How Do You Like Me Now? Baseball Writers Dish On Dodgers Yasiel Puig – Forbes

Los Angeles loves Yasiel Puig. I love Yasiel Puig, and have said repeatedly that he inspires me. And hey, if Turner Ward needs a stand-in for a post-homer kiss, I’m available weeknights 7 to 10 p.m.

Yasiel Puig. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

With the Dodgers’ right fielder’s recent play in mind, and especially after Wednesday night’s dramtic ninth-inning win at Chavez Ravine, I wondered how the Wild Horse’s act is playing with people in and around baseball. A how-do-you-like-me-now kind of thing, except I’m the one doing the asking, rather than Puig.

So I reached out via email to a bunch of baseball writers, to some baseball officials and a few others. I didn’t have Toby Keith’s contact info, but the lifelong Dodgers fan is very much welcome to chime in at his convenience. We played word association. I said, “Yasiel Puig,” and asked them to react. Only the writers got back to me. Here’s what they told me.

Ross Newhan, retired Los Angeles Times baseball writer and J.G. Taylor Spink Award Hall of Famer:

“Flair. Excitement. A man who has pulled himself together and become one of the best players in the league given his GG defense and clutch bat at the bottom of a steamrolling offense. I’m in love.”

Will Leitch, Senior Writer, Sports on Earth and Contributing Editor, New York Magazine:

“OK! I think he is a delight to watch play baseball and I wish everyone did it with the exuberance and joy he does. I hope he doesn’t lose it and become a scold when he gets older. (He probably will.)”

Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports:

“Still electric, yet maturing as a player. Underrated defender. Blown away by his English interviews.”

 Stacey Gotsulias, Baseball Prospectus:

“When someone says, ‘Yasiel Puig,’ I immediately think of just fun. He’s a joy to watch and when he’s doing well, he looks like he’s having the most fun out of everyone on the field.”

Bob Ryan, Boston Globe:

“My faraway impression: $1 million talent. 10 cent head.”