The Los Angeles Dodgers crept back into the National League Championship Series by overcoming St. Louis' ace Adam Wainwright in Game 3, thanks in no small part to rookie outfielder Yasiel Puig .
Puig had told shortstop Hanley Ramirez he'd contribute and bust his slump, which he did with a big triple. Upon belting the shot, however, he celebrated a bit too much for Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran's liking.
"As a player, I just think he doesn't know [about how to act]," Beltran said. "That's what I think. He really doesn't know. He must think that he's still playing somewhere else. He has a lot of passion, no doubt about that -- great ability, great talent. I think with time, he'll learn that you've got to act with a little bit more calm."
Mattingly was probably shaking his head as well; Puig smacked the pitch deep then stood with his hands up before hastily realizing his bomb hadn't traveled over the wall.
"I'm in the outfield," Beltran said. "I mean, it's not great. To me, I don't like it. But what can I say? I don't play for them. I just play over here. I just need to do my job. It is what it is."
Still, despite some instances in the regular season, which necessitated stern chats, and even a short benching, Puig's energy can't be contained. Teammate Carl Crawford defended Puig's showiness, and said it puts life into the Dodgers' fans.
"It's Puig, man," Crawford said. "He's been doing it all year. I mean, I know it's one of those things where a rookie probably shouldn't be doing that kind of stuff. But they love it around here. So I guess it's OK."
Beltran disagrees, and threated that his showboating may have awoken the Cards in a way Los Angeles might not like.
"When you try to do those things sometimes, you know, you get that attention," Beltran said. "And you don't want to wake up nobody. I always thought if you hit a home run off a pitcher, you've got to make him believe he made a mistake. You don't wake him up. Or next time, the pitcher's going to be more focused with you and he's going to try harder to get you out.
"So he will learn. I don't think he's a bad kid. I just think he doesn't know right now."
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