![]() ![]() I think those have been kind of the equalizer for me in keeping guys honest," Lincecum said. I didn't throw as many breaking balls and sliders as I wanted to. Puig and Dee Gordon hit back-to-back RBI triples, and Kemp had a two-run triple as the Dodgers scored five runs in the inning. The Dodgers did most of their damage in a wild fifth. Adrian Gonzalez followed with a sharp single to right to score Puig and give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. Puig hustled to third, and umpires kept him there following a video review. Two fans - one wearing a Giants jersey, the other in a Dodgers uniform - battled for the ball as it approached the wall, knocking it back on the field. More will be revealed.Puig got things going with a hard-hit fly ball to center with one out in the first inning, flipping his bat as he sprinted out of the box. Or Cleveland.īut I'm giving this particular Dodger one more benefit of the doubt. Perhaps none of the above works and Puig is headed for a train wreck. I'd like to think that Roberts closes with a rousing chorus of "and remember, glove conquers all," but perhaps that's a stretch. Now let's go out and beat the crap out of those Giants!" And you'll be there for me, for your teammates, and for the fans. Baseball clubs are cool, and you're fortunate to be a member of one of the best. "Night clubs aren't nearly as cool as you think they are. Stretch with the guys and for God's sake, watch those hamstrings! Remain calm between the lines and stay out of trouble off of them. "Late is unacceptable and on-time isn't a whole lot better. It'll be fun as hell, but you have responsibilities and I'm going to see that you meet them, head on and head held high. And as such certain things will be demanded of you. Whatever happened up to now is ancient history as far as I'm concerned. I support you, and we're going to make this work. What will happen next is likely to remain private, but I'm guessing - and suggesting - that it go something like this, with Roberts, big smile on his face and arm around Puig's shoulder: Perhaps Puig will surprise his critics and show up at the presser to support his new boss. He'll be asked pointedly about Puig, and I expect an answer that includes "I've reached out to Yasiel and we'll spend some together," or some such thing. We'll hear from the new skipper at a Dodger Stadium press conference on Tuesday. It's about Maury Wills and bright new hope, Dave Roberts. It's about Randy Newman and Dodger Dogs (grilled only) and rally bananas. It's about six World Championships and the pressing goal for a seventh. It's about Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, about Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke and Cy Young Awards. The Dodgers way is about pitching - the world's most precious resource - always. The Dodgers' way means a devotion to history, to being a pioneer in as many ways as possible, beginning but never ending most importantly with Jackie Robinson. The Dodgers' way means all sorts of things six decades later. I imagine that when Al Campanis penned "The Dodgers' Way To Play Baseball" in 1954, his goal was to teach fundamentals first - because it is essentially a baseball textbook on everything from catching to cutoffs - but with an all important nod to something instructive about club philosophy. Is Mattingly's implication that ownership handcuffed his efforts to rein in Puig any better than the player's saying he got stuck in traffic? Aren't they both the baseball equivalent of a school child's "the dog ate it"? No one in business wants to hear excuses. The way I see it you can wrestle with a problem or solve one. ![]() But I'd sure like to see if Roberts can do with Puig what Don Mattingly could not, which is reach one of his in-need players - or "charges," as I call them - in a way that works for all concerned, which very much includes the other 24 guys in the room. ![]()
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