Yasiel Puig responds to being removed from Los Angeles Dodgers lineup
By Brian Spaen
Earlier today during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Chicago Cubs, Yasiel Puig was pulled out of the lineup for disciplinary reasons. After the game, the player that changed the Dodgers’ fortunes for the season responded to why he was pulled.
According to Dodgers’ beat writer Dylan Hernandez, Puig said he was pulled for not being ready on defense.
Puig said Mattingly pulled him because he wasn't ready on defense for every pitch. Puig said he understood Mattingly's decision.
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) August 28, 2013
Puig was benched in the fifth inning, getting replaced by Skip Schumaker. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that gave his team “the best chance to win.”
Rotoworld reported that Puig was “lackadaisical” during the game but should be back in time for the Dodgers’ next game.
"Puig did seem a bit lackadaisical in the early going. He said in the clubhouse later that he completely understood manager Don Mattingly’s decision to pull him. The supremely talented 22-year-old outfielder should be back in his skipper’s good graces and in the starting lineup for Friday’s series opener against the [San Diego] Padres."
It’s been a rough week or so for Puig, who told the media to “perform an oral sex act” and was fined for being late.