Early returns on last week’s big trade with the Dodgers have been grand for the Braves, who like all they’ve seen of veteran newcomer Juan Uribe, who had two-run homers Saturday and Sunday against the Giants.
He had three hits including a double and a ninth-inning homer in 8-0 win Saturday, then another two-run homer in the seventh inning off Madison Bumgarner on Sunday to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.
The jovial, 36-year-old third baseman has also made things a bit livelier in the clubhouse and dugout, something he’s been known for everywhere he’s played.
“He brings a lot of fun, a lot of energy,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Him ragging on (A.J.) Pierzysnki all game long, it’s pretty hilarious. And I mean, he goes out there and plays hard, plays the game the right way, and we’re starting to see results. That (home run) yesterday was awesome.”
On Sunday, Uribe made his fourth start in five games since the six-player deal that sent infielder Alberto Callaspo and three pitchers to the Dodgers.
The razzing of Pierzynski, his grizzled former White Sox teammate, began as soon as the two former White Sox teammates were reunited in the visitor’s clubhouse at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday after the trade was finalized. Uribe shouted a good-natured insult at Pierzynski while the 38-year-old catcher was being interviewed across the clubhouse, Pierzysnki had a witty retort, and so on.
In San Francisco, it was those two, Pierzysnki and Uribe, who drew conspicuous amounts of boos every time either was introduced. Uribe is a former Giant who spent two of his best seasons with San Francisco in 2009-2010. He had 40 homers and 140 RBIs in 270 games in that span, including career bests of 24 homers and 85 RBIs in 148 games in 2010 when the Giants won the first of their three World Series titles in a five-year span.
After playing on consecutive one-year free-agent contracts with the Giants, he went to the Dodgers, the Giants’ hated rivals, for the next four-plus seasons before the Braves got him in a trade last week.
“Everybody knows the Dodgers, the Giants, they fight too much,” Uribe said, laughing. “And when I go to the Dodgers, they get mad at me. Sometimes that’s not my decision. Sometimes you have to go where the team wants you. Like, right now, with Atlanta, a couple of days here, I like it. I like it here. The guys, the players, are young guys. It’s good. I like to be on a team like that. Not too many (big) names. I like when they have the young guys.”
When a reported suggest that Pierzysnki would appreciate being called young, Uribe smiled and shot back, “(Expletive) A.J.! No, no. That’s my man. We play together a long time.”
Getting back to being booed in San Francisco. Uribe is booed by some Giants fans who won’t let it go. But why Pierzynski?
Uribe smiled again.
“They boo A.J. ‘A.J., booo!’ he said, laughing. “I don’t know. Every ballpark, they boo A.J. I don’t know why. It’s the same with (Dodgers outfielder Yasiel) Puig. Every ballpark, they boo Puig.”
