Rafael Furcal News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 17

MLB.com

"The A's and Giants play in the same geographic area, but they play in different leagues, they have dramatically different ballparks and revenue streams, and there have been massive differences in the way they've built their clubs in recent years. Yet the Bay Area rivals are very much in the same boat in at least one respect right now. They both want free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, and according to Furcal's agent, they're among the six teams who appear to want Furcal the most. Paul Kinzer told MLB.com on Monday morning that while "nine or 10 teams have expressed interest" in Furcal, only six of them had contacted him since the start of open free agency at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, and ..."

K-Rod tops list of 19 more to test market

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November 4

MLB.com

"Major League saves leader Francisco Rodriguez heads a list of 19 players who filed for free agency on Monday. Rafael Furcal, Edgar Renteria and Omar Vizquel, a trio of shortstops with a combined nine All-Star Game selections, also filed, raising the free agent pool to 149. Coming off a historic 62-save season at age 26, Rodriguez is expected to be among the most coveted free agents on the market this winter, along with Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez and CC Sabathia. Visibly distraught when the season ended for his team at Boston's Fenway Park in a 3-2 loss in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, Rodriguez expressed how difficult it would be to leave the only organization he has ..."

Dodgers shortstop Furcal picks up where he left off

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October 13

Philadelphia Daily News

"The ball left Rafael Furcal's bat quick and smooth - the way he started the 2008 season - and kept rising until it dropped into the leftfield pavilion. The Dodgers shortstop's home run leading off the second inning gave Los Angeles a five-run lead and pretty much ended what was to become a 7-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.Oh, sure, there were hitters to be plunked and chests to be puffed up and/or beaten upon, but the game never seemed much in doubt after that, Furcal having personally seen to much of that.In the first inning, it was Furcal who used a foot to block Chase Utley off second when Utley appeared to have stolen the base with two ..."

Remember me? Furcal back in leading role for Dodgers

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October 8

Orange County Register

"If an MVP award had been handed out as a result of the Dodgers' three-game sweep over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series, there's a good chance that James Loney would have been the recipient. Loney silenced the Game 1 crowd at Wrigley Field with a fifth-inning grand slam that turned a 2-0 deficit into an eventual 7-2 victory. The young first baseman was also the one who hit the key two-run double in the first inning of Game 3 off Cubs pitcher Rich Harden. A lot of the success for the first-round victory, however, can be attributed to the Dodgers getting their leadoff hitter back. Rafael Furcal was hampered by back problems since early in the season. He didn't return to ..."

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal says he'll return this season

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July 11

Los Angeles Times

"Speaking to reporters for the first time since he underwent surgery on a bulging disk in his back on July 3, Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal said Thursday he was sure he would play again this season. Furcal said he was told by Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the operation, that his recovery would take anywhere from six to eight weeks, meaning he could be back in late August."

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal could be out for the season

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July 3

Los Angeles Times

"It has become something of a ritual lately with the Dodgers, with every piece of good news tempered by some bad news... And so it went Wednesday, when right-hander Hiroki Kuroda came off the disabled list to throw seven shutout innings at the Houston Astros in a 4-1 win that moved the Dodgers to within 1 1/2 games of division-leading Arizona, the closest they've been to first place since early April. Only that became nothing more than the silver lining on the black cloud which began descending on the Dodgers in the third inning. That's when trainer Stan Conte gave Manager Joe Torre the bad news that sparkplug shortstop Rafael Furcal will undergo back surgery today. And with less than three ..."

Furcal has another setback

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July 2

L.A. Daily News

"Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal has suffered what appears to be another setback in his seemingly endless attempt to come back from a lower-back injury that has sidelined him for almost two months. After finally beginning his minor-league rehabilitation assignment on Monday night by going 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI while playing four innings at shortstop for Triple-A Las Vegas against SaltLake, Furcal woke up Tuesday morning with more discomfort in his back. He returned to Los Angeles and is scheduled to be examined today by back specialist Dr.Robert Watkins."

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal in pain after rehab start

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July 2

Los Angeles Times

"Nearly two months after going on the disabled list and two days after making his first minor league rehab start, Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal is right back where he started -- in pain because of his back and in doubt as to when he will play again.Furcal went four innings at shortstop for triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, doubling and driving in a run in three at-bats in his first game since May 5. But when he woke Tuesday with discomfort, he was immediately called back to Los Angeles where he will be examined today by Dr. Robert Watkins."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 ..."

Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jones and Nomar Garciaparra ready to begin rehab assignments

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June 28

Los Angeles Times

"Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jones and Nomar Garciaparra are scheduled to begin minor league rehab assignments with triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, with Furcal and Garciaparra saying they could be back in the Dodgers' lineup next weekend in San Francisco.Jones, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery May 27, is aiming to return for the start of the second half of the season, July 18 in Arizona.Signed to a two-year, $36.2-million contract in the off-season, Jones was hitting .165 with two home runs through 43 games when he was sidelined. Being out for so long, Jones said, let him do more than heal his body."

Dodgers' Furcal hopes to return before All-Star break

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June 21

Los Angeles Times

"Rafael Furcal disagreed with his manager's assessment of his injury Friday, saying the bulging disk in his back was 90% healed and that he was optimistic he could return before the All-Star break, which begins July 14."That's what we're working for," said the Dodgers' shortstop, who has been on the disabled list since May 6."

Rafael Furcal not expected back before the All-Star break

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June 18

Los Angeles Times

"With Rafael Furcal limited to playing catch, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said he didn't expect his leadoff hitter and starting shortstop back until after the All-Star break. Furcal, who has 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. "If we get him back before the All-Star break it's a bonus, but I don't see that happening," Torre said. Torre said that the possibility of Furcal's having to undergo back surgery hasn't been discussed."

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal told to cease baseball activities

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June 13

Los Angeles Times

"The Dodgers have told shortstop Rafael Furcal to cease all baseball activities, raising the possibility his recovery from a back injury could extend well into July. "He's gotten a little frustrated," Manager Joe Torre said. The Dodgers officially list the injury as soreness in the lower back, but Torre confirmed the specific diagnosis is a bulging disk. Dr. Robert Watkins , the back specialist who examined Furcal this week, advised the Dodgers to halt Furcal's baseball activities and limit his workouts to conditioning and strengthening exercises."

June 17 is new target for Rafael Furcal

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June 7

Los Angeles Times

"Rafael Furcal could be back in the Dodgers' lineup by the time they open a three-game series in Cincinnati on June 17, Manager Joe Torre said Friday. "I think that's reasonable," Torre said. Furcal, who last played May 5, resumed taking grounders at short Thursday and reported that his strained lower back felt fine the next day."

Furcal absent again as Dodgers lose to Cardinals

May 24

L.A. Daily News

"The real Derek Lowe finally showed up for the Dodgers on Friday night. Rafael Furcal, however, remained conspicously absent. Before the Dodgers suffered a 2-1 loss to St. Louis in front of 52,281 at Dodger Stadium, most of Furcal's teammates had reported to the ballpark believing their offensive heart and soul would be activated from the disabled list, return to the leadoff spot and resume the gargantuan task of carrying the team on his back. But Furcal's back simply wasn't ready to bear that burden."

Dodgers' Rafael Furcal might not be activated yet

May 21

Los Angeles Times

"Rafael Furcal reported feeling no pain in his lower back Tuesday, but Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said the shortstop would "have to do a pretty good sell job" to be moved to the active roster today, the first day he is eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list. Manager Joe Torre was on the same page as Conte, saying, "I certainly don't want to take a chance of doing the wrong thing. I'd rather bite the bullet here for an extra couple days.""