Yasiel Puig is actually making Don Mattingly's life easier.
The Los Angeles Dodgers manager pulled Puig from the lineup Friday before their 8-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants in their home opener because Puig arrived to the ball park late.
According to MLB.com, the second-year Dodgers star outfielder got to Dodger Stadium about 45 minutes after team stretching began and several hours after most of his teammates already were at the park.
Puig's confusion arose over the Dodgers' Opening Day ceremonies pushing up the team's scheduled stretching.
"I'm truly sorry," Puig told reporters.
"It's a mistake, and we move on," said Mattingly. "It can happen very easily. I don't feel it's a huge deal for us. He was humbled. He truly felt bad. His body language, he doesn't hide it very well. He had the right disposition, but that didn't change what we had to do."
Fox Sports, however, called the situation a huge deal because it involved Puig, who has had a checked past despite his breakout rookie season with the Dodgers last year. He's been arrested twice for speeding, had numerous on-field issues that have irritated Mattingly and rubbed opponents the wrong way.
USA TODAY Sports' For the Win reported that Mattingly has accused Puig of acting as if he has injured a different body part every time he strikes out.
"But how long can the Dodgers let him slide?" Fox Sports asked. "... Maybe never. They need him, and they know it."
But that's not necessarily the case. The Dodgers let Puig slide because they can afford to let him slide. Los Angeles has three starting outfielders without Puig, as long as Matt Kemp, Andre Either and Carl Crawford can stay healthy.
Kemp, who started in place of Puig on Friday, went 1 for 4 with a double, and RBI and a run scored, although he did have an error. But this is the same player that should've won the 2011 NL Most Valuable Player Award had Ryan Braun not been using performance-enhancing drugs.
Kemp just came off the disabled list and was originally angry that he wasn't in the starting lineup. He has insisted he's not a fourth outfielder. But when Puig pulls one of his immature stunts, it gives the Dodgers and excuse to start the other three and bench their young star.
Mattingly isn't forced to bench one of his veteran outfielders and subjected to that player's ire.
Even if Kemp can't stay healthy, the Dodgers have become baseball's biggest spenders. They, of all teams, can afford to wait for Puig to grow up.
And if there comes a point where they realize he won't grow up, then they might have to make a decision about Puig.
But that day isn't anywhere close.
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