Upton benching will extend until Saturday

B.J. Upton was pulled off the field and removed from Friday's game for not hustling to first base on a double-play grounder, and will be benched for at least Saturday's game as well.

Manager Joe Maddon said he planned to talk to Upton on Saturday, after deciding he was too upset Friday night and might say something he didn't want to.

What Maddon did say was clear enough, especially since had benched Upton on Aug. 6 for a similar infraction: "I can’t make it any more plain, simple, obvious, black and white. There are no gray areas. I can’t have Aki (Iwamura) run like he is and (Carlos) Pena and Cliff (Floyd), who has two bad knees, etc., and permit that. I can’t permit it.”

Upton, who said he didn’t hustle because he mistakenly thought there were two outs, didn’t take kindly to how he was removed from the game.

“Obviously it stung a little bit, especially like that,” he said. “There ain’t much I can say about it. He made the move when he wanted to make the move.”

The incident marred a magnificent pitching performance by RHP Matt Garza in the Rays 7-0 win.

“Joe has my full support,” executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. “I’m confident that the situation will be taken care of and we’ll continue to handle it internally. The shame of this is that the emphasis of the night should be on the game Matt pitched.”

While Maddon planned to talk, Upton said there was no need to: “It’s an understanding. It’s understood. Hopefully it’s over with and this is the last time we have to deal with it.”

Upton said he didn’t feel he was being singled out but that he would obviously have to run out every ball from now on.

“I’m going to have to, or he’s going to keep doing it and making me the example,” Upton said. “So I guess I can’t let him make me the example anymore.”

Comments

[wilson]

9equals8----Thanks, for correcting me on Longorias salary. The Rays can only cross their fingers and hope for the best. I could be wrong, but did Longoria get something like 2mil votes from fans, or somewhere etc? Crawford could not have made all star any way. His playing is far below par.

[Carl]

The position some are taking regarding Carl Crawford not making the all star team as having a detrimental effect on BJ Upton's effort seems far-fetched and without foundation. Are you saying Upton is upset with the Rays? The Rays didn't send Longoria to the all-star game. MLB sent him. I don't know anyone who would act as such. I also know while I would have sympathy for someone who felt snubbed, I wouldn't work at less than capacity as payback toward an employer who had no direct decision making capability on the selection in the first place. BJ Upton is not stupid. He is a quality YOUNG ballplayer going through a difficult time and will find his way, either with the Rays or elsewhere.

[9equals8.com]

Longoria gets $17.5 million over his six-year contract. The deal could be worth up to $44 million over nine seasons as Tampa Bay has a club option for 2014 and a second option that covers 2015 and 2016. So, it's a great deal for Longo (he's set for life with at least $17.5mm) and it will end up being a great deal for the Rays if he plays as projected (he's already WAY ahead of schedule). This is a risky strategy since many players don't live up the their potential, but it looks like a stroke of brilliance so far.

[wilson]

Longoria=== 5 yr - 40 mil -- with options.

[wilson]

Great idea not to give up on Upton, hey! the guys just a youngster, give him a break. Longoria makes more than 500k a year, thats chicken feed. I,m going to dig up the what he gets. Navarro battin over 300 most of this year, Pena 23 HR so far, plus his hittin value, his problem is strike outs, but even at that, he is one of the main reasons the Rays are where they are. Yes indeed they are as good as Longoria.

"Somethings up. Drug test him right now!!"

Maybe we should drug test you. Your post made absolutely no sense.

I do not want to give up on B.J., but he does not project himself as someone who is happy here with the Rays. Five Tools or not it will not matter without the effort. The team has pitching and it is time to find outfield relief in trade while he still has, or maybe he thinks he has value. I love this season and what is still attainable, but looking at the future he does not seem to fit.

Somethings up. Drug test him right now!!

[9equals8.com]

If you were fired for every less than 100% effort at your job (think about that 2 hour lunch you take every now and then), I think we'd all be jobless. We should have a very high standard for these guys, but don't crucify them for a couple of mistakes. I don't excuse what BJ has been doing on these occasions and I think Joe is handling this appropriately at this point (the punishment is being escalated to get through to BJ).

