Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers 24m "Every guy here is giving everything we have every game so that we can accomplish what we want, which is to bring a championship to LA." -Puig 10:43 PM - 3 Jun 13
So far, he looked to be able to atleast hit those pitches and I'm sure he was a bit overanxious and probably should've laid off of some of them. Maybe he'll be able to hit the fuck out of those sooner than I thought.
Puig gives Dodgers a bat, leg, and arm in ML Debut Dylan Hernandez The throw was a like a thunderbolt from right field, a gift from the baseball gods to the fans who continue to support the most expensive last-place team in history. In a single moment of physical brilliance, Yasiel Puig electrified Dodger Stadium like no other player has this season. Catching a deep drive by Kyle Blanks at the warning track, Puig fired a missile into Adrian Gonzalez's extended glove at first base on the fly, doubling off Chris Denorfia for the final out in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. "It is Hollywood," Manager Don Mattingly said. Why the Cuban defector was guaranteed $42 million by the Dodgers before ever setting foot in the United States became clear in his major league debut. Puig is a physical marvel, capable of not only making a throw no other player on a team can make, but of running like no 245-pound baseball player should be able to run. After the second of his two hits, in the sixth inning, he effortlessly went from first base to third on a single to right field by Nick Punto. "We see the ability," Mattingly said. "That's not hard to see."
After one game, Puig drawing lofty comparisons Dodgers phenom debuts with two hits, jaw-dropping throw By Lyle Spencer | Archive6/4/2013 2:31 A.M. ET Comments (2) print e-mail Puig's first MLB hit00:00:50 6/3/13: Yasiel Puig lifts a single to center in the bottom of the first to record his first career hit in his first Major League at-bat Twitter Facebook Email LOS ANGELES -- Kevin Kennedy, a Major League manager for four seasons and baseball lifer, had a one-word response to the way Yasiel Puig ended his first big league game on Monday night with a 260-foot strike that became a double play and a 2-1 Dodgers victory at the expense of the stunned Padres. "Clemente," Kennedy said from the Dodger Stadium press box as home-plate umpire Mark Wegner made the out call at first on Chris Denorfia. Puig had run down Kyle Blanks drive on the warning track, taken one step and unleashed a perfect throw to Adrian Gonzalez at first base. Roberto Clemente requires no introduction to anybody, including Puig. He was born and raised in Cuba before embarking on this new life armed with a seven-year, $42 million contract courtesy of the Dodgers 12 months ago. "I know him," Puig said when asked about Clemente. "I've seen video. He made great throws. I can do that." Yes, he can. The master right fielder would have applauded the play by Puig that ended a Major League debut every bit as sensational as a seasoned scriptwriter could conceive. "Really, with all the hype, it's just amazing it ends like that," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Does it surprise me? How can you not be surprised by that ending? You've seen games end like that, but not by a kid who's been hyped like him. "This is Hollywood." http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/n...0604&content_id=49553068&vkey=news_la&c_id=la
Yasiel Puig makes ridiculous throw for game-ending double play in major league debut By David Brown | Big League Stew – 9 hours ago The bat was OK, and promises to do more. But the arm. Oh, the arm is already ready for a closeup. Yasiel Puig made his much-anticipated major league debut Monday night a memorable one by using his powerful and accurate right arm to complete a game-ending double play, catching the San Diego Padres off guard in a 2-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. "That's one happy Cuban," Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully said. Puig, a 22-year-old defector from from Cuba whom the Dodgers signed in 2012, has drawn comparisons to Bo Jackson for his athleticism, but a fairer association might be Vladimir Guerrero, a free-swinger from the Dominican Republic who also, of course, had a big arm. The Dodgers had said they wanted Puig to grow in the minors, and he was flourishing at Class AA Chattanooga — aside from a couple of incidents that showed a lack of maturity. But after injuries to Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford left them depleted, the Dodgers acted. Puig also finished with a pair of hits, though his results at the plate were nothing like the impressive show he put on during spring training and the minors. His defense, conversely, is big-league ready. With one out in the ninth and Chris Denorfia running from first base on a pitch by Brandon League, San Diego's Kyle Blanks hit a fly to the warning track in right. After backpedaling, Puig made a one-handed catch, gathered himself and unleashed a laser toward first base as Denorfia desperately tried to get back to the bag. Plate umpire Mark Wegner, late to cover first after Laz Diaz had gone into the outfield as he was supposed to, hesitated for a moment — and appeared to look toward second base — before calling Denorfia out. .