Upton dropped to seventh in order

In an attempt to take some pressure off a slumping B.J. Upton, manager Joe Maddon moved the star centerfielder down in the order from his third spot to seventh.

Maddon said he felt Upton, who is 8-for-42 (.190) in his last 11 games, was pressing too much at the plate. Maddon said it was just a temporary thing for Upton, whom he said has skill that is "unlimited," but just wanted him to "have a good time" out there.

"He's been trying to work on some new things and I know its going to work," Maddon said. "But right now I just think he's applying way too much on himself, and that's exactly the conversation I had with him, just 'Listen, back off a bit. I want to take a little bit of the stress off you.....He's definitely a middle of the order batting guy. He's gonna be back up in third, fourth, fifth, whatever, that's where he's always going to hit in a major league lineup. But for right now I thought it'd be appropriate to take a little of the heat off of him."   

Maddon spoke with Upton today about the decision, which he said Upton took well.

"It's his move," Upton said. "Obviously, I'm not swinging the bat well right now."

In other pre-game news, closer Troy Percival said his meeting with Dr. Koco Eaton Friday went well, and he showed no problems today throwing 10 pitches and fielding balls from the mound, covering first base without any limping.

Maddon said he plans to talk to Percival again before deciding, but it appears the 38-year-old closer is very close to a return.

*As reported in today's Times, SS Jason Bartlett's next test in his rehab of a right knee sprain will run the bases Monday or Tuesday, but Maddon said it is possible Bartlett could do a rehab assignment before returning. However, he said that hasn't been discussed yet.

Some interesting early batting practice this afternoon at the Trop, as MC Hammer - who will perform a post-game concert tonight - took some hacks in the batting cage.

Hammer, who spent several years in his childhood as the A's bat boy, received the moniker of "Hammer" from Reggie Jackson, who said he looked liked Hammerin Hank Aaron.

Well, there were no homers Saturday, but Hammer did hit two off the wall.

The Rays will hope to regain their hitting form tonight against the Jays; Tampa Bay just snapped its seven-game losing streak with a clutch, two-out, two-run homer by Ben Zobrist, but will have their  hands full against Jays ace Roy Halladay tonight.

Matt Garza will pitch tonight for the Rays, who find themselves in first place by a half-game over the Red Sox...

(Pictured: B.J. Upton. Times photo -- Edmund D. Fountain. Click to enlarge.)

RAYS

Iwamura, 2b

Crawford, lf

Pena, 1b

Hinske, rf

Longoria, 3b

Floyd, dh

Upton, cf

Navarro, c

Zobrist, ss

Garza, P

JAYS
Inglett, 2b

Scutaro, ss

Rios, cf

Stairs, dh

Barajas, c

Overbay, 1b

Rolen, 3b

Wilkerson, rf

Lind, lf

Halladay, p

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[James]

Hey Sharpie, please keep your completely stupid idea away from the Rays front office. Trade Bossman? Are you kidding? The kid has been in the MLB for just about 1 complete season now and you want to trade him away? How about you go away because you know nothing about baseball.

The Rays future (2010) OF...

LF - Carl Crawford
CF - Desmond Jennings
RF - B.J. Upton

[Sharpie]

Easy solution trade upton and rocco, bring up ruggiano. Maybe try to get Holiday and a pitcher or Webb and a prospect. Upton stock is really high right now and we have so much depth in the outfield. And Rocco simply put is a waste of MLB talent, and a waste of the drays time.

[Pot calling Kettle]

>>>It's obvious that there aren't any baseball people here. what a F@&*% group of people.<<<

so says the pinhead named after an online sports gambling website

[James]

The offense is struggling definetly but to say we have "no power" goes against our #12 ranking in HR's. Also our tied for league best 6 Walk-Off victory's does as well. Go away Marilyn Manson, your ignorant venom doesn't belong here. Go back to school and learn some facts about this club before you speak you random dumbass opinions. Sucka.