If you look at all instances where Maddon or others are unhappy with BJ, they are situations that have highly likely outcomes (routine ground balls, routine gap doubles, etc.). BJ seems to think it's OK to dog it to first on sharply hit, cleanly fielded ground balls or on balls to the gap that will be doubles whether he sprints to the ball or half speeds it. Maddon is clearly addressing that mindset and has let BJ know that he is enrirely wrong to think that. From the way folks talk on this board, you'd think BJ is walking to first on every play and never hustles in the outfield (simply not true and you all know it). He runs hard on the vast majority of plays and makes some ridiculous catches, so it does not appear to be a total laziness or unhappiness thing to me. I also don't think it's BJ wanting out of TB as building a reputation as a lazy dude is not going to help him sign a big deal with his new team. I honestly think he believes it's OK to give half effort on balls blasted into the gap (that will probably be doubles anyway) or if he hits a routine ground ball out. Maddon and BJ's team mates need to get through to this kid and change that mindset.

The simple fact is this: we hung in there with Rocco (which looks like it will be the right decision) and we hung in there with Hamilton for a long time (imagine if we'd been able to hang in there a little longer and had his bat in our lineup). Rocco has a serious, permanant medical condition and Hamilton was a drug addict with a $1,000 a day drug problem (I can only imagine all the posts "once a drug addict, always one - toss the guy, why are we wasting our time...etc.").

I think it's time we all gave this "get rid of BJ now" talk a rest and let things play themselves out. I have confidence that Maddon and the team are going to work on BJ and he is going to be a key member of the team for this penant race. A talent like BJ Upton does not come along very often (just look at the guys in our farm system now - some decent talents, but no one with BJ's potential). The intelligent decision is to give this some time, let Joe and the team work with the guy and see how BJ develops as a person and as a ballplayer.

[w76yer]

His body language says it all, he is upset with the team since they converted him to the outfield. Long term he is watching for himself and not part of the team. I hope he matures, because right now he looks like someone who would rather play for the Yankees and make money and not win. Hope i am wrong but he does not fit the role as, or in a TEAM!

[Ken]

Longoria gets 500k this year, 550k in 2009. 950k in 2010. 2 million in 2011.
and 2.5 if he is eligible for arbitration. In 2012 is 4.5 million and 6 million in 2013. Plus options for a couple more years.

Crawford is 5.375 million this year. The Rays exercised the 2009 option for CC. No extension after 2009.

BJ is year to year, his doing.

[da judge]

WOW--some really good entries and some that make you feel like the AFLAC Duck. "Heck, Pena, Navarro and 2 or 3 others are as good as Longorio" (posted by Wilson)..If you honestly think Pena, Navarro and 2 or 3 others are as good a player as Longoria, you haven't seen much baseball or can't evaluate talent. This kid's a rookie, will win rookie of the year and I dare venture he may be in Cooperstown some day. That also may be a ridiculous statement but I think very possible. Crawford, according to management, trainers, etc., has bad hammies and the turf is tearing them up. CC has never been called out for non-hustle and never will as he does hustle as well as he can, as witnessed by him stretching doubles into triples and flying around the bases. To me, there is NO COMPARISON between the two and Upton has much less potential than Crawford and I have no doubt the majority of GM 's in baseball would agree and, in fact has been CHOSEN to the All Star squad by men who manage and play the game, not us. The same cannot or will not be said about Upton. If, according to today's rumors from so-called inside sources, he wants out of Tampa--let him go and move forward--that's what this organization is all about--moving forward!!

[wilson]

Crawford just got his contract extension last year, not years ago. But hey! even without Crawford, Longoria, ( hopefully not Upton too ) the Rays are doing great.

[wilson]

No matter what anyone says, Crawford does not make the big bucks Longoria does,and Upton was not offered a longterm contract from jump street. He turned them down long after he got in the gate. But still thats no reason to not put out your best. Upton can do much better, and should.

[saint bobby]

Now dadgummit, you folks leave that boy BJ alone. It ain't like he shot the president.

[Re: Wilson]

Yeah, they're real angry about their contracts v. Longoria. Crawford got his big payday extension years ago and is earning $8.25 million next year with a $10 million option in 2010. Upton has made it clear he would rather go year-to-year on his contract. Get a clue buddy.

[wilson]

Upton, and Crawford probably are angry at the big contract Longoria got. The Rays did not know how good Longoria was but still gave up the Bucks. Heck, Pena,Navarro,and 2 or three others are as good as Longoria and they don,t make Longorias bucks. Thats wrong the Rays did that. Fair is fair. Of course thats no excuse for playing badly, but being young, its probably on their minds.

[Jim]

I've said it before.

Crawford's bent out of shape because he didn't go to the All Star game and he has a tremendous influence on Upton.

