MR. PUIG

LA Dodgers fans have taken to some charismatic foreign star players awarding them celebrity status and producing the "Fernandomania" and "Nomomania" phenomenoms.  Yasiel Puig is fanning the flames of "Puigmania".  The rarely seen, high voltage debut of the 23 year old Cuban outfielder was spectacular to watch.
His unsustainable first month was followed by a cooling off period that nevertheless produced a great year with enormous expectations for the future.

Yasiel Puig HR    (feelinkindablue.com)

The unpredictable Yasiel Puig is a mega talent that has cornered the market on "tools" that seem to be at a higher level than most "five tool" players.  Transforming these to effective skills and knowing how and when to use them can take Puig to the doors of greatness as a player, maybe almost unique.  The same qualities that endear him to fans, his all out and reckless style of play might be his achilles heel.  My personal feeling is that Puig won't have a long career, I hope I am wrong.  With all the bounty of talent comes a lot of risk.  His off the field problems, his difficult and abrasive temperament on the field needs to be under control and not drive his manager and teammates nuts.

Yoenis Cespedes and Yasiel Puig

Yasiel has not played a lot of baseball.  Contrary to his Cienfuegos teammate in Cuba, Jose Abreu, who debuts with the Chisox this year and another compatriot who is a Dodger rookie this year, Alexander Guerrero.

NAME                       AGE      SEASONS CUBA   PLATE APP
Yasiel Puig                   23          2  (Cienfuegos)             587
Jose Abreu                   27        10 (Cienfuegos)            3183
Alexander Guerrero       27         8   (Las Tunas)            2262
Yoenis Cespedes          28         8   (Granma)                3123

Puig is a baby compared to these seasoned Cuban League players in regards to seasons and plate appearances.  He is learning on the fly and there must be a lot of patience, but how much?  A lot of his mistakes are due to inexperience.
 

Yasiel Puig on defense   (ibtimes)

The RF's whirlwind 2013 season saw him post great offensive numbers (.319/.391/.534), good defense (10 DRS) and spotty baserunning ( -4.2 BsR) according to Fangraphs (4.0 WAR).  He showed solid splits, .312 vs RHP, .342 vs LHP, .360 at home, .284 away, .315 at night and .333 during the day.  If healthy and logging 600 PA a 5-6 WAR is within his reach and maybe his first All Star game.  Is a talent like Puig immune to the sophomore jinx?  Pull up a chair and let's find out..