Uh, Really, AJ?

Juan Uribe has had an interesting four years. In 2010, he was the world champion Giants' primary shortstop, playing 148 games and batting .248 (.310 on-base, .440 slugging) with 24 homers and 84 RBI. He then signed a three-year, $21 million contract to be the Dodgers' third baseman. Over the next two years, he played 143 games, batting .191 with a .262 on-base percentage and .289 slugging percentage. He hit 6 homers and drove in 45 runs. His on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .552 was the third-worst in the majors among players with 450 or more plate appearances in 2011-2012:

Player	OPS	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG
Chone Figgins	.502	147	454	42	84	16	3	3	26	40	90	9	15	7	.185	.249	.253
Paul Janish	.515	169	503	45	103	20	2	0	32	35	76	8	4	2	.205	.262	.252
Juan Uribe	.552	143	432	36	86	21	0	6	45	30	97	18	2	1	.199	.262	.289
Jeff Mathis	.557	164	458	43	89	25	0	11	49	24	143	5	2	2	.194	.236	.321
Wilson Valdez	.564	176	467	54	108	18	4	1	45	26	77	17	6	4	.231	.270	.293
Orlando Cabrera	.573	130	450	39	107	16	0	5	51	17	57	12	8	4	.238	.267	.307
Jason Bartlett	.591	168	637	69	147	27	3	2	44	60	125	19	23	10	.231	.299	.292
Franklin Gutierrez	.596	132	472	44	111	23	1	5	36	25	87	11	16	3	.235	.276	.320
Brendan Ryan	.598	264	843	93	187	38	6	6	70	78	185	11	24	8	.222	.296	.302
Brent Morel	.603	161	526	58	121	20	1	10	46	29	96	11	9	5	.230	.274	.329

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/8/2013.

This year, he had an unexpected resurgence, batting .278 and slugging .438 with a career-high .331 on-base percentage. He hit 12 homers, scored 47 runs and drove in 50 over 132 games. He also played solid defense at third. Last night he got his biggest hit of the year. a two-run eighth inning home run that sealed a 4-3 series-clinching victory for the Dodgers.

No question, it was a dramatic turnaround for the 34-year old Uribe. Interviewed after the game, his teammate, catcher AJ Ellis, as heard this morning on SiriusXM, extolled Uribe's hitting and declared him "the best defensive third baseman in the majors."

Those of you watch games at the corner of West Camden and South Eutaw: I hear ya.