Chicago was lucky to have Baines for as long as we did Denard Span Jersey , and his trip to Cooperstown this week again showed us why"You may think that because the announcement made here in December about Harold Baines making the Hall of Fame addressed his worthiness more than it celebrated his election, perhaps I have it out for Harold.But those are two distinct issues, which that piece should have made clear.I was lucky enough to meet Baines on a couple of occasions before covering the team after the World Series, and eventually working on one of the Chicago White Sox beats.The first time was a strange bit of kismet; I got Harold’s autograph on a ball on the day of May 8, 1984. You might recall that date as the beginning of the longest game in White Sox history, the 25-inning marathon vs. the Milwaukee Brewers.The second meeting was in a hotel in Minneapolis. My dad and I had trekked up to see the Metrodome at the end of the 1996 season, in our quest to see every major league ballpark. Apparently we were staying at the team hotel, because after one of our meals, we spotted Harold off, eating by himself. My dad, gregarious to a fault http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , said his hellos and then asked “why did they ever trade you?” Harold’s answer? “I don’t know.”It’s not Roy Hobbs magic, but yeah, I loved Baines just as much as any fan. He was a mainstay for the White Sox during the formative years of my fandom. And I am proud that while we debate the merits of those torn by PED scandal or inane politics, a person as great as Harold is being enshrined this year. That hit home during the press conference during the Winter Meetings, and more so when Chuck Garfien spoke to Harold about the election, and what it meant to him and his family:There were more emotional moments on Tuesday, when Baines visited the Hall of Fame for the first time. Bill Francis’ full article is just gold, so check it out.Baines apparently had particular interest in all the White Sox memorabilia he saw during his Hall tour, including Luis Aparicio’s jersey, Al Lopez’s spikes, or even the Bill Veeck shorts that Baines narrowly avoided one day wearing in a game. And there was another Ben Gamel Jersey , personal piece of memorabilia, that beat him to Cooperstown: A team could do a lot worse than having Harold Baines represent them in the Hall of Fame. Not sure we deserve you, Harold. After a sluggish start to 2018, Yasiel Puig turned in another solid year for the Dodgers. A look back at his season."After a sluggish start to 2018, Yasiel Puig had another solid year for the Dodgers. Once again, the 28-year-old is involved in trade rumors this offseason, so let's take a look back before he winds up on another team.What went rightMuch like the Dodgers as a team this season, Puig came alive in mid-May. From May 13 to the end of the season, he hit .289/.351/.574 and hit all of his 23 homers during that time.Five of those homers came in just two games back in September. The Dodgers were in St. Louis to face a Cardinals team that had just swept Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium three weeks prior.“He’s focused and he understands the importance of every pitch,” manager Dave Roberts told media about his outfielder after he hit three home runs September 15. “When he does that, he’s as good as anybody in baseball. For him to be as productive http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , have that day, get us on the board and get some space with the score, we needed every bit of it today. Guys fed off his energy.”Speaking of energy, this play from July was full of Wild Horse.Puig carried the momentum of eight homers in September into the playoffs, hitting a pair of large dingers in the process. He went 15-for-50 (.300) over all three rounds, second only to David Freese in the team overall.There were two categories that Puig was in the top three for the team lead this season. He led the team with 15 stolen bases for the second consecutive year, while his .267 average ranks third behind Justin Turner (.312) and Matt Kemp (.290).What went wrongOnce again, Puig struggled against left-handed pitching. Despite an improvement of 26 points in batting average, he only hit .209/.268/.360 versus southpaws.April was a lousy month that saw him go 17-for-88 (.193) and would end with Puig on the disabled list with a bum hip after banging into a side wall in San Francisco. That trip kept him on the shelf for nine games before he missed 15 more in July with a strained oblique.2018 particularsAge: 27Stats: 108-for-405, .267/.327/.494, 21 doubles Mitch Haniger Jersey , one triple, 23 home runs, 60 runs, 63 RBIs 15 stolen bases, 120 OPS+, .820 OPS, 87 strikeouts to 36 walks.Salary: $6,000,000Game of the yearPuig had several good games to pick from. Like the three-run homer to break a tie and eventually win the game for the Dodgers against the Rockies September 19. A 4-for-5 game including a homer at Coors June 1. The big three-run homer in Game 7 of the NLCS that would help clinch a return trip to the World Series. His huge three-run bomb in Game 4 of the World Series might have done it if not for the collapse of that game.But it’s pretty hard to pass on a three-homer game like the one he had September 15.Roster status Puig has five years and 102 days of major league service time. He was tendered a contract and is arbitration eligible this season.