Two more hits for Dodgers' Yasiel Puig By Bill Shaikin | Los Angeles Times March 11, 2013, 6:03 p.m. Yasiel Puig remains a long shot to break camp with the Dodgers; however, after the Cuban outfielder had two more hits in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly pointedly refused to say Puig would start the season in the minor leagues. "It's not something you're willing to make a decision on at this point, or talk about," Mattingly said. "He's looked really good. There really hasn't been a negative about him." The Dodgers want Puig, in his first pro season, to play every day. They might have an opening in left field, however briefly, with Carl Crawford expected to start the season on the disabled list. Mattingly said he has been surprised by how well Puig has played and said he has not found much that Puig cannot do. "There's times it looks like he can't hit a cutoff man," Mattingly said. "I think he's smart. I think he makes adjustments. He's been good. He needs to play. He's rough. He's a wild horse. It's fun to watch." Puig lifted his Cactus League average to .452. When the Dodgers lifted him after two at-bats — both of them singles — Mattingly said Puig wanted to know why. "Trying to protect his average," Mattingly said, jokingly. .
No doubt it would be awesome to see Puig make the opening day roster, but I really don't want to fuck up his development. He could be special, and he definitely needs some more time in the minors. It's not like our team is starving for offense, so I don't see why we should rush him.
I don't know about that buddy... I'm thinking that you ride the horse that's hot. This guy is flying past all markers, passing every test and while I'm big fan of a healthy Crawford, the one we have isn't. Yet. I think that you put Puig in the opening day line up and make someone outplay him to get the spot back. Make Crawford outplay Ethier if he wants an outfield spot. Puig adds a nice RoY dynamic to this years mix...
i actually understand and agree with both of these choices you don't want to damage the kid's confidence or psyche so you really have to factor in a couple different scenarios... would it be damaging to start him with the big club and then ship him down when crawford comes back? getting sent down at that point would be a huge disappointment you can't keep him with the big club as the 4th outfielder -- the kid needs to plays every day, whether that be in the bigs or the minors reluctantly, i'm going to say it's probably better to start him off in the minors also gives him a chance to go off down there and possibly force the big club to call him up plus there's always the chance crawford gets re-diagnosed and/or re-injured and that return date gets pushed back a couple months... this is really a tough call for me because i agree with a lot of what capn says and neither he nor dlove is wrong in their assessments...
I think riding the horse that's hot is always a good call. You have to remember though, this is just spring training. Most of the pitchers Puig is facing are not quite MLB material. A lot of the big name pitches are still tuning up, and getting ready for the regular season. There are still a few minor adjustments he needs to make to his game. I've seen him misplay a few balls in the OF, and I have seen a base running mistake or two. The MLB game is played at a much higher level, and he might not be ready for it yet. hahaha this times infinity!
I seriously see Puig as a RoY candidate potential. I agree that spring pitching isn't the real deal but he's is tearing it up... what is the harm in giving him a chance? Are we concerned that he'll get picked off base once or twice? Well at least he was on base twice. Seriously I think that Ethier and Crawford both should be worried
I don't think confidence will ever be an issue nor will it be shaken, like others have noted he's got swagger!
Yasiel Puig to start season in minor leagues, manager says By Dylan Hernandez March 14, 2013, 10:32 am PHOENIX – Outfield prospect Yasiel Puig won't start the season in the major leagues, Manager Don Mattingly said Thursday. Asked if the 22-year-old Cuban was under consideration for a place on the Dodgers' opening day roster, Mattingly replied, "Not really in my mind. If we're going to be realistic about it, it's probably not the best thing for him. He probably doesn't want to hear that, but I don't realistically think that’s the best thing. I don't think our organization thinks that the best thing for a guy that has the number of at-bats he's got." Puig is batting .424 with one home run and six runs batted in 16 spring games. "He's played well," Mattingly said. "He did a lot of good things. We see a lot of things that tell us he's still young and needs to keep working." The Dodgers signed Puig to a seven-year, $42-million contract last year. How close is Puig to being major-league ready? "I don't know," Mattingly said. "It's hard to say. We'll kind of see over the course of the summer. He'll let us know. If he's ready, then he's going to dominate down there." __
Good call. Can't argue. Let him get his reps in the ML and if he's ready, he'll find his way up here.
Man, get some charisma and Flair Donny. Don't be a play-it-safe fuckwit like your dad Torre. Take a chance, have a gamble. Sure, it's probably the right move, but yawn.
We rushed Kershaw into the team when it was believed it was far too early, and that turned out okay for us. Sure it might be a massive failure, but I would rather watch Puig struggle and hope to see something special than Hairston or Hererra every day.
I like Kemp's quotes in here: Yasiel Puig probably will start season in minor leagues for DodgersThe 22-year-old Cuban defector has had a strong spring, batting .412, but Manager Don Mattingly says it's unlikely he will be on the opening-day rosterBy Dylan HernandezMarch 14, 2013, 8:30 pmPHOENIX — If Carl Crawford isn't ready to play in left field when the Dodgers start their season, top prospect Yasiel Puig won't be taking his place.Asked whether Puig was under consideration for the Dodgers' opening-day roster, Manager Don Mattingly replied, "Not really, in my mind. If we're going to be realistic about it, it's probably not best for him."Even though the 22-year-old Cuban defector is batting .412 this spring, Mattingly thinks he would benefit from playing in the minor leagues. The Dodgers are expected to assign Puig to double-A Chattanooga (Tenn.) or triple-A Albuquerque.Matt Kemp, who made his major league debut at 21, doesn't think Puig will be there for long. "He's going to be in the big leagues this year at some point, I'm pretty positive," Kemp said.Relayed Kemp's words, Puig smiled and said, "Hopefully."Multiple Dodgers executives have said Puig is the best athlete the organization has had in its farm system since Kemp."I think he's way stronger than me," Kemp said. "He might have more power than me."The heavily muscled Puig has also been clocked running from the batter's box to first base in as little as 3.9 seconds."He's a monster, man," Kemp said. "He's big. When everybody sees him, they think about Bo Jackson. Puig is a five-tool athlete that can do a lot in the big leagues and help our team one of these days."Kemp understands why the Dodgers want to be patient with Puig. Pointing to how they have Andre Ethier in right field and Crawford in left, Kemp said of Puig, "A guy like him, even if he is ready, you don't want him to be sitting on the bench and not playing."Puig signed a seven-year, $42-million contract last June, but his performance this spring has come as a pleasant surprise. When he signed with the Dodgers, he hadn't played organized baseball in more than a year. Recovering from a minor elbow operation to treat an infection, Puig batted only .232 in the Puerto Rican winter league.Puig said he wouldn't have any problems starting the season in the minor leagues.Mattingly said Puig's play would dictate when he's called up."We'll kind of see over the course of the summer," Mattingly said. "He'll let us know. If he's ready, then he's going to dominate down there." __
or maybe he is making the decision easy... When he keeps hitting .400 + DBB is compelled to move him into the lineup. All of which is good it's the right kind of problem to have...
