Dodgers News and Rumors: Yasiel Puig Could Bat Leadoff This Season
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be entering the 2014 season with high expectations after being two games away from reaching the World Series in 2013. Injuries were a huge problem for the Dodgers last season, but if they’re able to remain healthy this year, they’ll be much better offensively.
To help the Dodgers offense improve this season, manager Don Mattingly could make a change at the top of the order. Today, it was reported that Mattingly admitted to the possibility of Yasiel Puig batting leadoff over the weekend. The move would mean Carl Crawford would slide to the second spot, but the Dodgers rather have the younger more explosive Puig.
Mattingly believes the switch at the top will give the Dodgers a more balanced line-up. Puig and Hanley Ramirez would be batting in the first and third spots and the lefties Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez would be batting second and fourth. The move makes the Dodgers more dynamic, given them instant offense with Puig at the leadoff spot. If he’s able to get on base, the Dodgers are a threat to score every time.
Puig batted leadoff 28 times and hit an impressive .333, but his .391 on-base percentage is why this decision makes sense. Crawford no longer possess the speed he once had, but if Puig can be disciplined on the base paths, this move will make Mattingly look like a genius.
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Dodgers News
Dodgers to add infielders [True Blue LA]
Dodgers Roundtable Discussion [Lasorda’s Lair]
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Top 10 rotations: Nats, Dodgers lead the pack [MLB.com]
Yasiel Puig could hit leadoff for the Dodgers this season [NBC Sports]
MLB News
Carlos Marmol talking to three teams [Hardball Talk]
Freese, Jepsen both reach deals with Angels [ESPN]
Jeter hits with authority during first BP session [MLB.com]
Nats, RHP Fister agree to 1 year, $7.2M [Yahoo]
Jerome Williams signs with Astros [SB Nation]
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