Yasiel Puig – Page 3 – Dodger Thoughts

Dodger winning streak ends at six

On June 24, 2016

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Despite 13 hits — including four by Corey Seager and a single and homer by Yasiel Puig — the Dodgers couldn’t quite complete one of their recent rallies, falling tonight to the Pirates, 8-6. Los Angeles has lost six straight games since July 2014 at Pittsburgh, allowing 50 runs in the process.

Seager is 14 for his past 25 with two walks, five doubles and a homer, for a .560 batting average, .593 on-base percentage and .880 slugging percentage. Puig is 5 for 11 since returning from the disabled list, including the home run, which went 439 feet.

In his Dodger debut, Nick Tepesch gave up five runs on four singles, two doubles and a home run over four innings. The Dodgers’ six-game winning streak came to an end, despite twice coming within a run of the Pirates after trailing 4-0 in the second inning.

In case you missed it: That post-Puig, post-sweep glow

By Jon Weisman

On June 23, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, History, In case you missed it, Off the field

By Jon Weisman

Still feels like there’s a buzz in the air over how very #Puignotlate the ending was to Wednesday’s game. Let’s provide some epilogues to that, as well as catching up on some other recent Dodger ephemera.

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Puig’s dash around the bases was 15.2 seconds, which is tied for the fastest home-to-home run in baseball this year, as seen in the video above.
What was going through Puig’s mind? “I was ready for the hit, and nobody thought that the ball would go through,” Puig said through an interpreter, according to Doug Padilla of ESPN.com. “So when I did see the ball go through, I had to talk to my hamstring so I can figure out how far I could go on the bases. … I didn’t see [the stop sign]. I was listening to my hamstring and I was trying to figure out how far it could go. If it exploded there, that’s what was going to happen, but I was able to make it home.”
The big finish called to mind 1988’s Kirk Gibson scoring from second base on a wild pitch, as Phil Gurnee writes at his new blog, Dodgers, Yesterday and Today.

Roberts will study Puig’s mechanics in his return

By Jon Weisman

On June 21, 2016

In Hitting, Pregame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

Dave Roberts’ patience with Justin Turner has been rewarded. Now comes Yasiel Puig.

Turner, who had three homers and a .642 OPS through June 3 — amid calls for him to be lowered in the lineup — has seven homers and a 1.159 OPS since.

“Mechanically, I thought (Turner) was fine,” Roberts said. “The at-bats were quality. The contact point needed to be different for me, (but) with the adjustments that he made, he’s seeing some results.

Activated from the disabled list today, Puig makes his first start since June 2, and he has something to prove.

“Yasiel,” Roberts said, “mechanically wasn’t right.

Yasiel Puig activated from DL, Carlos Frias optioned

By Jon Weisman

On June 21, 2016

In Health/injuries, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

As expected, the Dodgers activated Yasiel Puig from the disabled list today, with right-hander Carlos Frias returning to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Puig went 5 for 12 with a homer in five rehab games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last week. He and his strained left hamstring went on the disabled list June 3 with a .283 on-base percentage and .360 slugging percentage this year.

Frias did not appear in either game for which he was eligible following his Sunday promotion. The move makes it likely that Kenta Maeda will start Friday at Pittsburgh for the Dodgers on four days’ rest, followed by Clayton Kershaw and Scott Kazmir.

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Tonight’s starting pitcher, Julio Urías, has thrown 58 professional innings this season. Dave Roberts said Thursday that the plan was to give Urias two more starts, then evaluate.

Most interpreted this as Roberts saying that Urías would be shut down in the manner of Ross Stripling, who hasn’t pitched in a game since May. To be clear, though, that wasn’t stated explicitly by Roberts, who simply said, “we’ll go from there.”

Last year, Urías threw 80 1/3, and the year before, a career-high 87 2/3. Even in the unlikely event of two complete games, Urías would still be at 76 innings on the year. Two six-inning outings would put Urías at 70. Presumably, Urías can go incrementally above the 80-plus inning range that he has previously reached.

So the question would be whether it makes sense to use all those innings now, while the Dodgers wait for the return of Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood from the disabled list (and longer down the road, Brett Anderson). Or do they have Urías take the break, and the ramp him up again in the second half of the season, when the rotation might be more crowded — not that there couldn’t be other setbacks.

