June 5th, 2013

Can Yasiel Puig save the Dodgers?  It’s only been two games, but he’s already 5 for 8 with 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and 3 extra base hits.  Just to put that in perspective, Puig already has as many home runs as Matt Kemp.  He has more extra base hits than Luis Cruz, and nearly half as many hits in 34 fewer games!  This dude can play, and he probably should have been playing in the majors 20 games ago.

Puig is much less polished than Angels outfielder Mike Trout was when the Halos called him up last year.  However, he is already creating a tremendous buzz at Dodger Stadium that we haven’t seen since everyone was sporting those Manny Ramirez wigs.  Puig is going to make mistakes, but there is no doubt the Dodgers need to keep him in the lineup as long as possible because he is currently their best chance to win.

The Dodgers are 7.5 games back in the NL West, and 8.5 games back of the wild card.  These are  deficits that aren’t insurmountable, but they’ll need Puig and Hanley Ramirez to carry the load offensively.  That jolt could pull the Dodgers out of the NL West basement, but at some point Puig figures to regress toward the mean.  He may end up being a great player for LA, but he’ll take some time to put it all together.

Puig reminds me of a young Raul Mondesi, which is actually scary because he has the same maturity issues as Mondesi.  Nevertheless, every time this guy comes to the plate, everyone stops what they are doing to see how special Puig could really be.

At some point, if the Dodgers are going to do any damage, Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier will have to pull their games out of the crapper.  Everyone wants Andre Ethier ejected from the universe immediately after just two solid games from Puig.  I say ride the wave until his hot streak ends, and maybe it will push Ethier and Kemp to get their games together.  Until then then, enjoy the Puig Party!