"The Dodgers are back to where they were a season ago.

Rafael Furcal is on the disabled list. Jamey Carroll is their starting shortstop.

"That's why I'm here," Carroll said.

Furcal, who broke his left thumb on a head-first slide into third base Monday night, visited Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles and was told his thumb will be in a splint for the next three weeks. He will not have surgery.

Manager Don Mattingly said he expected Furcal to be back in the lineup in four to six weeks.

Until then, Mattingly said Carroll would be the primary shortstop. Juan Uribe, who played 101 games at shortstop for the San Francisco Giants last season, could also play there on occasion.

General Manager Ned Colletti indicated he was comfortable with the in-house options to replace Furcal.

"Yeah, as of right now," Colletti said.

Colletti said he inquired on free agent David Eckstein about a month ago, but that he had no plans to reopen talks with the former Angel.

As for Furcal's statements Monday night that this latest injury has made him ponder retirement, they weren't taken seriously by Colletti and Mattingly.

"He's pretty down, he's pretty frustrated," Mattingly said. "He's a sensitive guy. He really feels like he lets the team down when he's not out there."

This could be Furcal's last season with the Dodgers. With a $12-million salary, plus a $1-million condition bonus, he is the highest-paid player on the team. His $12-million option for next season won't vest unless he makes 600 plate appearances, which he is unlikely to do."