Puig Bullied?

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by TheKnockdown, Nov 15, 2013.

  1. TheKnockdown

    TheKnockdown DSP Legend

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    Update: Dodgers’ J.P. Howell clarifies comments, says Yasiel Puig wasn’t bullied by Dodgers

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    By David Brown 6 hours ago Big League Stew
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    Update: Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander J.P. Howell clarified his comments in the Los Angeles Times, repeated in the original version of this post, regarding bullying and Yasiel Puig.
    Puig was not bullied by Dodgers, Howell said. Via MLB.com, he says he was misunderstood and "it's too bad got spun" like it did:
    "Dude, I don't know how it happened," said Howell, who said an interview he gave while making a Thursday appearance has spun out of control.​
    In the interview with the Los Angeles Times, it was written that Howell said he saw teammate Yasiel Puig bullied in the Dodgers' clubhouse. On Friday, Howell insisted that's not what he said.​
    "Not in the clubhouse, never by teammates," he said. "I was asked if Puig had been bullied and I said yes, but I meant by fans and media and people on the outside that don't know him. Never in the clubhouse. Are you kidding? People early in the season said our clubhouse wouldn't have chemistry, and it turned out to be an awesome clubhouse -- everybody got along."​
    The Dodgers also made a statement:
    "Bullying is an issue we take very seriously. We've discussed this with Yasiel and he has assured us that he is comfortable with the clubhouse environment as well as his teammates, coaches and support staff. As an organization, we will continue to be proactive in monitoring what goes on in and around our clubhouse."​
    No response yet from reporter Bill Shaikin or the Times.
    Here's our original post:

    When he was young, J.P. Howell of the Los Angeles Dodgers says he was different than the other kids. And they bullied him for it, he told the Los Angeles Times.
    "I was smaller. I was odd. I was energetic," he said. "They didn't like that. They would try to put me down. If they couldn't do it mentally, they would do it physically. It never stops. It's every single day."​
    Those words were sad to hear but not terribly surprising. These words, on the other hand, were jarring: "I still get bullied."​
    Howell is 30. He is a millionaire. He plays for the Dodgers, one of the most celebrated teams in sports.​
    But, as we have learned most recently from the Miami Dolphins, neither money nor fame confers immunity upon bullying.​
    Howell and his wife, Heather Hennessey-Howell, recently visited a group of 4-year-olds at a school not far from Dodger Stadium to talk about bullying — how it has affected Howell, why his wife wrote a book about it and why the kids shouldn't let it happen.
    One of his worst personal episodes: As a rookie, Howell lost the one suit he owned — a gift from his father — which was purposely ruined by a teammate and not replaced. Howell said he was always looking over his shoulder, out of fear, for that jerk of a teammate.
    Howell not only revealed that he's been bullied, but he's seen it happen to other players on the Dodgers, too. Even Yasiel Puig.
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    [H]e would not discuss who was involved, or what happened to Puig.​
    "The guy is such a champion," Howell said. "He has such a big heart. Sometimes he acts like a jerk, but that is his defense mechanism. It's not really him.​
    "Someday, he is not going to be 22. He's not going to be like that. I love the guy. I hope he never changes, just maybe matures."​
    Stuff like that happens in major league clubhouses, with supposed adults, because it happened when the people involved were kids. They were never taught how to stand up for themselves. They were never taught not to abuse others. They were never taught to seek help. They were never taught how to recover from the emotional wounds. And then, as is the danger with any abusive situation, the cycle starts over again.
    It's the same within and without the sports culture. That's why it's a good thing the Howells are talking to 4-year-olds. Start 'em young. It's the only way we'll smarten ourselves up, toughen ourselves up and break the cycle of bullying.
     
  2. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

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    I read that earlier. I wonder if it was hazing or just being reprimanded for mistakes of youthful exuberance. Or something else entirely.
     
  3. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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    I think it was Puig who bullied everyone else, and threatened them with severe beatings if they said anything to him about throwing 4o feet over the catcher's head to get a runner who was 3 feet from the plate when he let it go.
    Everybody except Maguire.
     
  4. darth550

    darth550 Baba Yaga

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    This story is just stupid.

    I'm sorry JP. Yeah, being bullied sucks and I feel bad for those who endure it but jumping on the bully-wagon and saying shit like this, and then playing the retraction card makes you look like a wimp suck fag half miler who deserves an ass beating, based on principle.
     
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  5. MZA

    MZA MODERATOR Staff Member

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  6. darth550

    darth550 Baba Yaga

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    Sure they did.:yawn:
     
  7. SC_Ed

    SC_Ed DSP Legend Damned

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    Puig was bullied, he lost out on ROY to a guy who played 170 innings simply because asshole writers thought he was arrogant.
     
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  8. MZA

    MZA MODERATOR Staff Member

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    Puig lost ROY because Fernandez was better than he was this year.

    Maybe there was some bias from some, but let's not discount Fernandez's year.
     
  9. F YOUK

    F YOUK DSP Regular

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    Blame incognito for creating a buzz around sports bullying. Without the drama in Miami this story is never written
     
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  10. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    exactly
    most of us have been involved/taken part in hazing of some form
    anyone who's pledged for a fraternity
    any/every prospective pledger knows what's coming; that it's happened to the same people hazing you, that it's happened to many others like them and you -- for many, many years
    it's the way it's always been
    it's how you prove yourself to your peers -- how much you can take and how well you take it -- a right of passage into acceptance
    most of these people crying crocodile tears are either hypocrites and/or were never asked to pledge for anything
    :2cents:
     
  11. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

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    I agree, but...there is a point when it's no longer fun and games. Too many times we read about hazing that goes wrong. Some of it is just plain stupid, other times its cruel.
     
  12. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    totally agree
    don't like it and don't necessarily understand it (although i did -- or at least that's what i told myself -- at the time)
    and i think there's a fundamental problem that will never be resolved -- every guy/group is going to want to try and 1-up his predecessors
    just human nature -- especially when we're young impressionable lads with more testosterone running though our veins than common sense, wanting to prove ourselves to our peers
     
  13. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

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    I have a vague recollection of some such state.
     
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  14. IBleedBlue15

    IBleedBlue15 DSP Stud

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    Idk if Puig was bullied or not, but he is bullied by the fans and media for sure. His bat flips and stuff can be over the top sometimes, but if he's not trying to show someone up, then who gives a damn? He gets way more hate for bat flipping than that idiot Carlos Gomez gets for being a little prick 24/7.
     
  15. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    didn't you get bullied in band camp for blowing some guy's instrument? :poke:
     
  16. F YOUK

    F YOUK DSP Regular

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    If the fans and press are "bullies", the east coast bias is fully justified. Apparently west coast skin is way too thin for media attention.
     
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  17. MZA

    MZA MODERATOR Staff Member

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    :laford:
     
  18. back2back x 2 + 1

    back2back x 2 + 1 DSP Legend Damned

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    every 5th day Fernandez was better you mean. Puig did more
     
  19. F YOUK

    F YOUK DSP Regular

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    Not sure you can make the everyday argument but overlook puig not playing in April or May and hitting 215 down the stretch. Fernandez had a cy young caliber, full season.
     
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  20. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

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    Here's the nutshell.

    Many writers will tell you they feel the Cy is for pitchers and the MVP is for position players (I personally disagree). Yet those same writers have no problem lumping pitchers and everyday players together when it comes to ROY. It's hard to compare the two because you can't measure impact meaningfully. Although I think pitchers should be given as much consideration as position players for the MVP, it somehow makes sense to me to have a separate ROY for pitchers and players. That's just how my mind works (or fails to work.):dizzy:
     

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