I know that we haven't technically made it but, knock on wood, how do
you guys think Furcal will be utilized in the playoffs? Furcal is a
huge upgrade over Berroa all other things not considered, but Berroa
has been serviceable and the team play without Furcal since Manny got
here has been awesome.

Would Torre stick Furcal right into the lineup? I can't see him going
straight into leadoff, so do you think he'll thrive at the bottom of
the order? Or will he be slowly eased into the fray?

I love Furcal, but I just don't like the idea of tweaking your team if
it's rolling, especially come playoff time.

nicholas.kiswanto@gmail.com wrote in
news:6b21d8ef-647d-4be9-bab7-124768c0ebe9@m36g2000hse.googlegr
oups.com:

> I know that we haven't technically made it but, knock on
> wood, how do you guys think Furcal will be utilized in the
> playoffs? Furcal is a huge upgrade over Berroa all other
> things not considered, but Berroa has been serviceable and
> the team play without Furcal since Manny got here has been
> awesome.
>
> Would Torre stick Furcal right into the lineup? I can't
> see him going straight into leadoff, so do you think he'll
> thrive at the bottom of the order? Or will he be slowly
> eased into the fray?
>
> I love Furcal, but I just don't like the idea of tweaking
> your team if it's rolling, especially come playoff time.
>

Torre said that he is going with Berroa and that right now he
is trying to see just how Furcal will fit into the scheme of
things for the playoffs. For now he is going to put Furcal
into the late innings of the remaining games to give him some
playing time as he did in yesterday's romp over the Padres.
Joe will decide just what to do with Raphael from what he sees
in the next couple of games. That doesn't give Raphael too
much time to prove that he is back to his old self. I have no
problem with Angel's fielding abilities. I just wish he was
more consistant with a bat in his hands.

On the subject, concerning 1st base, Torre also stated that
Loney was his regular 1st baseman and that he hadn't decided
as yet just how Nomar was going to fit into the playoff
scheme. You know that the Dodgers are going to depend upon
Nomar's hitting ability so it will be interesting to see how
he will be used in the post season. Regarding Jeff Kent and
2nd base, Joe said there is no way Kent will (or can) play a
fielding position so soon after his surgery and his has not
made a decision if Kent will be on the playoff roster.

I think Torre is just "playing it off the cuff" for right now,
seeing how things fall into place the remaining 4 games. The
team looks like it has really jelled at the best time of the
year, but 17 hits against a bottom dweller like the Padres
might be a bit deceiving. I want to see how they do against
the Giants and Timmy L in the last game of the regular season.
It was announced that he will face the Dodgers on Sunday in
S.F.

Mark

On Sep 24, 10:29 pm, nicholas.kiswa...@gmail.com wrote:
> I know that we haven't technically made it but, knock on wood, how do
> you guys think Furcal will be utilized in the playoffs?  Furcal is a
> huge upgrade over Berroa all other things not considered, but Berroa
> has been serviceable and the team play without Furcal since Manny got
> here has been awesome.
>
> Would Torre stick Furcal right into the lineup?  I can't see him going
> straight into leadoff, so do you think he'll thrive at the bottom of
> the order?  Or will he be slowly eased into the fray?
>
> I love Furcal, but I just don't like the idea of tweaking your team if
> it's rolling, especially come playoff time.

Furcal didn't look bad, per se, at the plate last night. His timing
is clearly off, making contact only on the second-to-last pitch. I
would say, if the Cards win today, give Raffy the start tonight. Give
him some time, but have Berroa ready to step in AT ANY TIME. If all
goes well, let him play again Saturday and make him an early option
off the bench for the first two games.

If the Flea Bags are still in it after this afternoon, keep playing
the Barroa hand as long as you can and have Furcal get some reps in
the batting cage.

Play the kids against "Timmy L." and let him pad his stats since he's
playing for such a crappy ball club. Then he can go home and watch the
Dodgers in the playoffs. Seriously, without all the major injuries this
club would have been in a cakewalk, especially after adding Manny. He is
easily the most powerful presence in the lineup since the Dodgers came
west. IMHO.