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Tough For Giants Fans To Admit, But Yasiel Puig Showing Signs Of Maturity

KCBS News Anchor Stan Bunger (who along with KCBS Sports Anchor Steve Bitker are the on-air duo known as KCBS Sports Fans) offers his unique sports analysis.

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - I'm having a little trouble believing I'm actually writing this: that was a classy move by Yasiel Puig.

The Dodgers' lightning rod of a right fielder had every reason to go to tantrum-land last night. He'd already been denied a free trip to first base when the plate umpire missed an obvious catcher's interference call, and in his next at-bat, Giants right fielder Justin Maxwell made a spectacular catch to retire Puig.

While Maxwell limped around the outfield after slamming his knee into the wall, Puig retreated to the Dodger dugout, calmly removed his batting gloves, and with the CSN Bay Area cameras trained on him, proceeded to applaud Maxwell.

I had to grab the TiVo remote to make sure I'd seen it right. This is the same Puig whose showtime antics have ruffled the feathers of many a baseball traditionalist since he exploded on the scene two years ago.

Puig's list of violations of the unwritten rules of baseball is lengthy; the chief complaint is that his antics "show up" opposing players. Puig's apologists have often excused his behavior by saying it's commonplace in his native Cuba. I've always found that a hollow defense: isn't part of being a professional figuring out how to honor your profession?

But last night at AT&T Park, Puig spoke volumes without saying a word. In applauding Maxwell, he was saying, "I respect this game and the people who play it."

Perhaps it's a sign of maturity. Perhaps the arrival in LA of classy veterans like Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick has helped Puig see the light. Whatever, it's an encouraging sign if a player of his obvious talent chooses the high road.

Of course, Madison Bumgarner pitches for the Giants tonight and you may recall, he and Puig had a rather significant disagreement after a Puig home run in LA last May. It may be a litmus test for the new Puig.

 

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