Fare Thee Well, Juan Uribe

There isn't much more I can say that others haven't already written.  The departure of Juan Uribe is a painful one, and it's weird saying that after witnessing his first two years of futility with the Dodgers.  But, like a neighbor who always stops bye unexpectedly you start to miss the impact a player like Uribe has when he's gone.  

They'll be no more Uribear for fans to cheer.  Hyun-Jin Ryu won't have the big fellow around to goof on.  Yasiel Puig is losing a close confidant in the clubhouse.  As Clayton Kershaw said during his recent MVP Award acceptance speech:

“Thank you for making me laugh. You are one of the most important people in our clubhouse.”

Important, he was.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

He was lighthearted and cheerful.  Always smiling and an consummate professional on the field. 

And now, all I can do is wish him well at his new home. 

He has now been officially traded to the Atlanta Braves, and we got a whole bucket of balls for him. 

I'm being facetious, of course. 

Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired infielder Alberto Callaspo, left-handed reliever Ian Thomas, minor league right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime and left-handed pitcher Eric Stults from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for infielder Juan Uribe and right-handed pitcher Chris Withrow, who was on the 60-day disabled list. Callaspo will be in uniform for the Dodgers tonight, wearing No. 5, while Los Angeles optioned Thomas to Triple-A Oklahoma City, assigned Jaime to extended Spring Training in Arizona and designated Stults for assignment.

I can't really muster up the strength to tell you more about the players we got, and I certainly don't have the time to make some new fantasy cards - maybe in a few days.  All I can do right now is share what is my favorite Uribe moment, or series of moments as it were, that I experienced as a fan.

I think what I enjoyed most was Uribe's immense wardrobe of outrageous outfits.  He seemed to always be wearing something strange, and I loved seeing photos of them online.  Below are a few of my favorites.

(pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

(pic via Enrique Rojas of ESPN on twitter)

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A Bunch of Angels and Steve Sax

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Garrett Richards, Johnny Giavotella and David Freese of the Angels will be at The OC Dugout in Anaheim on Saturday, May 30th to sign autographs for fans.  Go here for more information.

• David Freese from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.
• Garrett Richards from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.
• Johnny Giavotella  from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The OC Dugout
1238 S. Beach Blvd. Ste. K
Anaheim, California 92804

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Steve Sax will be appearing at Iguana's Bar in Pico Rivera this coming Sunday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  Go here for more information.

Iguana's Bar
8528 Rosemead Boulevard
Pico Rivera, CA 90660

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Blog Kiosk: 5/27/2015 - Dodger Links - Uribe Trade, SportsNet LA and the Kirk Gibson Ball

What a ham... er, banana.

The photo above of Kike Hernandez is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos from yesterday's game.  Below are some links to check out:

• Oscar at All Trade Bait All the Time again visited the Institute For Baseball Studies at Whittier College.  Check out his story here.  Oscar and a friend sat down with the Executive Director and shares some stories.
• As you likely know by now, the Uribe trade is going through, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Emotional Uribe headed to Braves."

En route to the elevator on his last trip out of the Dodgers' clubhouse after an 8-0 win over the Braves, Juan Uribe was asked what he would miss most about the Dodgers.

He heard fans yelling for him, pointed at them and choked up. Unable to answer, he walked away, headed to the Braves, barring any unforeseen hang-ups.

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA shares another quote from Uribe:

"It wouldn't be my first time I've switched teams," he said. "It's just a matter of respecting their decision. Thank God there are other teams interested in me." 

• Via Meg James and Jim Puzzanghera at the LA Times, "Charter-Time Warner Cable deal would create nation's 3rd-largest pay-TV service."

The proposed union of two of the Southland’s biggest cable companies also has the potential to break the logjam in the long stalemate over distribution of the Los Angeles Dodgers' television channel.

As a goodwill gesture, Charter could quickly begin carrying the SportsNet LA channel, which is owned by the Dodgers, for its current customers in Southern California.

Such a move would enable baseball fans in Glendale, Malibu, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, Long Beach and other areas currently served by Charter to watch Dodgers games on SportsNet LA.

Keep in mind, the closing of this deal could be a long way off. Remember, the Comcast deal took over a year before it was finally abandoned.  On the other hand, there have been whispers that regulators may step aside and let this deal close quickly.  Furthermore, an Charter executive stated that they just might make the channel available right away as a goodwill gesture prior to closing.

• Via Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News, "Filmmaker to document search for Kirk Gibson home run ball."  I wonder if we'll finally find out where it is.

Brian Biegel, a New York-based documentarian who once wrote about how he most likely determined what happened to the 1951 Bobby Thompson “Shot Heard ‘Round The World,” wants to open up this cold case.

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