Yasiel Puig: All-Star?

[KYSportsWriter]

I know we have the running thread going on, but figured this could be a branch-out topic.

Does Yasiel Puig deserve to be an All-Star this summer? He's hitting .436 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 26 games since being called up a month ago.

Jonathan Papelbon doesn't think so, saying "it's an absolute joke" in an interview on MLB Network Radio.

I'm on the fence about it. The numbers are impressive, no doubt, but he's only been in the league for a month. What say you? Is Puig deserving of a spot on the team?

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Not really. But if enough players beg off because of "injury" combined with the fact that home field advantage in the World Series is at stake, then if he gives the team a better chance to win than other players, you have to consider it.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Hell, I say let's put him in the Hall of Fame already.

 

[JC]

Not over Nick Punto.

 

[Songbird]

I think it was MLB Network that said that the only other person who did what Puig has done through 100 ABs slash first month of his MLB career was DiMaggio. He played in the ASG.

 

[Chef2]

1. Is it a cool story? Yes.
2. Would it get ratings galore? Yes.
3. Does he deserve to be in the All-Star Game? No.
4. Will he be in the All-Star Game? Yes.

For numbers 1 and 2 alone.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Under almost any circumstances I would be in the "hell no" camp, but the ****er is hitting .436. The Dodgers are 15-11 with him and 23-32 without him.

Whoever that last guy is instead of him hasn't had a quarter of the impact Puig has already.

 

[poindexter]

Does he deserve to be? Of course.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

I think it was MLB Network that said that the only other person who did what Puig has done through 100 ABs slash first month of his MLB career was DiMaggio. He played in the ASG.

Through his first 126 at-bats in 1936, DiMaggio was batting .381 with four homers and 28 RBIs.

http://beyondthescorecard.blogspot.com/2013/07/yasiel-puig-fuller-perspective.html

 

[Chef2]

Does he deserve to be? Of course.

Don't get me wrong. I love the story. I still think he will be in the ASG. I just don't think he should be in the ASG because June was beddy beddy good to him.

 

[Della9250]

The DiMaggio comparison doesn't really work because he was competing against 24 other outfielders to be an all-star. Puig is one of 45.

Also, DiMaggio had two month's worth of production going into the All-Star Game in 1936. Puig is at a month.

I don't think he deserves it, because there are enough worthy candidates at his position -- Cuddyer, the Carloses Gomez and Gonzalez, McCutchen, Beltran, Dom Brown, Bruce. But they will put him in the online fan voting and he will make it.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The DiMaggio comparison doesn't really work because he was competing against 24 other outfielders to be an all-star. Puig is one of 45.

Also, DiMaggio had two month's worth of production going into the All-Star Game in 1936. Puig is at a month.

I don't think he deserves it, because there are enough worthy candidates at his position -- Cuddyer, the Carloses Gomez and Gonzalez, McCutchen, Beltran, Dom Brown, Bruce. But they will put him in the online fan voting and he will make it.

It will be fun to revisit this after Bochy gives a spot to Hunter Pence (.283/13/42 and a series of inspirational speeches last October).

 

[MankyJimy]

I say no. There have been other players that have had better first months (Shane Spencer) that didn't make an All-Star team only because their debut came later in the year.

 

[Songbird]

The DiMaggio comparison doesn't really work because he was competing against 24 other outfielders to be an all-star. Puig is one of 45.

Also, DiMaggio had two month's worth of production going into the All-Star Game in 1936. Puig is at a month.

By 7/12 Puig will have about 6 weeks of action. If his numbers are the same or even better in the days leading up to the ASG then it's really a no-brainer.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

I say no. There have been other players that have had better first months (Shane Spencer) that didn't make an All-Star team only because their debut came later in the year.

Not surprising you'd bring a former Yankee who did absolutely jack **** after that first (very limited) season into the discussion.

 

[outofplace]

I say no. There have been other players that have had better first months (Shane Spencer) that didn't make an All-Star team only because their debut came later in the year.

Not surprising you'd bring a former Yankee who did absolutely jack **** after that first (very limited) season into the discussion.

Or that he'd raise a point that is completely irrelevant.

 

[Della9250]

The DiMaggio comparison doesn't really work because he was competing against 24 other outfielders to be an all-star. Puig is one of 45.

Also, DiMaggio had two month's worth of production going into the All-Star Game in 1936. Puig is at a month.

By 7/12 Puig will have about 6 weeks of action. If his numbers are the same or even better in the days leading up to the ASG then it's really a no-brainer.

Not when there are better candidates at his position with more than double the at-bats. I'm not willing to knock out someone from first all-star appearance like Gomez or someone else who has deserved it because a phenom had a great month and a half.

The fact that Justin Upton could get voted in (along with a deserving Beltran and Gonzalez) in the outfield, would take away a potential outfield spot for Puig.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

The only joke is Papelbon and his Cookie Monster googly eyes criticizing anything other than himself after gacking four save opportunities in two weeks.

 

[Songbird]

Yeah, Justin Upton and his *dynamic* May/June -- 41 for his last 188, 3 HR, 18 RBI.

 

[Della9250]

Harper is probably going to pass Upton so it shouldn't matter, but if he somehow sneaks in, it won't help.