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Sarah's Take: Furcal vital to Dodgers
Strong-armed shortstop shouldn't be taken for granted
By Sarah D. Morris / Special to Dodgers.com
09/21/09 5:27 PM ET
This season I think many people have forgotten how important shortstop Rafael Furcal is to the Dodgers' success. I have watched almost every game, and I didn't recognize his brilliance until last Sunday. Since he is not having his typical performance this year, many of us have been disappointed. Considering that he is only a year away from undergoing serious back surgery, Furcal has played fantastically.Second to catching in the Major Leagues, playing shortstop is the most physically demanding position. Usually shortstops are smaller players on baseball teams. The shortstop needs to be fast because he must cover much territory. He is busy with all of the right-handed hitters who like to pull the ball.
Playing shortstop requires a strong throwing arm because he makes throws from everywhere on the infield with different arm angles. Often the shortstop plays a vital role in double plays while jumping over the runner. A good shortstop dives and catches balls, and this prevents many hits and results in bruises.
In the past, teams didn't expect much offensively from their shortstops. Then Cal Ripken Jr. came to the Major Leagues. He was bigger and had more power than most shortstops. He changed how baseball thought about shortstops, so teams began expecting more from shortstops. In the middle of the 1990s, a new generation of shortstops reaffirmed that the position can be a spot for run-producers. This trend has continued.
Furcal gives the Dodgers a good defensive shortstop with enhanced offensive skills. He always uses his brain to make good plays that help the Dodgers win games. During his nine-year career, he has gone to the playoffs every season except 2007. Although he doesn't capture the media's fancy, Furcal plays an integral role in any success the Dodgers experience.
When general manager Ned Colletti signed Furcal to a lucrative three-year contract after the 2005 season, I thought Colletti had made a mistake. After all, the Dodgers had Cesar Izturis, a young shortstop who had won a Gold Glove in 2004. Although he had Tommy John elbow surgery at the end of 2005, I was confident that Izturis could regain his skills. Izturis has never regained his previous performance level.
As usual when I disagree with Colletti, I was wrong about the Dodgers not needing Furcal, who brought an enthusiasm that the Dodgers had lacked for many years. I immediately fell in love watching Furcal play. He had a vital role in the Dodgers earning the National League Wild Card in 2006. He won the first Roy Campanella Award, given to the most inspirational Dodger.
The next two seasons Furcal was plagued with serious injuries that diminished his performance and hurt the team. He tried to play through the injuries, but he couldn't. Last July, he had back surgery to remove a disk. Although most people believed he wouldn't play again in 2008, he vowed to return and he played in the playoffs.
To my surprise, Colletti signed Furcal to another three-year lucrative contract in December. At the beginning of this season, manager Joe Torre wanted to rest Furcal one game every week to make sure his back stayed healthy. As he showed his back was fine, Furcal received more playing time. Though Furcal has been challenged offensively, he has contributed to the team's run production.
Furcal still has one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball, and his throws often prevent possible infield hits. His speed enables him to cover much ground.
On Sept. 13, Furcal might have made the best defensive play of the year. No, it didn't make the crowd go wow, nor did it preserve a win for the Dodgers. The San Francisco Giants had the bases loaded with no outs, and the batter grounded the ball to first base. James Loney threw the ball to Furcal in hopes of beginning a double play. Instead of returning the ball to first base to complete the double play, Furcal rifled a perfect strike to Russell Martin to get the runner attempting to score.
That play took advanced planning on Furcal's part. Most shortstops wouldn't have seen the possibility to stop another run from scoring. Furcal is always thinking. He trusts his defensive ability enough to take chances to make remarkable plays that have helped the Dodgers win.
Although Furcal hasn't attempted to steal many bases this season, he hasn't lost a step. He is still recovering from back surgery. This past Sunday he scored two important runs on wild pitches. I expect to see more stolen bases from Furcal next season.
Furcal doesn't get much attention. I don't think the Dodgers could have won at least 90 games this year without his steady presence. Often I take Furcal's brilliance for granted. I should not. I won't in the future.
Sarah D. Morris is the editor of Sarah's Dodger Place. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
