Puig puts on a show in the playoffs

By César Augusto Márquez

Yasiel Puig and baseball got serious with the start of the NLCS and ALCS. Meanwhile, the Venezuela and the Dominican Republic winter leagues said, “Play ball!” Do you want to guess which major league prospect will make the biggest splash during the next few months? And which major league closer went yard last week in an exhibition game? Unfortunately, three weeks after Hurricane María, Puerto Rico has little reason to celebrate, but former and current players continue showing support and sending aid.

Clemente style

Major League Baseball, with an assist from the Puerto Rican-born Bernie Williams, former Yankees center fielder and five-time All-Star, sent a chartered FedEx plane loaded with relief supplies on Thursday to Aguadilla, a city in the northwest corner of the island. The flight included 160,000 pounds of water, diapers and baby food donated by people across the state of New York, in concert with the Yankees, the Hispanic Federation and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort.

One Voice: Somos Live!

Ballplayers are not the only ones coming together for Puerto Rico. On Saturday, Latino artists held dual benefit concerts under the banner “One Voice: Somos Live!” at Marlins Park in Miami and an NBC soundstage in Los Angeles. Marc Anthony, Bruno Mars, Romeo Santos and Alejandro Sanz headlined in Miami, while J.Lo and her beau Álex Rodríguez led the way on the West Coast. The star-studded event included current players like Miguel Cabrera and José Iglesias.

Who needs bat flips?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., only 18 and already the Blue Jays’ top prospect, put on quite a show in his first weekend with the Escogido Lions of the Dominican Winter League. He hit a triple and celebrated with a dance at the third base. We’re all about playing with pura pasión, but we’re not sure that every major leaguer will readily accept Junior’s hip swivels.

Puig being Puig

Meanwhile, Yasiel Puig is one of the early stars of the postseason, with a double and home run against the Cubs in the NLCS and six RBI in five games to date. Puig — once upon a time the Dodgers’ bad boy — is clearly enjoying himself, wagging his tongue, licking his bat and poking fun at himself. In case that you’ve missed it, he’s been flipping his bat after, yes, that’s right, singles and doubles. Puig being Puig.

Super Sevy

The New York Yankees capped an epic comeback against the Cleveland Indians by winning three straight, after starting out 0-2. Righty Luis Severino led the charge in Game 4 by throwing seven strong innings, striking out nine and allowing only three runs. Afterward, he celebrated with his wife, Rosmaly, across his social media channels, including Instagram @Severino40.

Justice League SS

Omar Vizquel, one of the best fielding shortstops of any era, will learn in January whether he’s good enough for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on his first year of eligibility. But it seems that another legendary group — the Justice League — is willing to take him in. Who are we to tell the Flash, Cyborg, Batman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman who to choose as a baseball superhero?

Surprise slugger

Everybody knows about Roberto Osuna, who saved 39 games for the Toronto Blue Jays this season. He can pitch. But did you know that he can also hit? He smacked it out of the ballpark during an exhibition game played in Hermosillo, Mexico. We wonder, did he learn from José Bautista, aka Joey Bats? Forgive us for saying, Roberto, but you gotta work on your bat flips.

Featured Image: Yasiel Puig Twitter