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They already had a Gold Glove incumbent in Cesar Izturis who made the All-Star team last season (though he isn't likely to ever again.) The new guy, though, is clearly better. Rafael Furcal can really hit, field and steal bases, and he has just enough get-on-base chops to bat leadoff (though he ranked ninth among shortstops in that stat last year.) Cautions with Furcal are that he put up his big stats in Atlanta's hitter-friendly park. His offensive prowess has been rather less on the road—and awful in Los Angeles, where he has been a .157 hitter and has never hit a home run. There's also the two drunk driving convictions. The Dodgers, though, get Furcal in his prime for three years and will pay him an average of $13 million-plus per, making him the second-highest paid shortstop in the game. The Braves, who won their division six times with Furcal, would only go to $9 million. So far it's all unconfirmed by the Dodgers, but widely reported. Instant reactions: T.J. Simers: Makes no sense...Dodger Thoughts: One of the most surprising Dodger signings ever...6-4-2: As overpaying goes, not a bad deal.
And in football: Trojans 66, Bruins 19. USC pretty much had its way and did stuff like go for it on 4th and 10—and make it.