Alberto Callaspo gave the Dodgers 60 games of replacement-level play at third base after arriving in the trade that sent popular veteran Juan Uribe to Atlanta. (Getty Images)
This is Part 9 in a series in which every member of the 2015 Dodgers has his season juxtaposed with an episode of the greatest sitcom of all-time. Don’t take it too seriously.
Alberto Callaspo, 3B.
Key stats: 60 games, .260/.336/.301 slash line, two errors at third base.
Seinfeld episode: “The Stranded” (season 3, episode 10)
Key quote: “All plans between men are tentative. If one man should suddenly have an
opportunity to pursue a woman, it’s like these two guys never met each other
ever in life. This is the male code. And it doesn’t matter how important the
arrangements are, I mean, most of the time when they scrub a space shuttle
mission it’s because one of the astronauts met someone on his way to the launch
pad.”
Alberto Callaspo did little to distinguish himself after the Dodgers traded for him on May 27 (Callaspo, Juan Jaime, Eric Stults and Ian Thomas went to the Dodgers; Juan Uribe and Chris Withrow went to the Braves). The 32-year-old veteran played 60 games and racked up exactly 0.1 Wins Above Replacement (FanGraphs’ version), batting .260 with a .336 on-base percentage. For a backup infielder, it was neither bad nor amazing.
Maybe the most distinguishing thing about Callaspo’s time as a Dodger is that it lasted as long as it did. Callaspo, a switch-hitter, was batting .206 at the time of the trade. On paper, he wasn’t a sexy choice to replace Uribe as a backup to Justin Turner. Yet he hung around and provided some value. The Dodgers went 17-9 when Callaspo started at third base, for whatever that’s worth. Maybe he should have stuck around a little longer.
Callaspo was designated for assignment August 19 to make room for Chase Utley on the 40-man roster. He was released eight days later and remains a free agent to this day.
Extending one’s stay was the thrust of “The Stranded,” in which Jerry, George and Elaine drive from Manhattan to Long Island for a party. When George (who drove) leaves with a woman he meets, Jerry and Elaine are “stranded” at the party into the wee hours of the morning.
The episode features a cameo by a young, not-bald Michael Chiklis. Next time you’re watching reruns of “The Shield,” think of Alberto Callaspo.
