Yasiel Puig has taken MLB by storm. Is his performance worthy enough of an All-Star appearance? I agree with everybody else who is saying the man should be voted in. He's dynamic, entertaining and, more importantly, people want to watch him on the field because they never know what he's going to do next. When you add up all these factors, the logic is simple: Puig has to be in the All-Star game.
For guys on the bubble in the N.L. All-Star ballot, it might be unfair. These guys have played all season long and are trying to become All-Stars. However, Puig's talents and story are unbelievable. Puig got two hits and threw out the baserunner for the final out of the game. He then bettered his performance in his second start by hitting two home runs. The Los Angeles Dodgers are still in last place in the N.L. West, but Puig is revitalizing the fanbase in L.A., giving fans a reason to go to ballgames and root for their team.
In fact, fans outside of the Dodger fanbase are siding with Puig.
Even New York Yankees fans had to give it up to the rookie out of Cuba. Puig homered in the second game of a double-header last week at Yankee Stadium. All in all, Puig went 4-9 with four runs scored, a home run, an RBI and a stolen base. Yankee Stadium is usually a hostile place for visitors, but Puig had the crowd going as soon as he made contact, sending the ball flying over the short porch in right field.
New Yorkers say "If you make it here, you can make it anywhere," and for Puig, this is the perfect quote. He came to New York and conquered the fans, which should support his case for the 2013 All-Star Game hosted at nearby Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. If baseball truly wants to please its fans, then they will find a way to get Puig in the game.
The National League's manager, Bruce Bochy, should have interests in plugging Puig into the lineup. His stats are amazing through his first 82 plate appearances in the majors. He has seven home runs with 14 RBI. Puig is batting .442 with an on-base percentage of .476 and a slugging percentage at .753. If the N.L. wants homefield advantage in the World Series, they might want to get Puig in the game.
He's a winner and he gives his team all it takes every day. What is there not to like about Puig? He's currently the best story in baseball and will give the Paul Bunyan of baseball, Evan Gattis, a run for his money in the 2013 Rookie of the Year race.