Jim

[chux2]

To all the fans who suggest sending BJ back to Durham and bringing up another outfielder: we have nobody to fill the bill. The baseball magazines drool over our farm system, but the talent is mostly pitching. We have no big bats in the farm system who are anywhere close to playing in the majors.

[Keith]

Query -- if a baseball player isn't excited, focused, and giving 100% when in the midst of a pennant race, when will he ever be? Upton needs to udnerstand that it won't just be the Rays asking that question about him, but other teams as well. If Upton's poor attitude is about wanting to "get paid" then he's pretty much doing the opposite of what would increase his value on the market someday. Now while the spotlight is on is the time to play your best ball and make an impression, whether it is on your own team or teams around the league from whom you eventually want to get the big contract. Makes no sense. That's why I have to write these problems off to immaturity and hope the Rays are patient with him to a point -- he needs coaching, discipline, and time to grow up. He's still very young. C.C. is another issue; if his attitude and focus don't improve, he should be traded next year while he has good trade vaule and before his skills start to drop off as they surely will in the next 2-3 seasons. We're not talking much about C.C. because he is on the DL, but honestly, his head has been elsewhere for most of the season and it has shown in every area of his game -- his fielding, hitting, and base stealing are all down, and he's made mental errors as frequently as Upton has this season. And C.C. doesn't have youth or immaturity as an excuse.

[Re: Robert]

Robert, I hope you're not implying that Upton's offenses are on the same level of Dukes'. If you are, give us a break.

BJ is a good guy with some focus issues. To see him demonized like this, by so many of you is ridiculous. He is already one of the best centerfielders in the league, has the best on-base-% on the team by far, and has great speed on the basepaths. He's also young. Jeez...it's like he's the 2nd coming of Ben Grieve. He can't be easily replaced, and if we tried to trade him we'd be getting 50 cents on the dollar.

[Keith]

If it really turns out that Upton is dogging it because he wants out of Tampa Bay, the Rays need to take a stand and keep him in the minors and/or on the bench rather than reward his bad behavior with a trade out of here. It'll hurt the team in the short term, but help in the long term. After Delmon Young and Dukes, if the Rays let another premier talent "attitude" his way out of town, every talented young malcontent that comes along will be thinking the same thing. At some point as an organization, you need to treat attitudes with coaching and discipline, not a ticket to another team, or you're going to have a big problem retaining the good young players the Rays seem intent on building with (rather than highly-paid free agents).

[Carl]

chux2 - he sits behind home plate 2nd or 3rd row from the screen. I had seats 5-6 rows behind him about a month ago and considered going up on the roof and jumping. I thought he sat in the cheap seats because of the clarity of his voice while screaming. My thinking was he was close to the radio/TV booth. There is a microphone about 10-15 feet above his head on the creen behind home plate. My family up north shut the sound off when the Rays play the White Sox because they can't take his noise.

[Ryan]

You know its pretty bad when the announcers (whose salaries are paid by the club) start questioning Upton's hustle and desire live on the air. Typically you don't see them undress players from their own team on the air like that. That tells me something. Everybody is upset that this kid does not hustle, except for the 4 or 5 people who come on here and defend him. Honestly, at this point, I am kind of shocked that people still try to come on here with the "He's not the only one who doesn't run out every ground ball" or "He leads the club in OBP" arguments. Plain and simple, he's a lollygagger and he always will be and if he was not on the team next year I wouldn't lose any sleep at all over it.

[Bill]

Here is a suggestion.....if you can't remember how many outs there are, Look at the big SCOREBOARD in centerfield. Last time I was at a game, that info was posted on it & it's not just the fans who can look at it. BJ needs to get his head right & stop approaching these critical games down the stretch like is doesn't matter. 1st place in the division & the playoffs is not guaranteed at this point in the season. If we should make it to the playoffs & he pulls these same antics in a crucial game it won't just be his manager who's angry,. He'll have a locker room filled with teammates ready to give him a much more vulgar talking to.

[Robert]

I'm happy to see that the majority of the comments indicate that the understanding of the fans in Tampa Bay is reaching a Major League level. (This contrasts sharply with the many defenses of Dukes' behavior last year in columns like this.)The Rays had a dangerous habit in the past of enabling. That began to end when they found other homes for Dukes and Young. BJ should follow in the off season. He has been treated with kid gloves since the beginning, hurting both the team and him--recall his insistence that he play short (he was the self-proclaimed next Jeter)that resulted in his being in the minors for two years or so longer than necessary. Point of fact is that he has no rival on the Rays when it comes to dogging it; even Crawford is not close although if he spends too much time around BJ, I see him on the same road.

