Sandy Koufax likes what he sees in Puig, Kershaw

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles baseball great has taken a look at two young Dodgers players, and he likes what he sees.

Sandy Koufax, 78, is in his second year as special advisor to Dodgers owner Mark Walter, and the pitching great had some reserved praise for phenom outfielder Yasiel Puig.

"If the showmanship doesn't involve bad decisions, yeah, it's fine," he said, of Puig's penchant for theatrics on the field. "People love it."

Koufax said the Cuban rookie showed spots of brilliance, but he needs to focus his talents.

"You have a great arm, you want to show it off, but I'd like to see him throw it to the right place all the time," Koufax said. "He's young. The biggest thing is he's not played against competition as good as he is. So you're always able to have your physical ability make up for whatever else you do. He's learning."

But the three-time Cy Young winner was glowing in his praise of the Dodgers young ace, Clayton Kershaw.

Koufax was on hand to present his fellow lefty with his second Cy Young award last month in New York.

"He's just a very special person -- a special pitcher, a special person," Koufax said. "I had the opportunity to watch him since he started and it's something I just felt I wanted to do."

Kershaw has been compared to Koufax since he was a teenager, but the older man said he hopes the weight of expectations won't hold him back.

"I hope by the time it's over," Koufax said, "it will be a big honor."

[Los Angeles Times]