(Getty) Denorfia and Padres coach Dave Roberts couldn't believe it — but the call appeared to be correct — and the Dodgers collectively celebrated, needing something to excite themselves after coming in nine games below .500 and in last place in the NL West. Here's the play in animated form, by Chad Moriyama of MLB GIFS... Lest we should give all of the credit to Puig, this is what Gonzalez said about the play, as reported by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register: ...Gonzalez said real heroes on the play were middle infielders Luis Cruz and Nick Punto....Denorfia was running on the pitch and slid into second base when Cruz and Punto pantomimed a double-play grounder. Denorfia had to scramble to his feet and was called out on a very close play at first base.“It was an incredible throw. ... But the biggest part of that play is faking him out,” Gonzalez said. “If they don’t do that, he’s standing up at first base.“It was a big throw. It had to be on target which it was. As soon as he let go of it I knew we had a shot because I took a peek and saw where Denorfia was.” So Cruz and Punto brought their "A" deception game to make Puig even more dangerous. It's a team game, after all. Puig made two other throws earlier in the game that gave everyone an idea of the strength — and accuracy — of his arm. It's quite a hose. Looking for more baseball chatter? Follow @bigleaguestew on Twitter. __
perhaps lost in the shuffle/hubbub a bit i like how he went with the pitch on his second hit -- especially on a guy (stultz) who doesn't throw very hard would have been real easy/understandable if he would have been pull happy out of the gate
of course its a learning process and there are going to be some hiccups kinda torn on this one while a good throw gets him easily i like that he's already playing with a passion and fire we've seldom seen this season poor decision, sure... but he's forcing guys to make plays, and in this case they couldn't
This was one of two bad moves he made on the bases and got away with. The other was the wide turn on his single through the right side. If they throw behind him, they got him, but for some reason they didn't throw. These are the types of things that will make him look stupid when he does get thrown out. It reminds me of Dee Gordon getting caught stealing 3rd with 2 outs. It's great when they succeed and we all clamour over a guy showing hustle and passion, but when it fails(and it will sometimes), we will be disgusted by the stupidity. After getting thrown out a few times, he will stop being so aggresive and then we all will think he's not showing fire and playing lazy and doesn't care. It's a no win situation when a team is losing. I'm a bit suprised by the buzz about Puig's 1st game, both on this forum and in the general media...even the team itself. It's almost ridiculous to me. People are already saying some pretty silly things in my opinion. He's getting way more credability than he's earned IMO. I remember Kemp getting this kind of press when he was the real MVP, or his hot start last year. Now people want him traded, benched, shipped to Japan...whatever. I've seen people on the net now saying ned and the owners are stupid for signing Kemp's contract. "Its' a bad deal" one said. SMFH...sometimes fans just piss me the fuck off. Puig will struggle sooner or later for whatever reasons...they all do. Josh Hamilton also knows how it works all to well too. The higher they lift you, the farther you'll fall really. I hope Puig can bounce good, probably, he seems to be able to do everything great. Ethier and Kemp sucking sure complicates matters. Ethier is already trade bait but because he sucks now, we will make a stupid contract eating trade for a 7th inning relief pitcher and Ned is further labeled stupid as fuck. Shit, maybe Kemp is next? Actually, crawford might be the easiest to trade when it's all said and done...as long as our team pays about half his contract. Our best move would probably be to trade Puig...we'd get the most for the trade and we wouldn't be throwing money away. I know that won't happen, but it really would make the most sense unless one of our hi-paid OFers actually played to their contract. BTW, that'd be impossible for CC...he's just overpaid...by alot. Rant be over...go kick ass Puig and save our FUBAR season!!!
