When Yasiel Puig broke onto the baseball scene a short seven weeks ago, his meteoric rise to success and fame had every Puig hater (which is pretty much every non-Dodger fan) wishing, hoping and perhaps even praying for him to fail. And while the 22-year-old Cuban defector may be experiencing his first slump and a dose of reality (and humility), the so-called Puig Factor is still very much alive and well and is, in fact, flourishing.

How can this be when Puig is mired in an 0 for 11 slump and has seen his average drop from well over .400 to a mere .369 in the last two weeks? Because the Puig Factor isn’t just about Yasiel Puig, it is about the affect it is having on the entire Dodger team and even on opposing teams.

Opposing pitchers are focusing so very hard on getting Puig out that they tend to focus less on those hitting behind him; and when those hitting behind him include Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Andre Ethier and (soon) Matt Kemp, this can be a very deadly proposition.

There isn’t a pitcher out there who isn’t terrified that Yasiel Puig’s slump will end on their watch.
(Photo credit – Mark J. Rebilas)

It’s no secret that when Puig made his MLB debut on June 3 the Dodgers were in bad shape. For the most part only he and Hanley Ramirez (who came off the DL the day after Puig arrived) were providing most of the Dodgers offense. But since that time, more specifically since June 22, the rest of the Dodger bats came to life and have turned a 9.5 games back deficit into what today is a 0.5 game deficit – all of this in spite of Puig going 3 for 18 (.220) in his last five games. Ironically, according to Eric Stephen over at True Blue LA, Puig can go hitless in his next 36 at bats and still be hitting above .300, and it’s pretty safe to say that this probably isn’t going to happen.

The excitement and enthusiasm (aka: heart) that the Puig Factor has brought to the rest of the team is the stuff that championships are made of. Whereas Puig and Ramirez carried the team during their lowest of lows, Ramirez and the rest of the Dodgers are now carrying the struggling Puig as the Dodgers are about to take over first place in the National League West – due in large part to Yasiel Puig.

I would certainly be remiss in not mentioning that the Dodger bullpen has been absolutely stellar during the Dodgers remarkable run from worst to first, especially Paco Rodriguez, J.P. Howell, Ronald Belisario, Kenley Jansen and the flame-throwing kids Jose Dominguez and Chris Withrow – which is the entire Dodger bullpen, stay Brandon League. Whatever it is that Dodger bullpen coach Chuck Crim is doing with these guys, he needs to keep doing it.

As for the exact cause of Puig’s recent struggles at the plate, the reasons are somewhat obvious and even predictable – he is really pressing, he is lunging at balls, he is opening up way too early, his swing is now way too long and he is no longer keeping his hands back (which is the key to his Roberto Clemente-like bat speed). And this doesn’t even take into consideration that opposing pitchers have simply adjusted to him and have found his weaknesses (fastballs in on the hands and breaking stuff low and away – sometimes very away). And while I am sure that none of this is breaking news to hitting coaches Mark McGwire and John Valintin, it is up to Puig to heed their advice and guidance and make his own adjustments – which eventually will happen.

In the meantime, it’s reassuring to know that the Puig Factor is still very much alive and well – even if it doesn’t include Yasiel Puig.