But still, Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon isn't enticed by the Puigmania to draft the Cuban sensation into the showcase game — even if he is one of the most exciting players in the majors right now. And Papelbon said as much on MLB Network Radio Tuesday.
“To me, it's an absolute joke. It's really kind of stupid if you ask me,” Papelbon said on MLB Network Radio, as he had trouble even saying Puig's name correctly. “The guy's got a month, I don't even think he's got a month in the big leagues, and just comparing him to this and that, and saying he's going to make the All-Star team, that's a joke to me. It's just really what happens in baseball when … to me it really does an injustice to the veteran players that have been in the game for eight, nine, 10 plus years, and it kind of does them an injustice because they've worked so hard to stay there.”
Papelbon's reference to "comparing him to this and that," must be the astonishing fact that Puig collected 44 hits in his first month in the majors, second in baseball history to Joe DiMaggio's 48 in May of 1936.
After going 3-for-5 with a home run and double Tuesday, Puig is now hitting .443/.473/.745 with eight homers, 17 RBI and 21 runs in 27 games. He has only 112 plate appearances on the season, but the Dodgers are 16-10 when he starts and 23-33 when he doesn't.
The All-Star teams will be named this coming Saturday.
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