In case you missed it: Rehab games for many, but not Ethier

By Jon Weisman

On June 14, 2016

In Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Minor leagues, Transactions

Andre Ethier poses with former Dodger infielder Mark Ellis prior to Monday’s game.

By Jon Weisman

Some items to catch up on …

Andre Ethier is still in limbo, as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. “It’s a little slower than we thought,” Ethier said. “At the eight-week exam, I was expecting to have the OK and go do baseball stuff and slowly progress into running. It was a little bit of a jaw dropper when you get the result. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t healed like I was hoping it was. I had to reassess that it would take a little longer. You always think you can bounce back quicker than you do.”
In his first rehab outing since going on the disabled list June 3, Yasiel Puig grounded out, homered to right center and walked.
Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu came through their weekend rehab starts without issues and remain on schedule for their next appearances — Thursday for McCarthy, Friday for Ryu. McCarthy threw two innings June 11 in his rehab debut. Ryu pitched three innings June 12.
Carl Crawford cleared waivers and was officially released by the Dodgers.
Brock Stewart, the 24-year-old righty who was a sixth-round Dodger draft pick from Illinois State in 2014, made his Triple-A debut Monday for Oklahoma City. Stewart struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings and didn’t walk anyone until his final batter, though he allowed two home runs.
Another newcomer to the Oklahoma City starting rotation is 27-year-old righty Nick Tepesch, who was picked up after being released by Texas. Tepesch has made two five-inning starts for Oklahoma City, with a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10 innings. He has 219 career big-league innings with a 4.56 ERA.
Frankie Montas isn’t exactly new to Oklahoma City, but he is officially off the Dodgers’ 60-day disabled list and was officially optioned Sunday. With 11 strikeouts against one run in his first 7 2/3 innings (two appearances), Montas has done nothing to discourage speculation that he is on the fast track to Los Angeles. He next pitches Wednesday.
Double-A Tulsa’s Trevor Oaks and Willie Calhoun each won Player of the Week honors, as did Single-A Rancho Cucamonga’s Michael Ahmed, the brother of Arizona’s Nick Ahmed.
Jose Tabata, who was acquired in exchange for barely-a-Dodger Michael Morse last summer, was released June 11 from Oklahoma City. The six-year MLB vet had a .673 OPS in Triple-A this year.

Dave Roberts discusses Justin Turner’s struggle

By Jon Weisman

On June 3, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Braves at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Trayce Thompson, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Justin Turner has again slumped, going 3 for 24 in his past eight games with a double and three walks.

Turner’s batting average has dropped to .225, but Dave Roberts has not dropped him in the Dodger batting order for two reasons: He believes Turner will come out of it, and because even now, his on-base percentage is still .327, roughly identical to those of Trayce Thompson (.333) and Corey Seager (.331).

Nevertheless, Roberts does have a theory about why Turner is struggling.

“When I know Justin is at his best, (it’s) when he’s elevating to the pull side,” Roberts said. “For me, right now there’s too many balls in the air the other way. The contact point’s a little deep, (and) he might be getting underneath the baseball a little bit.

Yasiel Puig’s hamstring remains an issue

By Jon Weisman

On June 2, 2016

In Health/injuries

Pedro Guerrero and Yasiel Puig pose prior to the Dodgers’ May 27 game at New York.

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig is out of today’s starting lineup for the third straight game with a left hamstring problem, and though Dave Roberts told reporters that the right fielder is available to pinch-hit, Scott Van Slyke is also just about ready to come off the disabled list — so there is speculation that they might switch places.

Though Puig has struggled offensively (.646 OPS, .283 weighted on-base average), his improvement defensively is largely responsible for the Dodger outfield emerging as the most improved in baseball, according to Mike Petriello of MLB.com. Fangraphs ranks Puig fourth among National League right fielders in overall defense, and he is first in defensive runs saved.

Van Slyke is 7 for 31 with a double, a home run, three walks and six strikeouts in his eight minor-league rehab games. He also stole a base Thursday.

Kendrick, Thompson start in OF corners, Puig rests

By Jon Weisman

On May 25, 2016

In Managing, Outfield, Pregame

Reds at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig isn’t in tonight’s Dodger starting lineup, which isn’t a surprise — least of all to Dave Roberts, who planned to give Puig a night off even before Tuesday’s mid-game benching.

