Post by Fish Troll on Mar 24, 2007 21:05:57 GMT -5
LA weighs options to replace Furcal
Abreu, Valdez have filled spot at top of order and at short
By Faran Fagen / MLB.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Tony Abreu became the latest to fill in at shortstop for Dodgers leadoff man Rafael Furcal, who sprained his ankle in a collision with outfielder Jason Repko on Thursday.
Abreu, playing in his first game since injuring his shoulder March 17, had an RBI double and three sharp groundouts from the leadoff spot, and made no errors at shortstop in Saturday's 4-2 win against Baltimore.
Because of the roster shake-up from Furcal's uncertain status for the start of the season, Abreu, 22, now could make the jump from being a Double-A second baseman to the Opening Day roster.
In 33 at-bats before jamming his shoulder, Abreu was batting .394 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
Another option at shortstop and in the leadoff spot is versatile 28-year-old infielder Wilson Valdez, who also has produced this spring. Playing multiple positions in both the infield and outfield, Valdez is hitting .382 with three home runs, seven RBIs and three stolen bases.
On Friday, Valdez started at shortstop and had two singles, a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored -- all from Furcal's usual leadoff spot. Valdez started at second base and in the ninth hole on Saturday, but moved to shortstop, relieving Abreu, in the sixth frame, finishing the game 1-for-4.
The shortstop situation changes, of course, if Furcal can make it back quickly. The former All-Star showed steady improvement on Friday. A magnetic resonance imaging scan was scheduled for Saturday to make sure there was no ligament damage.
"We know there's no bone damage," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "His mobility got better throughout the day [on Friday]."
Little obviously hopes to have Furcal back for Opening Day so that he can bat him leadoff and put Juan Pierre second in the batting order. Should Furcal not be able to make it back in time for the season's start, Pierre would bat in the leadoff spot he has played in for nearly all of his career.
"Pierre is fully capable of hitting first if Rafael's not ready to go on Opening Day," Little said. "But right now we have to hope that Rafael is ready Opening Day, so we're going to leave Pierre right where he is."
Pierre batted second, after Abreu, on Saturday.
Faran Fagen is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Abreu, Valdez have filled spot at top of order and at short
By Faran Fagen / MLB.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Tony Abreu became the latest to fill in at shortstop for Dodgers leadoff man Rafael Furcal, who sprained his ankle in a collision with outfielder Jason Repko on Thursday.
Abreu, playing in his first game since injuring his shoulder March 17, had an RBI double and three sharp groundouts from the leadoff spot, and made no errors at shortstop in Saturday's 4-2 win against Baltimore.
Because of the roster shake-up from Furcal's uncertain status for the start of the season, Abreu, 22, now could make the jump from being a Double-A second baseman to the Opening Day roster.
In 33 at-bats before jamming his shoulder, Abreu was batting .394 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
Another option at shortstop and in the leadoff spot is versatile 28-year-old infielder Wilson Valdez, who also has produced this spring. Playing multiple positions in both the infield and outfield, Valdez is hitting .382 with three home runs, seven RBIs and three stolen bases.
On Friday, Valdez started at shortstop and had two singles, a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored -- all from Furcal's usual leadoff spot. Valdez started at second base and in the ninth hole on Saturday, but moved to shortstop, relieving Abreu, in the sixth frame, finishing the game 1-for-4.
The shortstop situation changes, of course, if Furcal can make it back quickly. The former All-Star showed steady improvement on Friday. A magnetic resonance imaging scan was scheduled for Saturday to make sure there was no ligament damage.
"We know there's no bone damage," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "His mobility got better throughout the day [on Friday]."
Little obviously hopes to have Furcal back for Opening Day so that he can bat him leadoff and put Juan Pierre second in the batting order. Should Furcal not be able to make it back in time for the season's start, Pierre would bat in the leadoff spot he has played in for nearly all of his career.
"Pierre is fully capable of hitting first if Rafael's not ready to go on Opening Day," Little said. "But right now we have to hope that Rafael is ready Opening Day, so we're going to leave Pierre right where he is."
Pierre batted second, after Abreu, on Saturday.
Faran Fagen is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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