If you follow me on the Twitter @realcmoff18, you’ve probably come to realize how I feel about Yasiel Puig. I’ve been following the game of baseball for 20 years, and I know the way it should and shouldn’t be played. Puig does not play this game right. I don’t really care that the guy can hit a baseball to Pasadena, or that he signs autographs as he is walking to the plate to hit. There is more to the game of baseball than speed and power. Yasiel Puig lacks most of the intangibles of the game. Things such as character, integrity, and respect are lacking. As members of the public, we don’t really know what type of guy Puig is in the clubhouse. What we do know is that he has had heated conversations with Juan Uribe because Juan was trying to give him advice on dealing with the media. That’s fine, it’s not like Uribe has been in the league for 50 years and has learned the in’s and out’s…..I’m not buying this act by Puig that he doesn’t like the media because “the team deserves to be asked questions too.” That’s crap. You’re a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, so you better handle the media in Hollywood. By avoiding the spotlight, he is finding the spotlight.
This is Puigs’ “I just fouled out on the first pitch” face. Image: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
I understand that Puig has only been in the league for 20 minutes, but there needs to be a level of professionalism. Every at-bat tonight, Puig was looking out at Kennedy because he got walked and he was mad. Usually Puig is swinging at the first pitch of the at-bat, so walks should be embraced by him and his team. Puig does not respect this game or his team. Yasiel missed that ball in right center tonight and threw his glove when he got up. Seriously? This isn’t the Little League World Series. If Puig throws his glove like that again, he won’t get a Capri Sun and a pack of Gushers after the game from the team mom. When Puig isn’t throwing his mitt, he is getting thrown out by 60 feet at home plate after running through a stop sign. Not to mention, after getting thrown out, he tried to push Miggy. Really? That play tonight was evidenvce that there is no baseball instincts in Puigs’ head. Yasiel Puig doesn’t coach the Dodgers, and he has a lot of learning to do. I get very frustrated with young players who feel a sense of entitlement, and that people should bow to them. As far as I’m concerned, Puig hasn’t earned anything, especially not an All-Star spot…..
A lot of people are comparing Puig to Bryce Harper. Although both are these lightning-in-a-bottle young stars, Harper has gone about his career differently. I respect Bryce Harper and I respect the way he plays baseball. Both Puig and Harper play all out, but Harper has better baseball smarts and he knows how to control his out of controlness (that’s not a word). I remember back when Harper was in the minors, he pimped a home run when he was playing with the Hagerstown Suns and got ripped for it. It only took one incident like that for Harper to grow up. Puig still has to grow up and play the game with some integrity.
Puig should:
- Stop eyeing pitchers that won’t throw to you
- Take advice from players and not get mad about it (Either was showing his some technique the other day and Puig wasn’t having it)
- Take professional at-bats and develop some baseball instinct
- For the love of God, please stop throwing your glove in the outfield!
The D’backs have just lost game 2 of the series, and will try and salvage one tomorrow. #votefreddie
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