Good news for all the Dodgers fans out there! After testing out the free agent market, shortstop Rafael Furcal has decided to sign a new contract and stay with the Los Angles Dogers. Furcal needs to still take and pass a physical before the contract can be signed but everything points to him being back with the Dodgers.

The contract will be for three years at $30 million dollars and a vesting option for a fourth year. The deal is very similar to what was being reported by our Braves Blog when the Braves offered him a contact.

As long as Furcal can stay healthy, it is a good signing for the team. However, if he gets injured like last season watch out for all the people thinking “Why did we bring this guy back?”

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It was a crazy ride through the 2008 season for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they had their ups and downs but made into the playoffs even advanced to the NLCS. On Wednesday night, the season came to an abrumpt end however as Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies won game five by the score of 5-1.

The Dodgers offense struggled the entire night against Hamels. Three errors by Rafael Furcal sure didn’t help either. The only offense on the night was as solo home run by Manny Ramirez when he went yard in the sixth inning. The game could have been different except everytime Manny came up to bat, no one was on base. He has to have runners our there for the home runs and singles to really matter.

Blake DeWitt had a terrible game and series at the plate. He twice grounded into double plays that killed rallies.

Starting pitcher Chad Billingsley struggled from the get go. He only lasted 2 2/3 innings as he was charged with four hits and three runs. He walked three batters and also gave up solo home run. Jimmy Rollins took him deep in the first inning and things only got worse from there.

Greg Maddux also gave up two runs in relief. However, those three errors we mentioned before by Furcal really hurt Maddux so it wasn’t all his fault.

So now we head into the off season wondering what management will do with Ramirez and Furcal. Will Ramirez except a 2-3 year deal? I really doubt it but time will tell. What do you think?

The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a much needed win on Sunday evening as they took game three in the NLCS by the score of 7-2. The Dodgers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after the first inning on three-run triple by Blake DeWitt and rbi singles from Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake.

They weren’t done after the first inning however. Rafael Furcal jumped all over a Jamie Moyer pitch for a solo home run in the second inning which put the Dodgers up 7-1. Hiroki Kuroda gave up a rbi single to the Phillies in the top half of the inning before the Furcal home run.

Nomar Garciaparra added the seventh and final run for the home team in the fifth inning when he singled in Ramirez. Nice to see Nomar getting in on the action during the playoffs.

The main man of the night was Kuroda in my opinion. He pitched six strong innings and kept the Phillies off balance. He only allowed two runs which both came on singles and he struck out three while only giving up five hits. Cory Wade pitched the seventh and eighth innings before he turned things over to Jonathan Broxton for the ninth.

Derek Lowe will now take the mound on Monday night as the Dodgers look to tie the series up at two games each. It won’t be easy however as the Phillies will be sending Joe Blanton to the mound.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are ready to kick the NLCS off on Thursday evening. Games one and two will be played in Philadelphia and then the next three games in Los Angeles. Games six and seven would then be played back in Philly if needed.

The Dodgers are coming off a three game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. They have all the momentum in the world and they are ready for the Phillies. The Dodgers will be sending Derrek Lowe to the mound in game one against the Phillies Cole Hamels.

The Dodgers right handed pitching staff will have to keep Chase Utley and Ryan Howard off the base paths if they want to win the series.

The offense will try to stay hot with Rafael Furcal leading things off and setting things up for Russell Martin and Manny Ramirez. Manny is just being Manny and that means hitting home runs and knocking in runs in the playoffs while racking up the victories.

Hopefully the Dodgers will get off to a fast start and get a win in Philly and then be setup to finish off the series in L.A. Let’s enjoy the game tomorrow and hope that the Dodgers jump all over Hamels! Go Dodgers!

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The Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home runs on Monday night as they went onto defeat the New York Mets 5-1.  Rafael Furcal got things started with a lead off home run to start the game off of Oliver Perez.  Blake DeWitt and Matt Kemp both went deep in the fifth inning off of Perez as well.

Besides the RBI’s from Furcal, DeWitt, and Kemp, Russell Martin also had a RBI single in the first inning.  The Dodgers only struck out three times in the game and only left seven guys on base.  It was a productive night at the plate.

Chad Billingsley picked up the win for the Dodgers as he tossed six innings of five hit ball.  He did allow one run while walking four batters and striking out four batters.  Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito pitched the final three innings without giving up a hit.

The Dodgers are now 18-14 on the season and hope to continue their hot play as they play the Mets again on Tuesday.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers pretty much got man handled by the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night by the score of 8-1.  The Dodgers could only muster one run against the Reds pitching staff as their own pitching staff served up eight runs to the Reds.

Hong-Chih Kuo started the game for the Dodgers but only lasted 3.2 innings as he allowed eight hits and five earned runs.  Just a terrible performance by Kuo as he put the Dodgers in a very big hole early in the game.

Esteban Loaiza also gave up two runs as he pitched in relief.   Jonathan Broxton pitched one inning and let two runs scored even though only one of them was earned.  It doesn’t matter when your entire pitching sucks like the Dodgers did on Tuesday night, you are going to lose the ballgame.

Rafael Furcal was the only Dodgers player to record an RBI.  Furcal hit a RBI ground rule double in the third inning and that was all the Dodgers could get against the Reds.  Another terribler performance by the Dodgers hitters.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers had no probles getting the win in Cincinnati over the Reds by a score of 9-3.  The Dodgers have been fighting for every win they could get and this one was much needed as they are now 8-12 on the season.

Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra both hit home runs for the Dodgers.  Furcal hit a solo home run in the first inning and Garciaparra hit a two run shot in the sixth inning.  James Loney had three RBIs with Russell Martin and Matt Kemp picking up an RBI each as well.

Brad Penny was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers throwing for six innings giving up six hits and only one run to the Reds.  This win put him at 3-2 for the year.  The closer Chan Ho Park picked up his first save of the season throwing the last three innings. 

The Dodgers will stay in Cincinnati for one more night to take on the Reds tonight to see if they can sweep them in the series.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers were up 6-0 after two innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates and went onto win 8-1.  With the win the Dodgers improved their record to 7-8.

Rafael Furcal went 4-4 including a solo home run in the second inning and finished with two RBI.  James Loney and Juan Pierre also had two RBI in the game.  Matt Kemp and Jeff Kent both had one RBI in the game.

Brad Penny picked up the save after pitching 5.2 innings of five hit baseball.  Only one run crossed the plate and it was an un-earned run.  Penny improved his record to 2-2 on the season with the win.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers took the Pittsburgh Pirates to the woodshed on Tuesday night with an 11-2 victory.  The Dodgers were all over the Pirates pitching staff and scored on all three of their pitchers.  With the win, the Dodgers improved their record to 6-8 on the season.

Esteban Loaiza picked up his first win of the season as he pitched the final five innings and only gave up three hits and one run.  Loaiza was pitching in relief of starter Hong-Chih Kuo who pitched the first four innings of the game.  Luo only gave up two hits and one run during his four innings.

Jeff Kent hit a three-run home run and finished with three RBI to lead the Dodgers.  Andre Ethier had two RBI in the game while Rafael Furcal, Matt Kemp, James Loney, and Russell Martin all had one RBI.

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