Reminder That The Dodgers Have No Third Base Depth

Juan Uribe left last night’s game with a sore right hamstring, the severity of which is currently unknown. Maybe it’s a thing. Maybe it’s not — hopefully it’s not, because for the second season in a row, he’s been valuable on offense and stellar on defense. We’re way beyond “shocking turnaround” from his 2011-12 disasters and well into “cult hero” status with him.

Until we know the status of his hamstring, maybe this is nothing to worry about. But what this does require us to do is remember once again how unbelievably thin the depth is behind him. Uribe is 35, in his 14th major league season, and, as noted by Eric Stephen, has played 318.1 defensive innings. That’s tied with Adrian Gonzalez for the most on the team; among all third basemen, it’s second only to Colorado’s Nolan Arenado, who is 23. We talk a lot about the workload of Kenley Jansen and the bullpen; we should probably talk more about the workload on Uribe.

Remember, if Uribe isn’t playing, Chone Figgins or Justin Turner is, having each started one of the two games that Uribe hasn’t. That’s fine for a breather every now and then; it’s a big problem if Uribe were to miss any significant time. It’s not good on offense, and it’s not good on defense. There’s no help in Albuquerque, unless you’re really clamoring for Jamie Romak, Miguel Rojas or Carlos Triunfel.

I guess I don’t really have anything further of substance to add here other than “hey, remember that this is a problem.” I don’t have a particularly bright solution if Uribe were to be lost, because I don’t think there is one. And in 2014, hoping beyond hope that Uribe’s 35-year-old hamstring is fine is not a terribly appealing place to be.