Since making his MLB debut in June 2013, Yasiel Puig has found himself in the spotlight and at the center of some sort of controversy on several occasions. Such was the case after he hit a three-run home run in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rout of the New York Mets.
While Puig faced the burden of accepting responsibility for some of his previous mishaps, such was not the case Wednesday night. The Mets intentionally walked Joc Pederson to put two on with one out.
Thus, Puig took additional satisfaction on clubbing a 3-1 pitch into the left-field pavilion. That drew the ire of Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores and catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Flores and Jay Bruce criticized Puig during their respective postgame interviews.
Puig spoke with Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Reyes, and said the message delivered by Cespedes was to run faster. One day later, the matter still was not put to bed.
Reyes continued to chastise Puig for his perceived lack of understanding as to why the Mets took exception to the home run celebration and trot, per Abbey Mastracco of NJ.com:
“It seemed like he didn’t even know what he did,” Reyes said. “He continued to say to me and Cespedes, ‘What’d I do? What’d I do wrong?’ Wow, if you don’t know what you did wrong, then you’ve got problems.”
Although frustration spilled into Thursday, the Dodgers and Mets played the finale of the four-game set at Dodger Stadium without issue. Puig finished the night 0-for-3 with one walk.
The Mets now continue on their 10-game road trip in what’s been a disappointing season to face the San Francisco Giants and Miami Marlins. While Puig was the subject of Flores’ harsh remarks, he conceded the team’s overall play was a factor in his frustration.
