Dodgers: Five Early Season Overreactions

Yasiel Puig Will Win MVP
Why not end on a positive overreaction?
Puig is the only Dodger to start every game this season and has done so in impressive fashion. Puig has a slash line of .304/.414/.630 and leads the team in home runs (4) and RBI (11). Puig is doing a bit of everything for the Dodgers, leading the team in walk percentage (17.2%) and stolen bases (2).
More from Dodgers Way
- Kevin Kiermaier being ‘top target’ to replace Cody Bellinger is bad sign for Dodgers
- Are the Dodgers really prepared to hand Shohei Ohtani a blank check?
- Dodgers fans shouldn’t dismiss interest in Dansby Swanson for this reason
- Giants laughably sign pitcher that Dodgers absolutely own
- Dave Roberts’ quote about Padres in NLDS should motivate Dodgers
The other Dodger who has been as productive as Puig has been Justin Turner. The issue here with Puig is that he too has struggled against lefties. How ironic is it that the biggest solutions to the biggest problem is under producing, yet still having a good start.
Puig is hitting .105 in 19 at-bats against left-handers. In my opinion part of the reason Puig is struggling against lefties is because Roberts continues to move Puig into the 4 or 5 spot in the lineup. Puig seems to tense up in that spot in the order and hasn’t produced like Roberts had hoped. But regardless, it’s still nice to see Puig off to a good start.
Next: A Rich Hill Contingency Plan
Everyone loves to compare Puig to his 2013 breakout season when he hit .436, 7 home runs and 16 RBI in 101 plate appearances. Well, this season Puig is hitting .444, 4 home runs, and 10 RBI in 27 at-bats against right-handed pitching. Suddenly the 2013 hot start Puig started his career with doesn’t seem too farfetched.