Current Rafael Furcal is looking a lot like the old Rafael Furcal

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Looking for an encouraging early sign for the Dodgers?

Try shortstop Rafael Furcal.

It wasn’t like he was a bust last season, but it wasn’t like the vintage Furcal, either. Back surgery is no simple thing to come back from, and he did score 92 runs last season. Yet he was hardly as daring on the basepaths and just looked like a ‘B’ version of himself. He stole only 12 bases, continuing a four-year decline, and was caught six times.

Three games into the new season, however, Furcal is looking a lot more like his old self.

He’s made good on his first two stolen-base attempts, and in the third inning on Thursday, he doubled sharply into the left-field corner and scored the Dodgers’ second run.

Since the Dodgers have precious little speed in their regular lineup, they need Furcal to be a legitimate leadoff hitter. So far, it’s encouraging.

-- Steve Dilbeck