Upton apologizes: "It can't happen"

Update 7:45 What a difference a day makes. One day after getting booed by the Tropicana Field crowd, B.J. Upton received a standing ovation in Tuesday's second inning after making a spectacular defensive play; he charged a single by Juan Rivera and threw out Torii Hunter at the plate.

When the inning was over, Upton was greeted by teammates - and received another ovation from fans behind the dugout.

.........

CF B.J. Upton apologized for what he said was a "mental lapse" in Monday's game.

"There's no excuse for it,'' Upton said. "It can't happen. Especially in the middle of a pennant race. Every run matters, every out matters. So I want to apologize for it. It's just something that can't happen.''

It was the third time in the last two weeks Upton has been in the center of controversy for a perceived lack of hustle, and he was booed by the Tropicana Field crowd, but Upton said the reputation is undeserved.

" I know that's not me,'' he said. "I feel like I go out and play hard every day. I want to win as much as anybody in this room. Once again, things like that can't happen. It just so happens they're magnified a little bit more now than they have been in the past. It's something I've got to deal with and not let it happen again.''

Upton was tagged out from behind by Angels first baseman Mark Teixiera when coasting into second on what should have been an easy double on Monday. He was benched Aug. 6 for a lack of hustle in the previous night's game, then pulled off the field Friday in Texas for not running hard to first base and benched again Saturday.

He is in the lineup tonight, as manager Joe Maddon said he was would be. Maddon said he considered this incident more of a mental mistake than a lack of hustle, but also made it clear he wanted other players on the team to step in. Veteran Cliff Floyd did, and said he would make sure there are no further incidents.

Upton said, as he had after the previous incidents, he hoped to put this behind him and didn't think he needed to apologize to his teammates.

"The last thing I want to become is a distraction to this team,'' he said. "We've got something way too good going on right now to have to deal with this. I think we just want to win ballgames and right now I think I'm becoming a distraction. So I just can't let it happen, and for my sake and for the team's sake, so we can move on and get to where we need to be.''

The lineup, as the Rays look to surpass the Angels as the team with the best record in the majors, and improve to 9-0-1 in series play since the All-Star break:

Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Floyd, dh
Aybar, 3b
Hinske, lf
Navarro, c
Gross, rf
Bartlett, ss
Shields, p

Comments

[Joe]

Amazing, he apoligizes but he doesn't. Read the quotes. He owes his TEAMMATES the biggest apology of all!! Focus, BJ, focus. All of the time.

thats an awful idea paul. why would u want to piss him off.

[Brian]

BJ is a great player. I saw what happened last night to him and coach was making him realize this for a reason. 24/7 = 110 % of the time... Anytime you are batting. Think 24/7=110% all the time. Lets say it's a ground out with 2 outs. Think BJ 24/7=110% all of the time. Something might happen that they can juggle the ball. I see it happen alot. Personally, I think he realizes this now and I have confidence it won't happen again. As long as he realizes this. The look on his face stated 1000 words.

[Dr_Dug]

A black man taking responsibility.....great job! Your forgiven.........play ball!

[paul]

I was just watching forest gump the other day. Maybe we should get signs and put them up in the outfield that say RUN BJ RUN....

[Cliff]

You could see on the play that we was upset with himself. Staying on the base a good 30 seconds after the out comtemplating the events.

He sure made up for it on that great running grab in the 6th inning that could have been extra bases, instead pulled in a well hit ball for an out.
Worst thing is everything he does for the next 30 days will be put under a microscope right now.

Hopefully he can stand the pressure and rise above the distractions both at the plate, and in the outfield.

[Daniel]

Randy, BJ has been scouted and other "smart teams" like the Angels know his tendencies. That play yesterday by the Angels first baseman was no accident. Bj has been making "hustle" mistakes and "mental" mistakes on the base paths all year. If he doesn't change his habits, expect more teams catching him "napping", at least the smart ones,

[eric]

When your legs are 5 feet long does it ever look like you're hustling? Fans at the trop last night weren't boing BJ, they were booing the call, it looked pretty close in person. Also I bet nobody there was watching BJ rounding first, they were watching the ball go off the wall and watching the runner get held up at third. Then some, if any, might have picked up BJ half way to second. There wasn't a person in that building that didn't think it was a homer off the bat, even Maddon. Lets just hope he (and the team)has put this behind them.

[Randy]

No excuses for BJ, but when was the last time you saw a first baseman follow a play like that. It has been a long, long time. That was a great "experienced player" play. Something the Rays can learn from offensively and defensively...

[Randy]

No excuses for BJ, but when was the last time you saw a first baseman follow a play like that. It has been a long, long time. That was a great "experienced player" play. Something the Rays can learn from offensively and defensively...

[mumbles]

He hustled on that great over-the-shoulder, on-the-run catch at the wall that he made last night

[Tim]

I think I need a day off of this blog...
Where between Little League and the Majors do you forget to hustle ???

[Scott]

Hey BJ... keep your head up dude. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Sh** Happens

[Deumig]

Steve Duemig doesn't care about black people.....or driving while intoxicated

[Mike]

Let's just line BJ up against the Pepsi, Sierra Mist, and Aquafina bottles and see if he can beat them.

[DREW]

KYLE HE DOESNT TELL THE COACHES WHEN HE WANTS TO PLAY AND WHEN HE DOESNT ITS A COACHES DECISION , THEY WILL ASK THEM IF THEY WANT A DAY OFF

[DREW]

BJ CAN BE THE BESTR CENTERFIELDER IN THE BIGS IF HE JUST KEEPS HUSTLING . WE ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY BJ YOU ARE A FAN FAVORITE JUST HUSTLE PLAYA. NOW LETS GO WIN US A A.L EAST ,A.L CHAMPIONSHIP AND MAJOR LEAGUE TITLE

[kyle]

To be blessed with so many tools and not use them is sad. He needs to start thinking "team" and not me. The same needs to happen for Crawford. Carl cannot go in telling the coaching staff when he is playing and when he isn't.

[Frank]

Aki should not be hitting first.

[Jim]

That's the way B.J.!! Acknowledge it, improve it and move on. I still get chills recalling some of those plays you made in Centerfield this year. Some of the best catches I have ever seen.

I THINK IT WAS NOT REALLY A HUSTLE PROBLEM BUT THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS EASILY SAFE IN 2ND. LOTS OF PLAYERS PULL UP. HE JUST MISJUDGED IT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

[BJ]

BJ then added: "I look like a dinosaur."

[max]

last chance, B. J. You've been cut enough slack. Now start playing hard!

[Dave]

Good for BJ and good for Floyd. He just needs to run over a catcher, or run into the CF wall and put this behind him for good. This will be easily forgotten if he keeps playing better and consistently hustles. He's too talented for the Rays to lose him and the Rays are too perfect of a fit for him to blow this opportunity.

[ms]

Well said BJ. unfortunately it can happen. it shouldn't, but it can. I would love to see him bust it on every play. even sprinting on a BB just to show he is serious. I think the fans will forgive a lot if he just shows he is trying to do better.

I think BJ is accostomed to the casual style of play and it takes more mental effort to break old habits. He can do it. maybe Garza can give him the number of the sports psychiatrist that helped him.

[Lori]

Good that he apologized, but he always does after each episode. Hope this is the last we will have to deal with it. He can be so good if he just concentrates. I hope he turns it around, we need him.