Last call: Sweep! and Rafael Furcal

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In all the talk about Manny Ramirez and how he has strengthened the Dodgers, one thing that has been overlooked, and helps account for their steamrollering of the Cubs, is the return of Rafael Furcal.

Remember, when Furcal got hurt on May 5, the Dodgers had just won eight in a row and looked very similar to the team that dominated the Cubs. When he went down, suddenly the team had to turn to Chin-Lung Hu, who showed he wasn’t ready for the majors. There were suddenly two gaping holes at the bottom of the lineup, and the Dodgers were left without a true leadoff man.

Now, with Furcal back, Joe Torre can do things like bat Casey Blake eighth.

That’s not to diminish the accomplishments of Ramirez. But, Furcal has given the Dodgers offense another dimension.

-- Houston Mitchell