Furcal was arrested Sept. 10 on drunken driving charges, his second DUI arrest in four years. He was on probation in Cobb County for a June 2000 arrest on similar charges.
GUILLEN STILL GONE
The Anaheim Angels managed to wrap up the AL West title without Jose Guillen's help. They're confident they'll be just as successful in the playoffs without their enigmatic left fielder.
Guillen was suspended for the final eight games of the regular season and penalized two days' pay because of a tantrum he threw in the dugout and clubhouse after being removed for a pinch-runner on Sept. 25. He was left off Anaheim's roster for its playoff series against Boston.
"I've been saying from day one that we have a team, and we're supposed to make it work -- regardless of what happens," teammate Darin Erstad said. "The front office makes moves during the season, and whatever happens, happens. And this situation is no different. We have to make it work."
The Red Sox are glad they don't have to face Guillen, who had 27 home runs and 104 RBIs this season, both career highs, and batted .327 with runners in scoring position -- the eighth-best mark in the AL. The Angels were 20-6 when he homered.
"That's going to hurt them a lot," Boston slugger David Ortiz said. "Guillen is another player who you want to have in the lineup. I mean, if you're talking about winning a World Series -- I might punish him next year, or something like that. But you don't get that many opportunities to win a World Series. I don't know what he did, but it seems like what he did was really bad."
THOMSON UPDATE
The Braves are confident that John Thomson will be able to start Game 3 despite a strained oblique muscle. Thomson (14-8, 3.72) threw in the bullpen Tuesday.
"He didn't throw 100 percent," manager Bobby Cox said. "I would say he threw 75 percent. I think in a couple of more days, he'll be able to start. Right now, unless he has a bad night, wakes up and is really sore, he'll be starting Game 3."
Thomson was initially scheduled to start Game 2, but he hurt his left side in his final start of the regular season.
PETTITTE SITS
When Houston pitcher Andy Pettitte underwent season-ending elbow surgery in late August, the Astros appeared to be out of the playoff race.
Then, by winning 36 of their final 46 games, they managed to claim the wild card.
So, would Pettitte have put off surgery if he had known his team would make the playoffs?
"I was past the point of no return," Pettitte said. "I tried, but I wouldn't have been able to help the team. All the things I had to do just to get on the field to pitch, I exhausted every option I had."
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