[tom campbell]

joe has handled upton to this point with the thought that bj is part of the future, his time is running out.

[9equals8.com]

I understand the issue and am hopeful that BJ will shape up for the stretch run. But, let's not give up on the guy because he's had a bad few weeks (all this shoulda gotten Bay/Nady stuff is silly as they would have cost us some serious prospects and working on BJ, with the potential to be as good or better than Nady/Bay, costs us nothing). He's shown us how good he can really be and I think he will get back there. Let's also not forget that he's made some unbelievable plays in center field even though this is his first year in that position (he's also made some mistakes, of course). Don't forget that Bay/Nady would have been 2008-2009 rentals (at best), anyway, and they will command HUGE paydays and we would likely lose them. Let's let Joe and BJ's teammates work on BJ a little bit before we decide to throw him off the boat. He's only 24 years old (a kid, really), the Rays have him under contract for a long time (2012?), and he has ridiculous talent. Hustle can be fixed, but lack of talent and age cannot. Let's see how BJ responds over the next few weeks. I can only hope he comes around because he is clearly an All-Star caliber player.

he's gone over the offseason

[Ken]

Remember when B.J. use to dive for the baseball the first part of the year. He does not do that anymore. He has more balls go over his head than any other out fielder. His at bats are pathetic. He should be a .300 hitter. I wish we could D.H. FOR HIM. When someone is in scoring position he gets outs. When no one is on base he gets hits. Either his shoulder is injured or he is doing this deliberately. First half of the year he use to throw the ball to the wrong base or always tried to throw out the runner. I think they got on him so much he throws it to the cut off man all the time. I think he is so immature and cannot take criticism or coaching.

I think a big issue with him is his salary, $412,000. Especially with his brother making more. Hey B.J. you signed that contract. If you bust your butt this year, you will never have to play for that kind of money again. You can either get a big contract next time or start over with a future team with low end money. Matt Silverman, go give him 300k extra this year if he agrees to hustle. Pathetic.

[Dave]

You nailed it Rocky. Poor BJ the victim. Time to grow up BJ - you don't think other GM's are watching this stuff? Wait till he does try and leave the Rays and his agent will have a defenseless case. Bottom line is BJ is not going to get his mega millions. Maybe he needs to watch how his brother plays. You never see him loafing.

[dick]

Think back to when we were in the mix for either Bay or Nady. Reportedly pretty close to getting Bay--wonder what would have happened if we threw Upton's name out there alongside either Niemann or Brignac???

[rocky]

“I’m going to have to, or he’s going to keep doing it and making me the example,” Upton said. “So I guess I can’t let him make me the example anymore.” BJ

Come on BJ, take some responsibility for your own actions. Maddon is not doing anything...you are. He is not making an example out of you - you are not putting in the all out effort. He still does not get it and I am sure there have been a lot of discussions about this that we do not know about.

Great talent potential but without maximum effort all the time, he will not last on this team.

Go Rays - keep on winning. 2nd best road record in the AL and best home record in the AL.

[Eric]

Love Ron's comments. If Pinnella was still here he may have stroked out. Good for Maddon. Can you imagine if Upton played in New York or Philly, the press would eat him alive. He needs to count his lucky starts and start playing before he ends up someplace like Kansas City or Texas for that matter.

[Eric]

Upton may be the last cancer on this team that has to be dealt. We have players that dont have half the talent that BJ does, have bad knees and so on who bust it every time. Percival drives me crazy with 9th inning drama but at least he plays hard, just doesnt have the talent anymore. BJ is just lazy, we are in the grandfather of all pennant races (some would say good vs evil) and he dogs it. Look for a trade this offseason if BJ just wont work hard.

[Ted]

B.J has the potential to become an all star player. However he will never reach that potential without hustling. If he cannot run the base paths properly, then hustle him out of here. We need players that will give their all, like the rest of the team does.

[Joisey]

I wonder if anyone in the Rays management ever checked BJ,s past. Did he have this attitude problem in little league, high school and minors. There might be more behind this than the average person can't understand.When you think of the Rays you automatically think of Evan, Crawford, Kaz, Pena and UPTON.

[josh]

chux2, his name is robert szasz. He has a book out fer chrissakes.

[Ted]

B.J is loaded with potential, and will never reach all star status unless he starts to hustle. What a waste of God given talent. If he cannot run full out, then hustle him out of here.