Funny on MLB yesterday, someone asked Mitch Williams something like, "well what do you do with Puig when Kemp, Crawford, and ethier are all available to play at the same time?" and his answer was, "well, you get out of his way!" Sometimes Mitch is cool, but usually I dislike him greatly.
he's a blowhard idiot but yeah, every once in a while he'll inadvertently say something you'll agree with and this would be one of those times
One international scouting director recently quipped to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez that he's signed players that can do everything Puig does for a lot less than $40MM (Twitter link). lol, bitter/jealous much?
i like lopes' and lilly's comments especially lopes, responding almost incredulously... Yasiel Puig has begun to run amokBy Mark Saxon | ESPNLosAngeles.comLOS ANGELES -- There is a temptation when you see a young player with such explosive tools and such raw edges to wonder how good he can be with a good coat of polish.Then again, when you put varnish on a work of art, you only diminish its value.The Los Angeles Dodgers seem perfectly willing to accept some rough edges in this Yasiel Puig-to-the-rescue experiment. His upside is so enormous, it's already breaking the surface. Puig took over Tuesday's 9-7 win over the San Diego Padres, belting two impressive home runs, driving in five runs and electrifying Dodger Stadium for a night.The Dodgers knew he had this in him. They'd seen him do exactly the same things for one month in Arizona. So, when manager Don Mattingly watched Puig freeze on Adrian Gonzalez's sharp grounder to second baseman Jedd Gyorko -- playing practically in right field, ceding the run -- and not score in the first inning, he didn't get mad. He sent coach Tim Wallach over to make sure Puig kept his head up and didn't fret over the mistake.Who knows? The way the Dodgers are going this season, giving up a run could have easily cost them a game. But Mattingly knows what he's got in Puig. He has a player with, it would appear, as much raw talent as anyone in baseball under the age of 23. Davey Lopes practically snapped when I asked him if he reminded him of anyone."He's right down the I-5," Lopes said, an obvious reference to Mike Trout.He's far less polished than Trout, which is not to say he can't be as good. Baseball tests everything and everyone with time.So, Puig is a great runner without being a great base runner. Maybe that will change. Or, maybe it won't. Pedro Guerrero never learned how to slide correctly. So, Puig might miss a cutoff man here or there. Vladimir Guerrero was doing that when he was 35 and he might wind up in the Hall of Fame.Ted Lilly, who started Tuesday's game for the Dodgers, began his career in Montreal when Vladimir Guerrero was establishing himself as one of the game's truly outsized talents. He felt it was an apt comparison for Puig."Obviously, he's gifted," Lilly said. "But there's an aggression to the way he goes about playing baseball. Certainly, the results are attractive, but I like the mind frame. He's up there with an intent to do damage."There will be times it appears Puig is out of control, but if he can channel the chaos toward the other team, the Dodgers are more than happy to get caught up in his little storm."We're going to see some of that, but obviously when you see as much as you get on the other side you deal with it," Mattingly said.The best description I've seen of Puig so far was from Mattingly. He said this spring Puig has been like a "wild horse," out on a baseball field.You can, of course, throw a bridle on a stallion, maybe even bring him to bear and force him to accept the saddle. Or, you can just let him run wild and enjoy the view. __
I honestly think it could work to have all 4 OFs at the same time. Kemp/Crawford can't be every day players based on health (and Kemp cause he needs to figure out how to use his shoulder). Ethier can't play against ANY lefty (and well Crawford neither). It might be a bit wack, and if Don had balls to bench Kemp (since he's the one being the least productive) for more than one game it could work out. But what probably happens is: Puig goes back to the minors or Ned trades Ethier for a reliever and one week later Elian Herrera is in LF.
and therein lies the problem only way it works is if dbb tricks kemp into it being a health thing but yeah, his vag will probably get in the way sadly, this is not at all out of the realm of possibilities
^ Yeah, everyone wants to trade Ethier and then forgets: 1) Kemp has been worse, 2) Ned is our GM and what the hell would he trade Ethier for that would make us better in 2013 and 2014?
Ethier has barely been better offensively than Kemp, defensively way better. However, this is exactly what I expected from Ethier and I do not expect he will somehow become good again. While with Kemp I still have hope that Kemp will return to all star form. That said, trading Ethier now is stupid, unless Ned can somehow work a great deal (lololololllolololololol).
^ and we all know how streaky either is who's to say he doesn't go on another tear?... thus increasing his value -- either to us or a potential suitor side note... anyone else feel weird when you type "ethier" and "either" in the same post? .
