Dodgers: Yasiel Puig’s Wild Return to Los Angeles
Yasiel Puig has and always be a polarizing player and person. Polarizing is quite possibly an understatement. He maintained that status in his return to Chavez Ravine for the first time since he was shipped to Cincinnati along with beloved ex-Dodger Matt Kemp, Alex Wood, and Kyle Farmer.
It all started with this:
Yasiel Puig was 69 minutes late for his Dodger Stadium press conference. Once he arrived, he said he misses this city and some of his teammates, and expressed love for Cincinnati and his new teammate Joey Votto. He doesn’t care about the NLCS ring presentation he missed earlier.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) April 15, 2019
Signature Puig. I am not entirely sure if the number of minutes he showed up late were necessarily on purpose, but that is nearly an hour. Do not color me surprised, but that must have Bill Plaschke in a bad mood. The incident where he didn’t go meet key members of the organization to collect his National League championship ring was quite strange, as well.
Dave Roberts, Andrew Friedman, Stan Kasten and Mark Walter presented Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer with their NL championship rings outside the visiting clubhouse today. Turner Ward and Yasiel Puig weren’t there. Ward was in the batting cage. Puig wasn’t at Dodger Stadium.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 15, 2019
Even though Puig is going to Puig, this is undeniably rude. Not only did he show up late for his presser, he stood up the organization that took a chance on him as a young man and blessed his life. Poor etiquette to say the least. Even more of it here:
Yasiel Puig, in Spanish: "I don’t know how many people, how many fans have been coming here. But I’m sure when I played here there were more fans than there are now."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 16, 2019
Puig was undeniably a fan favorite as a member of many playoff-bound clubs and was a key driver in ticket sales. Still, the Dodgers will lead the league in attendance in 2019, with or without Yasiel. Book it.
Here's Yasiel Puig, in Spanish, talking about how things are different in Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/iOijvUzWtj
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 16, 2019
Imagine being this full of yourself? Here, it appears that Yasiel demonstrates his appreciation for the camaraderie the Reds provide, even at the expense of winning. “We won’t do a lot of winning here in Cincy, but the camaraderie is to die for!”, said no one ever.
Yasiel Puig on Joey Votto: "He’s the best guy I’ve ever met in my life. … He's having dinner with me every day, talk to me every day, text me." #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) April 16, 2019
Puig found a friend in Joey Votto it seems. Good for him. Another one of his friends crashed his press conference.
Kenley Jansen crashing Puig’s press conference. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/s91xNUukaZ
— Ashley Brewer (@ESPNAshley) April 15, 2019
One thing to respect from Yasiel was his comments about the fan base. He obviously misses being in Los Angeles even if he does not admit it. He loved it here and he loved the fans.
Yasiel Puig, in Spanish, on the possibility of Dodgers fans chanting his name tonight: “I might cry.”
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) April 15, 2019
Nonetheless, Yasiel Puig rose to the occasion in his first at-bat against Clayton Kershaw.
Puig no longer your friend. pic.twitter.com/GjbM7gAYaW
— MLB (@MLB) April 16, 2019
Puig may no longer be our friend but maybe it is time we realize that we shouldn’t want him to be.
How did you feel about Yasiel’s return to Dodger Stadium?
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If I never saw Puig again, anywhere, that would be fine with me. He was always more trouble than he was worth, bad for team chemistry. Glad he is no longer in Dodger Blue, a worthy color. Red, the worst color, suits him.
Red is the devils color. Blue is good
NODH,, BLUE is GOD’S favorite color!
Just like every other good player that thinks he’s it, the best, he has a big head of himself. It feels great to be wanted in any Stadium. You talk good about your team mates, get along and all. But when your let go, traded or what ever there’s usually a bad taste in your mouth, a bad feeling. And like some you come out punching, bad talking about the team or certain people. Not everyone gets along with every person no matter how nice you think you may be. In the same sense no one likes a show off that’s into himself. Puig came on like a bull in a bull ring, and like the bull he didn’t display much in the end. He is good, but will he be the same Puig that showed up back then? I don’t think so but if he does, check for illegal substance.
I wish him well, physically and mentally.
Despite being occasionally entertaining, Puig is an irresponsible, childish jerk of a person. I’m sure most of his teammates are glad he’s gone. I know I am. His statements about not working hard while in LA, but will now that he’ll be a free agent, is stupid. Why would anyone sign him to more than a one year contract? His big home run was number two for the season! He’s hitting .191 with a .607 OPS now that he’s working hard. We won’t miss him.
Bob, that statement you mentioned about what Puig said about not working hard was plenty for me to be glad he is elsewhere. What he said was way beyond just stupid in my book. I let you or anyone else fill this with other words and adjectives.
Not as stupid as the way Mr. Roberts continues to prove he knows little of how to manage healthy starting pitchers beyond the 4th or 5th inning if they are around for that long. I don’t understand the reasoning and hope I never do, as to why he consistently yanks the starter after 7 strong innings pitched. Let the starter prove in the 8th that he needs to come out by pitching the game into a tie, or at least walking the lead-off hitter or half a dozen other “red-flag” indicators that show cause to bring in one of the “glorified batting practice hurlers” whose ERA is 2 and !/2 runs higher than the starter he’s relieving! That way at least the team may win or lose with their best pitcher and not send the game into the 12th inning where someone (like Taylor) breaks his arm in a game that probably would have ended in the bottom of the 9th!