[Danny]

A line of .264 8 HRs 54 RBIs .386 SLG is not exactly a talented player. He is an egomaniac. The team has tried to sign him long term. BJ does not want to. So the best thing to do is send him back to Durham or trade him. There are plenty of other players that can take his place.

[Dave]

BJ didn't thought there were 2 outs? Same excuse as last time. I know he's frustrated because he's terrible at the plate. He takes more called strike threes than anybody and last year if he went down he went down swinging. His slump has permeated his attitude and thats when big leaguers go to AAA. Unfortunately for Upton, he received so much hype before he became a starter than he fell for the press and is waiting for his induction to the hall. Maddon has done a great job handling him, more like a Father than a coach, but at least Joe is looking out for the team. Yes, BJ's luck Pinella, Leyland and other hardass Managers may have already sent him down to the minors and until September. BJ has to wake up - he could spark this team right now and make the Rays red hot! The Boston fans are already sweatin bullets because their schedule is going to get pretty tough and each day they lose another day to catch the Rays. This is great stuff to watch!

[Jim K.]

3-4 games ago, in a very close game, the Rays had runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. BJ was the runner on 2nd. The batter, I think it was Pena, hits one that he barely stretches into a double - was very close at 2nd. According to DeWayne and Magrane, had he been called out Upton's run would not have counted as he wasn't running very hard from 2nd to home. I was surprised that there wasn't an issue made of that play.

How would it have been possible that with 2 outs that any batter on the Rays (with the exception of Carl Crawford) could get from home to 2nd faster than Upton could get from 2nd to home???

[Paul]

Show Upton some old Pete Rose tapes of what it's like to hustle. Upton is writing himself a 1 way ticket out of town. It worked for Delmon Young

[chux2]

How about an artcle on the heckler. You know, the guy with leather lungs. He yells thru the whole game. How would you like to have a season ticket in front of him? He has been yelling for years now. Who is he? Pictures? Inquiring minds want to know. Perhaps he could give BJ a little talk. I am sure he would get BJs' attention.

[Ray of Sunshine]

B.J. stands for Barely Jogging. He is a great natural talent but the kid just doesn't get it. How many times does Maddon have to explain the basic rules of baserunning to him and ask him to hustle? His excuse of thinking there were 2 outs only makes matters worse. (oh, so you're lazy AND stupid?) As was previously noted he almost cost Garza a no-hitter (lucky for BJ and the official scorekeeper that Hamilton hit the clean single in the 7th). Fred Merkle's baserunning blunder cost the NY Giants the pennant in 1908. Will BJ be the Merkle of 2008?

[Tony]

Upton has great talent, and a POTENTIAL All Star, but he's not there yet. He's still a young punk who thinks that just because he's a MLB player he should have things handed to him. Unfortunately he's playing, and talking, as if he were still in Little League. What he has been forgetting to do are the basics tenents of Little League, especially for a centerfielder. You ALWAYS hustle. You NEVER forget how many outs there are and if you do ASK someone, especially the home plate umpire. His swing is lethargic at best. He seems very lazy, as if he doesn't want to be there. If that's the case, get him out of there. I'm sure there are many others who would love to take his place. Something makes me think that when Dukes and Young were traded he began to feel lost. Oh, and by the way, did anyone notice that the "chaw" that he has in his cheek has gotten bigger throughout the season as the "I care" commercials have been played with more frequency?

The team success is due to many factors. Team chemistry has been crucial all season long. BJ is a talented young player with tremendous ability. He should have the sense to see that the manager expects hustle on each play. Considering the level of compensation that today's players receive, and that the games last a mere 3 hours, a maximal effort during every game should be the least any of should ever witness. Thank you

[Dan]

Something is going on with him. Rather than create problems with his arrogance in the playoffs, it might be time to send him to Durham for the duration of the season. Joe, stop being an enabler. He's chosen to be a cancer to the spirit of his team mates. I'm sure there's someone in Durham who will be glad to hustle, to take more than unspirited swings. Such a huge talent he's choosing to forego. Let him do it elsewhere. This is a team of scrappers. He wants to be his own hero.

[Bill]

I like Uptons comments, whether they were sincere or not, at least he said the right things about not being able to let Maddon make an example of him (if BJ ran hard all the time he couldn't be made the example.)

[Ron]

Upton didn't like the way Maddon pulled him from the game? He's lucky someone Pinella or Leyland is not his manager.If so, Upton would've spent the rest of the game trying to remove a shoe out of his a**!!