Matt Kemp is gone from the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse. Long live Yasiel Puig.
CBSSports.com posted a report about the positive vibe around the NL West champion Dodgers' camp that had two big bats removed from their roster when Kemp went to San Diego and Hanley Ramirez signed with the Boston Red Sox.
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As talented as those two players were, the report said, the Dodgers' cohesiveness seems to have improved - at least so far through the 2015 offseason - as the team moved on from the two stars.
"At times there was a lack of professionalism," manager Don Mattingly said of the 2014 team without mentioning names. "I like a loose clubhouse. But there's a time to have fun and a time to get down to business and I think sometimes those things got blurred."
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And the biggest beneficiary, according to CBSSports.com, could be rising star Puig.
"Still, folks around the Dodgers say they have hope Kemp's absence may turn out a particular boon to Puig, who by many accounts struggled to co-exist with Kemp," CBSSports.com reported. "The veteran was said to have been hard on the young star who himself can be loud and has made his share of documented missteps. Puig is drawing raves for his attitude and consistent early arrivals this spring."
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Puig refused to comment on his relationship with Kemp, other than to say through an interpreter, "(Matt Kemp) stated he's the best outfielder in the league, but I think there are better outfielders in this league."
New arrival Jimmy Rollins already engaged in a two-hour meeting with Puig, and told the young star he had to realize that he lives by a different set of rules and has to be prepared to deal with that.
According to CBSSports.com, Puig's teammates said that he reports for early batting practice every day at 7 a.m. Mattingly said Puig also is working on his professionalism.
"Yasiel is saying the right things," the manager said. "Our big thing with Yasiel, we're looking for him to mature. We want him to mature as a player and teammate."
Added catcher A.J. Ellis, "Yasiel has been extremely diligent. The guy is really driven. He sees the big bats are not here, and he wants to take the next step."
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