By Jon Weisman

Though Don Mattingly removed Yasiel Puig from the starting lineup for today’s home opener at Dodger Stadium, the Dodger manager felt Puig was properly contrite and was prepared to use him off the bench.

“I thought he was humble today,” Mattingly said after the Dodgers’ 8–4 loss. “He truly felt bad. You can tell in his body language. He doesn’t hide things very well.

“I think he truly thought (his required arrival time) was later. That doesn’t keep him from being responsible. I thought he handled it well.”

The Dodgers used three pinch-hitters today — Scott Van Slyke and Justin Turner with runners on in the fourth and sixth innings and Chone Figgins leading off the bottom of the ninth — but Mattingly emphasized that Puig was an option, presumably if the game was late and within reach.

“I’m trying to win a game,” Mattingly said. “I’m trying to keep him for the right spot. That’s not a question that if we get guys on and get enough guys on, in the right kind of situation, I would have used Yasiel today.”

Speaking to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo after today’s game, Puig was repeatedly apologetic for his tardiness.

“It was 100 percent my fault,” Puig said. “It was nothing to do with my teammates and my manager. I didn’t realize stretch was as early as it was. But it was absolutely my fault, and I ask forgiveness from my teammates and obviously from my manager.”

Puig said that once he realized he was late, he knew that “there’s pretty much no chance that you’re going to play, and I certainly felt bad about that.”

“I want to ask forgiveness from the fans,” he added. “I was very sad that I wasn’t able to play on Opening Day. It’s something that I’m not proud of and I take full responsibility.”