June 24, 2007

No spring to Furcal's step
The Dodgers shortstop acknowledged that his left ankle continues to bother him.
By AL BALDERAS
The Orange County Register

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.Rafael Furcal doesn't look like the player he was a year ago, and there is a good chance he won't be that player until next season.

Furcal continues to be bothered by the left ankle he severely sprained during a March 22 spring training game. Furcal stepped awkwardly while swinging and missing a pitch in Saturday's game, and he limped to first base on a first-inning single Sunday.

Furcal batted .300 last season while hitting 15 home runs and stealing 37 bases. Through the Dodgers' first 75 games this season, Furcal is batting .277. He has one home run and seven stolen bases.

"It's the same every day," Furcal said. "I think for it to be 100 percent you have to wait and rest it at the end of the season. For me, it's no big complaint."

Furcal acknowledged the ankle has affected his running more than his hitting this season. He's not able to push off the way he has in the past, which has something to do with his fewer steals.

"Sometimes when I try to run it's a little sore but it's cool," he said. "I don't get a good jump. It's a little frustrating. You're used to doing a lot of stuff. One day it's good. You feel like you can run, but if you take a bad step to the side, it gets sore."

It's also taking its toll at the plate. When Furcal bats right-handed, his left foot is in front and taking the brunt of the pressure. When he bats left-handed, he sometimes has to twist his left foot and ankle.

"For me it's no problem to play like that," he said. "I think one day it's going to be healthy. I don't think it's going to get worse and I can keep playing like that. It's a long season for me, so I don't worry about that. I've got 400 at-bats to go."

SPLASHDOWN

Luis Gonzalez became the first player in the majors to hit a home run at Tropicana Field when he hit one into the right-field bleachers on March 31, 1998.

On Sunday, he became the first to hit one into the 10,000-gallon water tank that sits beyond the center field wall. About 30 cownose rays live in the tank.

If a Devil Rays player hits a home run into the tank, $2,500 goes to the Florida Aquarium and $2,500 goes to the player's charity of choice. The Devil Rays don't have a policy for opposing hitters who reach the water.

"I've got two firsts in the stadium so that's pretty cool," said Gonzalez, who is from Tampa. "At least I didn't kill a devil ray out there. I don't want to have any activists calling me."

Gonzalez' home run Sunday was his 335th as a left fielder and moved him past Ralph Kiner into second place among players at that position. He trails Ted Williams and Barry Bonds.

"Next is Williams and then Barry," Gonzalez said. "Barry's the guy I just kind of shoot for."

NOTES

Hong-Chih Kuo's first-inning strikeout of Carl Crawford was the 100th of Kuo's career. …

The Dodgers signed Michael Watt (Capistrano Valley High) and Matt Wallach (Cal State Fullerton), who were selected in the second and 22nd rounds of this year's draft, respectively. Wallach is the son of former Dodgers third baseman and hitting coach Tim Wallach.