[Mark]

How many called 3rd strikes does this team have to take before this is addressed??? Maybe it's the hitting coach? In any event, a good win tonight. The Pink Ladies lost again. Lets keep it going.

[Bodog]

It's obvious that there aren't any baseball people here. what a F@&*% group of people.

[Re: Charles Manson]

Typical Charles Manson, if you ask me.

[Sarasota Ralph]

And despite all...THEY HAVE STARTED WINNING AGAIN! Go Rays!

[Charles Manson]

The Rays have no lineup. No power and no clutch hitting. Sign Bonds to an incentive laden contract to bolster the offense and be done with it. I am so sick of watching this team fail to produce runs. It makes me SO angry. Enraged!

[I just tazed him]

Ran down, jumped high, two somersaults later, Reyes is on the ground shaking, we've traded for Fuentes and Bay, and David Ortiz is giving me a neck massage as I watch the Rays beat the cubs in 7 at the Trop in the World Series.

[Al "PLEASE taze me Bro" Reyes]

thank God I still have this organization believing that I am a real peeetcher .... I cant believe nobody else think my 87 MPH heater not good

I try to blow game tonight

[The New Professor]

Isn't Carl Crawford black? Why is he still hitting 2nd? He even has a neck tat.

[Booo Yahhh, Booo Yahhh!]

There's your offense, you little blogging B*itches.

[Booo Yahhh!]

Longo goes deep off Halladay to extend the lead to 5-0 after a GRAND SLAM!

THROUGH 6th inning Garza pitching a 1 hit shutout

[Anti-The Original Professor]

That's right. I forgot. You owe me about $11.50 then.

[Pro-Pro-Rolaids]

I like it, esp because Aki is the only one who seems to know how to bunt.

[The Original Professor]

no anti/hater ... you got me mixed up with someone else --- I'm the sneaky, freaky brotha that did your girlfriend & beat you up on the playground for your lumch money .... BIATCH

[Pro-Rolaids]

1. Upton
2. Aki
3. Crawford
4. Longo
5. Pena
6. Floyd
7. Navi
8. Hinski
9. SS

[Jonny Gomes]

What about me? I'm as much of a HR threat as Pena and uhh... well, let's see ... uhhh ... Jason Bartlett!

But this side of Raymond there aint anyone that can lead a cheer out of the dugout better than me!

[Hammer Time]

Can't touch this?

[anti-The Original Professor]

I remember you - weren't you the skinny white kid listening to rap in the back of my Spanish class and using your father's underwear as doo-rags?

[Kevin]

I'm not sure Bill knows his baseball. Lay off him.

[frantman2]

Agree that it's a good move to get Upton out of No. 3, but leadoff might have been a better option. I know Aki's our guy, but Upton really did well in his stint there earlier this season, and Aki and Carl could be bumped down a spot. Oh well, hopefully B.J.'s back driving in runs soon.

[Bill]

Good point about threat for homer.........my point is for the longest time Pena was only a threat to strikeout...........and leave men on base.

[The Original Professor]

Call this what it is: another overt & blatant act of RACISM by the Tampa Bay RAYScists!!!

YOU'VE JUST BEEN EDUCATED

[Re: Bill]

I don't understand why you would argue with the man who is going to be the most successful manager in Rays history. You need the threat of the HR early in the lineup, or Pena would have been dropped as well. Upton is not driving in the runs, and he's not a HR threat - that's what lands you in the 7 spot.

[Bodog]

Good move by Joe, take some pressure off upton, allow him to get that swing back. I like the ideal of Hinske batting fourth.

[Bill]

He'll drop Upton in the order after 11 bad games but wouldn't drop Pena after a bad half..........what an inconsistant man he is.

[Rolaids]

Good move to get Upton out of the 3 hole.

4 straight lefties at the front of the order could pose a problem late in the game if the Jays go to a lefty reliever.

Upton could try leading off.
Or Longo could try the 3 spot.

[jeff]

The Times They are a Changin'