Despite being benched twice in the last two weeks for lackadaisical base running, B.J. Upton committed yet another mind-numbing mistake on Monday. With two outs left in the fourth, Upton hit a line drive to left field. After rounding first base, he casually jogged toward second, apparently thinking that he'd just homered, completely oblivious that Juan Rivera had just rifled the ball to Mark Teixeira, who was chasing Upton down from behind. Instead of picking up an easy extra-base hit, Upton ended the inning with a preventable mistake.
The mistake didn't end up costing the Rays -- they still won the game 6-4 -- but it's more than a little disappointing on the heels of Upton's other recent gaffes. But instead of benching Upton (yet again), Joe Maddon said he'd let the players deal with this one -- and from the sounds of it, Cliff Floyd is ready. From MLB.com:
"You've got a guy who, in my opinion, is going to be different," Floyd said. "I'm going to put my butt on the line by saying that. I'm going to do everything possible, and I think everybody in here is going to do everything possible to make sure it don't happen again. It's not in Joe's hands anymore. It's not in anybody else's hands but ours as players."I'm not sure what Floyd had in mind to get his message across (a prescription for Adderall or Ritalin, perhaps?) , but the Rays better hope it works. At Upton's current rate, it won't be long until his mental lapses actually start costing the team wins.
"We really haven't put our finger on what it is he's doing. He's going to get it right, trust me. He will get it right before I leave here."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-19-2008 @ 10:58AM
wilson said...
True Upton is making his mistakes, but the Media should stop dogging him for it. I have seen others make mistakes and nothings said. Don,t get me wrong, i don,t condone what upton has done, but media, don,t ruin this youngsters carreer with your big mouth. He is not the first youngster, and won,t be the last to make mistakes. I know Upton will snap out of whatever his problem is, don,t forget, for the few mistakes he has made, just look at how he has helped the Rays, you cannot compare the two.
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8-19-2008 @ 7:29PM
Cray said...
Wilson,
So what are you suggesting? The media ignore it, and assume its resolved? What happens if he pulls the same stunt again? Should the media ignore it again? That doesn't solve anything.
Media isn't picking on Upton, he's the one screwing up and he the one who can make this situation go away.
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8-20-2008 @ 10:59AM
wilson said...
cray------ I made my point.
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9-17-2008 @ 4:20PM
Cass Stark said...
I miss not seeing Upton in CF. He runs like a gazelle and leaps like a ballet dancer. I just wish he would stop spitting all the time. It's very distracting, but I guess it does calm his nerves. He has definitely been in a funk lately and I'm just not sure what it is, but he doesn't even address the plate the same as he used to. There used to be a determination in his stance and stare. All that seems to have disappeared. It's a shame.
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