Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Takes Good Approach With Yasiel Puig

When the Dodgers called up outfielder Yasiel Puig in early June, nobody could foresee the energy that he would bring to the team after two terrible months.

The team was buried and there seemed to be no hope in sight and Puig electrified Dodger Stadium with his aggressive base running, dazzling plays in the outfield and incredible power.



Just like all young players, there’s a steep learning curve at the big league level and Puig continues to learn about hitting cut off men and running the bases correctly.

Don Mattingly talked about the mistakes Puig has been making to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com:

These are the Spring Training stuff we talked about when you were asking why not bring him up. You want them to know the scoreboard, know the outs, who’s coming up. These are mistakes you don’t want to see. But you take the good with the bad.

In yesterday’s game, Puig tried to tag from second on a shallow fly ball to center and made the last out at third and continues to not hit the cut off man.

Puig was picked off this afternoon by Cole Hamels as his aggressive base running has been good, like in the comeback against the Mets or bad like yesterday.

The Dodgers incredible streak has softened the blow of some of the mistakes, but in a one run loss today, every mistake is magnified more and more.

Without Puig the Dodgers wouldn’t be in the spot they’re in, but before the playoffs start, he and the rest of the team need to revisit the basics.

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In case you missed it, be sure to find out the latest on Matt Kemp’s ankle injury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg0AP5LACzc

Ross Gasmer

Ross Gasmer is a Social Media Producer for @TheHerd and was a contributing writer and editor for Dodger Nation. Follow him on Twitter @Ross_Gasmer12

4 Comments

  1. Puig had an “immature game”. He will learn. Just keep your head in the game Puig. Go Dodger Blue!

  2. Just get him to speed up his English learning. In the mean time, get a first and third base coach can speak Spanish. As far as I can see, his mistakes didn’t cost games. Cappy and Hanley did. Hanley will get better tho, still more consistent than Dee. Just send Cappy to bullpen and start Fife already.

  3. He is an explosive young player that electrified the team and league, but he is young who is daring and takes gambles. It’s hit or miss with him at this point, and usually it’s hit. He will get it with time and reflection. But I will take a few misses for the amazing electric play he has brought. Going back to see his great plays since June and I see how amazing this kid is. Great future and, believe it or not, room for improvement.

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