Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig belted a three-run homer in the fourth inning on Wednesday night against the New York Mets in LA’s 8-2 win. After hitting the home run he stood at home plate to admire the blast then took 32 second to round the bases, the second slowest trot in the majors this year.
As Puig rounded first base, the Mets Wilmer Flores told Puig to “run the bases” in which Puig responded by telling Flores to “f**k off.” “I think there’s a way to enjoy a home run,” Flores said told reporters after the game. “You enjoy it. You see it. But that was too much.”
You can see in the following video that Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud had words with Puig as well when he was crossing home plate.
The video also shows Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes talking to Puig as he goes out to his position. “After I talked to Cespedes, he told me, `Try to run a little bit faster,’ and tried to give me some advice,” Puig said through a translator. “I don’t look at it that way, but it is what it is.”
The Dodgers have now beat the Mets in three straight games with a combined score of 30-7 as New York falls to fourth place in the NL East.
I really don’t have an issue with Puig admiring his long blast, nor do I with Flores saying something.
I do take issue with Cespedes of all people telling someone to run a little bit faster after swatting a home run like he’s never admired one of his own long home runs before. Or Reyes acting like he’s never celebrated a play before emotionally.
The Mets players as a whole should be more worried about their performance on the field than how the opposition celebrates hitting a three-run homer.
