When you look at Saturday’s Dodger box score, there are two things that jump out at you – the first and perhaps most obvious is that Yasiel Puig struck out twice; but the second and more important thing is that he also walked twice. And while going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, two walks and a fly out to center might not normally be considered a good day at the office, it was actually a great day for Puig.

As Dodger hitting coach Mark McGwire knows, making adjustments to pitchers is a never-ending process – and vice versa. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Although Puig’s ‘0 fer’ dropped his average to a lowly .435 (I jest), his two walks on Saturday afternoon, the first two unintentional walks of his young career, are proof that he has made an adjustment to the adjustments made on him by opposing pitchers – at least Padre pitchers, that is.

Granted, the two strikeouts clearly indicate that Puig’s adjustments are still a work in progress, but both of those strikeouts were on inside pitches or pitches in the dirt, whereas his three consecutive strikeouts last Thursday (after his solo home run) were on off-speed pitches low and away. This suggests that he is more cognizant of those low and away pitches and more willing to take them, thus forcing pitchers to come in over the plate on him or risk walking him.

I need to add, however, that strike three in his second strikeout on Saturday afternoon was on a change-up, which indicates that he is still vulnerable to off-speed stuff, and making adjustments on these types of pitches is very difficult. You almost have to guess right to hit a good change-up, but if you do, it will travel a very long way.

Certainly no one expects Puig to maintain his .400+ batting average much longer, but no one can argue that he is so much fun to watch and the guy who Dodger fans want at the plate when the game is on the line.

Viva Puig!

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Other Dodger News

• As most Dodger fans know by now, Matt Kemp’s first rehab assignment with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes did not go particularly well. The struggling outfielder went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts on Saturday afternoon. He did, however, steal a base after reaching on a fielding error in the first inning – a good sign that his sore hamstring is better… if that was actually ever an issue.
• Fellow rehabbing Dodger Scott Van Slyke fared even worse in his first rehab assignment with the ‘Topes going 0 for 3 with three strikeouts. He also committed two throwing errors while playing first base. With the tremendous success of Yasiel Puig, Van Slyke, who has been on the DL since June 11 with left shoulder bursitis, will most likely be optioned back to Albuquerque when he comes off the DL.
• Dodger right-hander Zack Greinke collected a season-high 8 strikeouts in Saturday’s 6-1 win over the Padres. Greinke allowed only 1 run on 4 hits and 1 walk in his 8 strong innings of work, while lowering his ERA to 3.79 in the process.