Saturday, April 22, 2006
Rafael Furcal Has Trouble Gripping Bat
Los Angeles shortstop Rafael Furcal's batting average had dropped to .219 before he doubled in an insurance run in the seventh inning of Friday's 5-3 victory over Arizona, and later scored. Furcal has been hampered at the plate after he strained the middle finger of his left hand on opening day. The finger has been sore and swollen since, making it difficult for him to grip his bat. His discomfort is not related to Thursday's collision with Cubs first baseman Derrick Lee, who has been sidelined for perhaps two months or more as a result of the contact.
Posts
Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.