The polls are going on ESPN, "Do you have a problem with Yasiel Puig celebrating during his triple...?" The questions regarding his game have been answered, but his personality seems to strike as problematic for many in the game. He hustles his tail off, but when he finally accomplishes something and lets out a little emotion, the media jumps on him. Players have a problem with his reactions, though the Dodgers were pretty excited when the youngster smacked a triple against the wall. Could Puig have gotten more out of that hit?
Puig's celebration as the ball left his bat cost him a couple of seconds before he galloped down to first base, legging out a triple as Carlos Beltran had issues getting a hand on the ball as it trickled around in the right field corner. Beltran seemed to think it was gone. He slowed down and then found himself in poor position to make a play off the fence, enabling the speedy Puig to pull up to third base with a stand-up triple.
What if Puig hustles straight out of the box instead of admiring a shot that did not wind up in the stands? He looked at that hit as if he had smacked an opposite field upper decker, which would be quite impossible in that ball park. That was my problem with the play; the admiration. It was hit hard, yes, but the ball never looked like it was a definite home run. He's hit bombs to right field before, but this one seemed to be hit on a line, therefore, making Puig look a little stupid as he threw up his hands, thinking he had just smacked a two-run home run.
What I do not mind is the jubilant celebration once he got to third base. In fact, when looking at the replay, Puig does not just land at third base, he jumps on the bag with excitement. He starts doing the money dance, slaps his chest, points to the heavens.
The game is played by men, many of whom have the hearts of children.
Puig is the best example of this. He was struggling up until that point, useless to his team, coming up empty in huge positions earlier in the series. That was his first RBI of the series too. Why should Puig not be allowed to celebrate once his mission was accomplished?
Better question, how will the MLB deal with this? Are they going to start deducting runs for excessive celebration or start fining players for showing-up an opponent? Puig is not the only player in the history of the game with an exuberant character. All we have to do is mention Reggie Jackson and Puig's actions only seem childish and relatively stupid.
Baseball should appreciate young guys like Puig rather than making a big deal out of it. It's something we should laugh it "Ha ha! He thought he had a home run. What a cocky SOB!" And forget about it. Puig got the job done. However, I would have liked to see the kid run out of the box. Who knows? Who could have finished the play with his first career home run and it would have been an inside-the-park shot to right.
Beltran expressed displeasure in relation to Puig's style of play, "I mean, it's not great. To me, I don't like it. But what can I say? I don't play for them. I just play over here. I just need to do my job. It is what it is." Yes Beltran, you be an old man, play baseball the way you want to brand it and next time, hustle it out and do not expect it to be a home run. You played the carom terribly by the way.
