Dodgers’ Don Mattingly: Yasiel Puig is “good kid”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly joined the show to talk about their season and Yasiel Puig.
“On a daily basis, this guy is a pretty good kid,” Mattingly said of Puig. “He really is. I don’t think people want to believe that. He does some things that are frustrating. But it’s not really malicious. It’s just him being a little bit immature. I like the kid.”
Mattingly also said that Puig’s fielding has improved. “This kid is playing some kind of right field,” Mattingly said. “He makes some throws and plays, when you’re like wow, nobody makes those. The baserunning has been a little bit rough.
Mattingly recounted a conversation with Puig when Mattingly asked how he wanted to be remembered. Mattingly said Puig answered “just like they’re talking about Derek Jeter right now.”
Mattingly said that Puig used to be a media darling, but then it suddenly turned. And he said Puig sometimes doesn’t talk to the media and that doesn’t work.
Mattingly also recalled first seeing Derek Jeter and thinking he was way too skinny (about 150 pounds).