Rafael Furcal expected back in 25-30 days, plus other Dodgers injury updates
Top prospect Dee Gordon is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff for the Dodgers on Tuesday, something he could be doing for the next month.
Manager Don Mattingly said Rafael Furcal, whom Gordon is replacing, isn’t expected back for 25-30 days. Furcal received an injection of platelet-rich plasma in his strained side muscle.
Sidelined pitchers Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland are facing more uncertain recoveries. Mattingly said the Dodgers don’t have a timetable for either of them. Padilla underwent an MRI exam on Monday, which showed inflammation in a disk in his neck. A similar problem sidelined him for the final month of last season.
Sidelined relievers Hong-Chih Kuo and Kenley Jansen will both be pitching in minor-league games on Thursday, Kuo with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Jansen with Double-A Chattanooga.
The decision for Kuo to pitch was made by the left-hander himself. Kuo is on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder.
Jonathan Broxton threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is scheduled to throw another on Thursday.
-- Dylan Hernandez in Philadelphia
We can do without Broxton for a lil while longer... Like for the rest of the season.
Posted by: A-Man | 06/07/2011 at 03:34 PM
Great. Start the countdown again. Just a few more weeks and Furcal will be back and save our season. Geez!!!!
Posted by: Jim | 06/07/2011 at 03:57 PM
Will somebody please put a banana peel in front of Furcal before he returns?
Posted by: fbmvp1 | 06/07/2011 at 04:22 PM
gordon 3-3 already. de la rosa doing the high wire act. wish i was watching this one.
Posted by: HI Dodger Fan | 06/07/2011 at 05:29 PM
We need Broxton to come back after the All Star break when we will probably be totally out of the race. With no pressure on maybe he can display his former All Star form so we can then TRADE HIS BEHIND for something of value!
Posted by: Chris | 06/07/2011 at 06:27 PM
Yes, furcal will be making yet another comeback (just like/right after onan masaoka and his latter day incarnate hong chih kuo do)...
Posted by: 16blows | 06/07/2011 at 07:09 PM
No more Furcal! Where's Repko when we need him?
Posted by: Two More Weeks | 06/07/2011 at 09:21 PM
Need to trade some combo of rafi, brox, and/or loney for a solid lf or 1b and some decent prospects to refill the farm and let these kiddies do their thing.
Posted by: Let the kids play | 06/08/2011 at 06:27 AM
How about retirement . . .
F-Erkle is done.
Every time he comes back, he ruins a potential Dodger streak . . . and says, "Did I do That?"
F-erkle has, "Fallen, and he can't get up!"
Posted by: bluefan | 06/08/2011 at 06:59 AM
who cares abt Furcal, as his ship has sailed.......best thing for all parties concerned would be for duds to trade Furcal this July to a contender, maybe for a fairly good prospect in return (butt honestly, not much hope for getting anything in return here, as Furcal is past his prime)
no critique, as he's been a fine player overall, for the bulk of his career.....butt time moves one, & Dee's time has come........
duds need to change Dee's number, though, to 3 (not 9), as that more befitting a SS, + same number that Willie-D wore, & Dee fastest pure-runner duds have had as a rookie since Willie broke in, waaaaaaaay back when????
Posted by: WearingNumber3isDee | 06/08/2011 at 08:05 AM
Maybe Dee Gordon will play so well that they won't want to sit him -- or worse, send him back to the farm -- when Furcal comes back. Remember when Dioner Navarro, in his previous stint with the Dodgers, went down for an extended period and Russell Martin played so well in his place that Martin stole Navarro's job? Forget about Furcal; his best days are behind him.
As for Brox, forget him too. Even if he looks good in a rehab assignment, who trusts him in a tight game situation anymore?
Posted by: k | 06/08/2011 at 10:47 AM
Nice to hear Kuo is ready to take the ball. Elbert appears to finally have gotten a clue but having them both in the pen at the same time gives both of them a better chance. Kuo just needs to string a few good outings together, the first couple will be the hardest. I like Garland but i like Rubby in the rotation better. Furcal is a vampire?
Posted by: N.P.Krohn | 06/08/2011 at 01:59 PM
Trade? Who in their right mind would "trade" for F-Erkle?
Nobody, I hope, is that stupid. I guess it would not hurt to try. There might be a sucker out there. The Doggers "had bit the hook" a few times . . . hooks with artificial worms!
Good Luck Dee!! Show the Dodgers that "Dodger Youth" is the way to go!
Posted by: bluefan | 06/08/2011 at 04:04 PM