LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig was scratched from the starting lineup after arriving late for the Los Angeles Dodgers home opener on Friday. nfl jerseys china . The rest of the team was already on the field stretching before batting practice while Puig was getting dressed in the clubhouse. He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4. "Im sincerely sorry," Puig said through a translator after the game, explaining that he didnt realize stretching and batting practice would be held so early with a 1 p.m. start. Puig said he apologized to manager Don Mattingly and his teammates, and they accepted. "They felt it was OK when I owned up to it and apologized," he said. "I felt bad I wasnt out there playing for all the fans." Instead, Matt Kemp replaced Puig in the lineup after manager Don Mattingly had earlier said Kemp wouldnt start. Kemp came off the disabled list on Friday after rehabilitating from left ankle and shoulder operations. He was limited to 279 games during the last two seasons because of injuries. Puig, last years runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year, was 5 for 20 through his first five games of the season. He wasnt used as a pinch-hitter because Mattingly said the situation didnt call for it. The Dodgers trailed 8-0 after two innings. Mattingly downplayed Puigs mistake. "He truly felt bad," the manager said. "You can tell by his body language; he doesnt hide things well." Mattingly said he thought not allowing Puig to play was more fitting punishment than fining him a couple hundred dollars. "He felt bad he wasnt here and I believe that," Mattingly said. "Hes a good kid. Does he have to grow up and get better? Yeah, but theres a lot of guys like that." It was the latest in a series of frustrations for the team involving Puig. Last week, Mattingly called a team meeting after the 23-year-old Cuban defector made two mistakes on the basepaths during the Dodgers opening two-game trip to Australia. The dynamic right fielder became an instant sensation last year when he made his big league debut in early June and helped lead the Dodgers from last to the NL West title. But Mattingly often was frustrated by Puigs decision-making in the field and on the bases. Puig twice was arrested for reckless driving last year, when his effort on the field also came into question at times. He went 5 for 22 (.227) with 10 strikeouts and committed defensive miscues against St. Louis in the NL championship series. He remains a fan favourite, but the Dodgers want to see Puig grow up, be consistent and show better judgment on and off the field. Catcher A.J. Ellis chalked Puigs mistake up to something that can happen to any player in the mix of day and night games. "Its one of these learning experiences," Ellis said. "Hes going to be fine. Im sure hell be very prompt and on time for the rest of his career, hopefully." Saturdays game against the Giants also starts at 1 p.m. "Ill be here early," Puig said. cheap nfl jerseys . Tanaka has certainly lived up to the hype this season, going 10-1 with an American League-best 2.02 ERA. The Japanese right-hander went the distance to win his fourth straight start on Wednesday in Seattle, as he held the Mariners to a pair of runs and six hits. wholesale jerseys . JOHNS, N. WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are taking that first letter in CFL very seriously, naming Canadian Mike OShea as their new head coach on Wednesday. He was recruited by former University of Guelph teammate and fellow Canadian Kyle Walters, Winnipegs new general manager. "Being Canadian is extremely important to me," OShea said after he was introduced as the teams 30th head coach. But he admitted his nationality hadnt really crossed his mind as he accepted his first head coaching job. He was special teams co-ordinator with the Toronto Argonauts, also his home for most of his 16 years in the league as a middle linebacker. "Do I think it can help in certain situations? Absolutely. . . I am an extremely proud Canadian." OShea succeeds Tim Burke, who was sacked after Winnipeg tied its worst record ever in the 18-game CFL this season at 3-15. Burke replaced Paul LaPolice in mid-2012 and no one has been able to hold the job for long in recent years. It was a point not lost on OShea, 43. How much time will he have to build a winner? "Thats one of the first questions I asked them," he said. "I wanted to find out what their commitment level was. They are committed to this town, this province, this organization and theyre committed to winning. To me it was an easy choice." Its been a busy week for the Bombers. On Tuesday they also named former quarterback Danny McManus and Ted Goveia as new assistant GMs to join Walters in rebuilding the team. Not that OShea likes to think of this as a rebuilding effort, which suggests a process that might take some time. He got a round of applause from the fans in the room when he made that clear. "I know what I believe and the only reason you start a season is to win a Grey Cup, so its my job as a coach (much clapping ensues) its my job as a coach to get people to buy into that." Not long removed from his playing days, some may see OShea as to young and inexperienced to take on the role of head coach. That notion was quickly refuted by Argonauts safety and special teams player Matt Black, who played under OShea for the past four seasons in Toronto. "These people that dont think OShea is qualified are sorely mistaken," Black posted on his Twitterr account.wholesale nfl jerseys. "His players will sacrifice their bodies for him. Mark my words..." The Bombers havent won a Grey Cup since 1990, although their last appearance at the final isnt that long ago -- 2011. One of the remaining big pieces to put in place is a starting quarterback for 2014 but OShea wouldnt comment at all on any suggestion Zach Collaros might be a candidate. The Argos backup is under contract and off limits as such. OShea did say he was a great guy. The Argos are having a pre-Christmas sale it seems with defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones named head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos just last week. The Bombers have now pretty well cleaned house after the Joe Mack as GM era, replacing their president, general manager and coach. OShea, a native of North Bay, Ont., spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Argonauts. He was part of four Grey Cup winning teams, three as a player (1996, 1997 and 2004) and his first as a coach in 2012, leading a stalwart special teams unit for the Argos. OShea also won the CFLs Most Outstanding Canadian award in 1999. He described the kind of team he hopes to put on the field next season. "If I were going to envision how were going to win games, its gong to be defence and special teams. Its going to be hard-nosed but disciplined football. Theyre going to be hard-working guys, character players. Were going to do it the old-fashioned way." Walters says like OShea, he wants the Bombers to become a team that wins consistently and the work starts right now. "Our No. 1 priority is to put a process in place that can ensure sustainable winning. And as Mike said you dont start the year with any other goal than winning the Grey Cup . . . and that will be our goal." Several key members of the Argos took to Twitter to wish their former coach well in Manitobas capital. "Just found out that our Special Teams Ace is moving on and up!" posted star receiver and kick returner Chad Owens. "Proud and Blessed to have battled for you Osh! Def wont be the same!" Added receiver Andre Durie: "It has been a true honour to have played with and Developed under Coach OShea ...wish him all the best in the Peg....except against us." cheap jerseys from chinacheap jerseys ' ' '
