CSN Bay Area

The Giants-Dodgers rivalry is one of the best in all of sports.

Yasiel Puig disagrees with that statement.

"If we can beat (the Cardinals), we can win the World Series. We have to pass through them. They're our principal rivals, not San Francisco, not anyone else,” Puig said in Spanish last Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

What does Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow think of Puig's declaration?

"He's just young. He's just young and dumb and he's gonna say some stuff," Krukow said on KNBR 680-AM Monday morning. "As a group, I doubt if they are gonna be talking about it openly but they are gonna be thinking about it. They don't miss stuff like that ... if there was any way to refocus a whole group with a World Series hangover, this is it. Thank you Yasiel Puig."

In Puig's defense, he has been in the big leagues for two seasons and the Cardinals ended the Dodgers' quest for a World Series title both years -- in the 2013 NLCS and the 2014 NLDS.

In 2013, the Giants went 11-8 against the Dodgers, but Los Angeles won the division and San Francisco finished in third place -- 16 games behind their bitter rivals.

Last year, the Giants went 9-10 against the Dodgers, and Los Angeles won the NL West again, while San Francisco finished six games behind in second place.

"In the regular season, we have to battle San Francisco so we can win the key to the playoffs. When we win that key, we'll go for St. Louis,” Puig said.

Giants pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale for spring training on Feb. 18, while the Dodgers' pitchers and catchers report to Glendale on Feb. 19.

The first series between San Francisco and Los Angeles: April 21-23 at AT&T Park.

"I don't know if it's gonna make it on any bulletin board, but I guarantee you everybody on the Giants team saw it," Krukow said. "And I guarantee you every one of them shook their head. And I guarantee every one of them is gonna be thinking about it when the Giants are playing the Dodgers next year, especially when Puig gets in that batter's box."