Howie Kendrick is in left field, with Trayce Thompson moving to right. Puig was on the field this afternoon for early batting practice, but not in preparation to start.

“I let all the players know when they’re gonna play, when they’re not gonna play,” Roberts said. “I told Howie (Tuesday afternoon) he was going to be in there with Trayce and Joc. So, tonight is not punitive at all. It was already set.”

Roberts said he had an “extended conversation” with Puig after Tuesday’s game, and now they are moving forward.

“We talked about expectations and a vision and accountability,” Roberts said. “For me, you’ve got to be responsible for your actions.

“He understands, and he wants to be a better teammate. I’m not going to say a mistake like that’s not going to happen with him or any other player, but I think he wants to get better.”

The Algebra of Yasiel Puig

By Jon Weisman

On May 25, 2016

In Managing, Thinking out loud

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

We’re not really the sum of all our parts. We’re more the multiplication of them.

The fractions of ourselves don’t neatly add up in tidy columns. They clash and they explode like calculus.

So just in the past several days, the answer to Yasiel Puig involves finding the product of this:

Puig on the play: ‘I got confused’

By Jon Weisman

On May 22, 2016

In Baserunning

By Jon Weisman

When it was all over, Yasiel Puig and Dave Roberts discussed the highs and lows of Puig’s day after today/tonight’s 17-inning Dodger victory.

His ninth-inning baserunning mishap during A.J. Ellis’ bunt was in the back of Puig’s mind when he drove in the game-winning runs, eight innings later, according to The Associated Press:

The Dodgers won. They won.

By Jon Weisman

On May 22, 2016

In Postgame

Yasiel Puig points back to the dugout after hitting a tiebreaking two-run single in the 17th inning. (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers won.

They won, 9-5, over San Diego, in 17 innings, despite the albatross of a bad week and a rough season hanging over them. They won, despite the specter of a third consecutive walkoff loss howling all around them.

Padres win battle of two-run homers

By Jon Weisman

On May 20, 2016

In Postgame

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Yasiel Puig homers in the fifth inning. (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

Kenley Jansen had allowed one run in the first 42 games of the season. Then he allowed two runs with one swing.

In a game that was topsy, turvy and topsy again, Melvin Upton Jr.’s two-run homer off Jansen, after an odd, pop-fly single that second baseman Chase Utley couldn’t corral, gave the Padres a walkoff a 7-6 victory at San Diego over the Dodgers.

It was the first walkoff homer Jansen allowed in his seven-season MLB career.

Upton’s homer negated a two-out, two-run homer by Justin Turner in the eighth inning after Carl Crawford’s pinch-hit single that had rallied the Dodgers to a 6-5 lead.

Dodgers look to get jump on Angels in Freeway Series

By Jon Weisman

On May 16, 2016

In Managing, Other teams, Pregame

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Trayce Thompson, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Taking the mound tonight against the Dodgers is a pitcher with a 9.12 ERA, which might be enough to make you want to dial 9.11 if you’re an Angels fan.

But Matt Shoemaker is also a pitcher who had a 3.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings as recently as 2014. And even last month, he pitched back-to-back games — both on the road — in which he allowed two runs in 12 innings.

It’s almost as if there are two Shoes, and you don’t know which the Angels will put on tonight when they meet the Dodgers in the regular-season kickoff of the Freeway Series.

In case you missed it: Organizational news and notes

By Jon Weisman

On May 16, 2016

In Community, Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Minor leagues, Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

There have been several bits of business that I’ve been meaning to get to, so I figured the best solution was to bring back the reliable “In case you missed it” feature from Spring Training to capture them all.

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Tag: Yasiel Puig (Page 3 of 15)

Dodger winning streak ends at six

In case you missed it: That post-Puig, post-sweep glow

Roberts will study Puig’s mechanics in his return

Yasiel Puig activated from DL, Carlos Frias optioned

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

In case you missed it: Rehab games for many, but not Ethier

Dave Roberts discusses Justin Turner’s struggle

Yasiel Puig’s hamstring remains an issue

Kendrick, Thompson start in OF corners, Puig rests

The Algebra of Yasiel Puig

Puig on the play: ‘I got confused’

The Dodgers won. They won.

Padres win battle of two-run homers

Dodgers look to get jump on Angels in Freeway Series

In case you missed it: Organizational news and notes

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