Yasiel Puig

[DownUnderDodger]

Any comments? It seems a lot of money for an untried, virtually unknown from Cuba. Vin Scully commented the other night that he believed it was a good move? The Dodgers desperately need offense, but is this guy the answer?

[bhss89]

Any comments? It seems a lot of money for an untried, virtually unknown from Cuba. Vin Scully commented the other night that he believed it was a good move? The Dodgers desperately need offense, but is this guy the answer?

YouTube vids show him as lighter, faster version of A's Cespedes. He's only 21, so maybe it will be while until he is with big team. However, at this point, anything positive offensively will help!

[Mr. Lasorda]

Next year he's gonna be on the roster I promise, this guy is the real deal.

[DownUnderDodger]

Welcome Mr Lasorda. We need more input on the Dodgers Forum so it is great to have you aboard.

[DodgerBlue8188]

Well he's already on the 40 man roster so at most he's only got 3 options left. Hopefully he can come up sometime next season. It would be nice to see him turn out like everybody is hoping. Kemp, Ethier and Puig in the OF for 4-5 years together would be nice.

[DodgerBlue8188]

Hits a triple tonight.

[bhss89]

30 AB in AZL, hitting .400 with 4 bombs. 6 BB, 7 K. Clearly adjusting well. Good news. Let's hope he continues to progress and is a sponge for learning.

[crzblue]

Puig is closer to Los Angeles now! Dodgers have promoted him to high-A Rancho Cucamonga.

[mandrake]

Puig is closer to Los Angeles now! Dodgers have promoted him to high-A Rancho Cucamonga.

THANK YOU for your hospitality at Dodgers Stadium on Aug 7th. I am back in NY today and will post a review of the game/stadium after I catch some shut eye. Red eye flights are tough.

[jnakamura]

THANK YOU for your hospitality at Dodgers Stadium on Aug 7th. I am back in NY today and will post a review of the game/stadium after I catch some shut eye. Red eye flights are tough.

Emma's pretty awesome, huh?

Here's my prediction: The Dodgers re-sign Victorino, but trade him before the 2014 trade deadline when Puig is ready for prime-time. I see him in AA-AAA for most of 2013 before being called up to the big club mid-'13 to get fully seasoned. By 2014 he should be ready to be the every-day CFer (move Kemp to LF).

I will be back to gloat how great a prognosticator I am at that time.

[filihok]

Emma's pretty awesome, huh?

Here's my prediction: The Dodgers re-sign Victorino, but trade him before the 2014 trade deadline when Puig is ready for prime-time. I see him in AA-AAA for most of 2013 before being called up to the big club mid-'13 to get fully seasoned. By 2014 he should be ready to be the every-day CFer (move Kemp to LF).

I will be back to gloat how great a prognosticator I am at that time.

Well...Dodgers didn't re-sign Victorino.



The comparison with Cespedes

Cespedes: .424/.667 OBP & SLG, 1.2 K/BB ratio
Puig: .430/.581 OBP & SLG 1.3 K/BB ratio

Similar players. Cespedes has the bigger power but is 6 years older and in his power prime. Puig is said to have outstanding speed.


Puig is hitting .450/.439/.675 so far in spring training with 2 homers and 3 SB. Looks impressive...but...
the 0/10 BB/K ratio doesn't bode well for long term success.

Projections available on FanGraphs project Puig for a .291/.374 (OBP/SLG) in 2013.

He's talented, but not ready.

[toomanyhatz]

Two questions, if anyone knows the answer-

1) Does he project as a middle of the order hitter? Or does he have enough speed to possibly be #1 or 2?
2) With three very expensive outfielders signed long term, is he primarily insurance in case Crawford isn't healthy? A likely event, of course, but a pretty expensive policy. Or if Crawford turns it around, does it put Ethier back on the trading block? Or maybe he at least starts as a 4th outfielder and platoons with Crawford and Ethier?

I know we're talking about 2014 most likely, but if he's a huge success- which they're obviously hoping for- they need to figure out what to do about the logjam in the outfield. Good problem to have, I guess, but again- a pretty expensive one.

[filihok]

Two questions, if anyone knows the answer-

1) Does he project as a middle of the order hitter? Or does he have enough speed to possibly be #1 or 2?

Not that I expect the Dodgers to be this savvy, but speed is better served in the middle and bottom of the order.
Hitters at the top of the order hit in front of powerful hitters who can drive them in from first base with doubles and home runs. Players in the middle and end of the order hit in front of weaker hitters who hit more singles. A stolen base to move the runner to 2nd where the runner can score on a single is more valuable.

Here's an article on optimal lineup construction

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by

Here's how the lineup spots rank in the importance of avoiding outs:

#1, #4, #2, #5, #3, #6, #7, #8, #9

So, you want your best three hitters to hit in the #1, #4, and #2 spots.

LEAD OFF
The Book says OBP is king. The lead-off hitter comes to bat only 36% of the time with a runner on base, versus 44% of the time for the next lowest spot in the lineup, so why waste homeruns? The lead-off hitter also comes to the plate the most times per game, so why give away outs? As for speed, stealing bases is most valuable in front of singles hitters, and since the top of the order is going to be full of power hitters, they're not as important. The lead-off hitter is one of the best three hitters on the team, the guy without homerun power

#2
The Books says the #2 hitter comes to bat in situations about as important as the #3 hitter, but more often. That means the #2 hitter should be better than the #3 guy, and one of the best three hitters overall. And since he bats with the bases empty more often than the hitters behind him, he should be a high-OBP player.

#4
The Book says the #4 hitter comes to bat in the most important situations out of all nine spots, but is equal in importance to the #2 hole once you consider the #2 guy receives more plate appearances. The cleanup hitter is the best hitter on the team with power.

Questions about Puig's plate discipline more than likely exclude him from hitting lead off or #2. It may be too soon to say he'll be the Dodger's clean up hitter. Especially since LA will have guys like Kemp, Ethier and Gonzalez around.

That said, Puig is a fast runner. At his age he's probably nearing his peak speed and will get slower as he ages. At his age he is still developing his power. He'll reach his power peak in a few years.

He'll likely break into the majors hitting down in the order. If he hits his ceiling he should be a middle of the order hitter.

2) With three very expensive outfielders signed long term, is he primarily insurance in case Crawford isn't healthy? A likely event, of course, but a pretty expensive policy. Or if Crawford turns it around, does it put Ethier back on the trading block? Or maybe he at least starts as a 4th outfielder and platoons with Crawford and Ethier?

I know we're talking about 2014 most likely, but if he's a huge success- which they're obviously hoping for- they need to figure out what to do about the logjam in the outfield. Good problem to have, I guess, but again- a pretty expensive one.

Who knows?
We'll assume that Kemp isn't going anywhere.
That leaves Gonzalez, Ethier and Crawford as trade possibilities.

[Ben Grimm]

What's interesting with this...

Here's how the lineup spots rank in the importance of avoiding outs:

#1, #4, #2, #5, #3, #6, #7, #8, #9

... is that most teams put their overall best hitter in the 3-hole.

[filihok]

Puig 4-4 today with a homer, triple and stolen base.

Still hasn't drawn a walk this spring