Yasiel Puig Needs to Step Up

[Villain]

He was dropped to 8th in the order and is currently mired in what is the worst slump of his career. He doesn't appear to be injured, but his new haircut injured my eyes:



I'm sure he'll turn it around but this slump is terrible. Puig should be an MVP candidate with all of the talent and physical prowess he has.

The Dodgers offense has been disastrous this season and no small part of the blame is owed to Puig.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

He needs to get rid of that free swinging mentality because pitchers have learned to just throw it off the plate and he'll get himself out. He's made changes to his swing and seems to put effort into swinging less at times but it's not about swinging less it's about properly identifying balls and strikes. Something Adrian Gonzalez normally does exceptionally well.

I like the story Vin Scully told a few weeks back. I forget the player, someone known as the Duke or something. He was a free swinger as well and what his team did was not allow him to swing in batting practice for 3 days straight and was forced to only call whether the pitches were balls or strikes. The player went on to have a hall of fame career.

I'm tired of using the term "potential" when it comes to Puig, it's time to become the perennial All-Star he clearly has the talent to be.

 

[lasportzphan]

Agree 100% with both of you.

To add, I believe Puig is sixth in the league swinging at pitches outside the zone. That speaks to approach, knowledge, and mechanics as noted by Outlaw.

Turner has been poor this season as well, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in light of a serious knee surgery during the offseason.

Puig's slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) since 2013:
2013: .319/.391/.534
2014: .296/.382/.480
2015: .255/.322/.436
2016: .234/.279/.372

Turner's slash line since 2013:
2013 (NYM): .280/.319/.385
2014: .340/.404/.493
2015: .294/.370/.491
2016: .233/.322/.318

Turner has lost some "pop" in 2016 (injury related? probably) but his OBP implies his approach is more disciplined than Puig's. At least Turner was steady for two years (BA fell off from 2014 to 2015, but he payed are games in 2015). Puig just continues to decline each year at a troubling rate across all lines.

As for the team, Puig or Turner need to get going for this team to start winning more games. The bats worried me heading into the playoff last year and into the season this year. Honestly, I'm tired of pissing away Kershaw's prime.

 

[Smed55]

What ? Villian criticizing Puig? I've said Puig has been average at best since his breakout first year, but Villian try's to keep passing him off as one of the top outfielders in the game.
Does he have the tools and potential to be one of the best, absolutely, has he been anywhere close to that over the past couple of years, absolutely not!

 

[Rambunctious]

Puig just hit his 5th HR a two run HR....

 

[lasportzphan]

What ? Villian criticizing Puig? I've said Puig has been average at best since his breakout first year, but Villian try's to keep passing him off as one of the top outfielders in the game.
Does he have the tools and potential to be one of the best, absolutely, has he been anywhere close to that over the past couple of years, absolutely not!

Puig had two solid years. Then injuries the next season. So it is not unreasonable to hold out hope.

 

[Smed55]

Puig had two solid years. Then injuries the next season. So it is not unreasonable to hold out hope.

That's exactly what it is now though, all we can do is hope, the guy is a mystery, so much potential, if he ever figures it out he could be huge difference whether we are good or not?

 

[Villain]

Puig just hit his 5th HR a two run HR....

Keep it going, Yasiel! We need you!

 

[Villain]

 

[Villain]

It's only May. Really hope he doesn't implode.