I have an entry I wrote prior to posting this article which I feel the need to post
Furcal arrested, faces charges
Braves won't take action until judicial process ends
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- When Braves general manager John Schuerholz received the early Friday morning phone call alerting him that Rafael Furcal had just been handed his second DUI charge of the past four years, he was obviously saddened and stunned.
But as Schuerholz addressed the media at Turner Field on Friday afternoon, he made it clear that his organization will help Furcal through the process, and at the same time, discipline him when permitted.
"Until action is taken in this due process, there will be no action taken," Schuerholz said. "Until final adjudication takes place, our organization will wait until that time to determine what appropriate action we should take."
During a conversation with Major League Baseball on Friday morning, Schuerholz was told that clubs can't take any action against their players until the judicial process is completed.
After being released on $3,200 bond in Atlanta at around noon on Friday, Furcal was transported to the Cobb County Jail, because he had violated his probation stemming from his DUI conviction in that jurisdiction on June 10, 2000.
Furcal posted a second bond of $5,000 on Friday afternoon and left the Cobb County Jail around 5 p.m. He met with Schuerholz and manager Bobby Cox after arriving at Turner Field at approximately 6 p.m and announced that he'd address the media on Saturday.
"Anytime anyone in your family -- and he is in our Braves family -- has a problem that occurs on multiple occasions, it's troublesome," Schuerholz said. "We intend to do all that we can to help him and get to the bottom of it, when the time is appropriate."
When Furcal concludes his court proceedings, the Braves will either levy a fine or suspend him. During last year's Division Series, they fined Robert Fick $10,000 for his aggressive on-field action while running to first base and chopping Eric Karros' arm.
When asked if he would play Furcal on Saturday if the shortstop claimed to be ready, Cox said, "Absolutely."
Furcal was stopped by Atlanta police at 4:20 a.m. ET on I-85, just north of the downtown district. According to the police report, officer A.P. Taddei said the Braves shortstop's Mercedes was traveling at approximately 90 mph.
According to the report, as Taddei approached the car, Furcal inserted chewing tobacco into his mouth and then proceeded to ask for leniency because he plays for the Braves. He said that he had drank two beers.
After sensing a strong alcohol odor, Taddei took Furcal to the Atlanta City Jail, where the shortstop's blood alcohol level registered at .127. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.
"Sure, we are saddened by this development," Schuerholz said. "We are disappointed with this development. We take a lot of pride in how we present ourselves as an organization, as do our players. The embarrassment that I'm sure Raffy suffers is felt by us all."
Furcal's next court appearance is currently scheduled for Oct. 14, which would come just before the start of the National League Championship Series. There's a chance that hearing could be moved to a later date
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