tissue could break down more quickly. |
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| An X-ray of Rafael Furcal's ankle revealed only a sprain, according to the AP. Furcal had to be carted off the field Thursday after colliding with outfielder Jason Repko. Furcal isn't expected to miss much time. "I thought I had broken it, but I'm glad it's only sprained," Furcal said. "I was relieved with the results. I had a similar injury in 2002 with the Braves in spring training. I may be out four or five days. I could play if it's 80 percent. You don't always play at 100 percent -- sometimes you play hurt." |
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| Rafael Furcal had to be carted off the field Thursday after sustaining a sprained ankle when he collided with outfielder Jason Repko in the first inning, according to MLB.com. Furcal was taken to a hospital for X-rays. |
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| Rafael Furcal returned to action Tuesday, playing shortstop and going 1-for-3, the Dodgers official site reports. He's been battling a sore throwing shoulder and didn't play for almost two weeks. "I feel good. My throwing is coming back, and I can swing the bat," Furcal said. |
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| The Dodgers expect Rafael Furcal to return to action today, according to the LA Times. He's been sidelined for almost two weeks due to a sore right shoulder but shouldn't be restricted when he's on the field. |
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| There was talk of Rafael Furcal returning to exhibition action this weekend, but the Dodgers decided to be a little more cautious with his sore right shoulder, according to the LA Times. "We re-collected our thoughts and saw how much time we have left and we're still on the path of not rushing him," said manager Grady Little. Furcal now is aiming to return next week, though he should be ready for opening day. |
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| Rafael Furcal has resumed swinging a bat and should return to exhibition action by the weekend, according to the LA Times. He's been resting a sore right shoulder this week. |
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| Rafael Furcal did not play on Sunday because of some irritation in his right shoulder, according to the AP. As a precaution, Furcal is expected to take it easy the next couple of days. |
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| Rafael Furcal will bat leadoff for the Dodgers again this year, even with the offseason addition of Juan Pierre, according to the AP. Furcal sported a .369 OBP with 37 steals from the leadoff spot last year. |
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| Manager Grady Little is planning to give Rafael Furcal the day off on Wednesday, according to the Dodgers website. Little intends to make Wednesday, which is followed by an off day on Thursday, the the last time that Furcal sits out a game for the entire season. "After that," Little said of Furcal, who has played 113 of 115 games, "he'll be good to go until November." |
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