Upton in center of another controversy

Update 11:15 CF B.J. Upton was in the middle of another controversy Tuesday night.

Upton was called out and manager Joe Maddon, following a vociferous argument, ejected after a very questionable call by 1B umpire Jerry Meals.

With runners on first and third, Upton grounded a ball between the mound and first base. He was called safe by Meals when he beat 1B Mark Teixeira's errant toss to pitcher Ervin Santana, who was covering the base. But Upton took a slight step to his right and then to his left - almost more like a wiggle, possibly to avoid the ball - but it was apparently enough for Meals to consider it an "attempt to run to second," and when 2B Howie Kendrick tagged Upton, Meals called him out.

Maddon raced from the dugout and argued aggressively with Meals, pointing a finger at him several times. After he was ejected he continued his protest with crew chief Gary Darling.

It was the third time Maddon was ejected this season, ninth in his career with the Rays.

Here is what crew chief Gary Darling said:

"He made an attempt to run to second base. Little jab step and a shoulder. I've called out guys for less."

Maddon minced no words post-game on what he thought of the call.

"It's unconscionable - It can't happen," Maddon said. "It's wrong. On every level it's wrong. And furthermore, to have the crew chief come over and tell me it  was the right call really got me upset. There's no room for that...That is a fabricated call, I don't know what he saw. The rulebook is very plain on it. There was nowhere near the rulebook interperation of it being an attempt to go to second base. It's in the cruicial part of the game. You have a pennant in the balance. To make that call at that point,a fabricated call for me, cannot happen.

Comments

[JeffC]

Bad call. VERY bad call. But Rays fight through it and win! SWEET!!

[kyle]

There are alot of nervous people in Boston and New York.
We are for real. You had better start believing like the rest of us.

[Bill]

It was a bad call, it happens........great teams play through it.....just like the Rays did tonight.

[Jessica]

Why can't they use instant replay? Why are the umpires in baseball beyond reproach? If this bad call costs us the game we need to find Mr. Meals and thank him personally!

[tim]

He had to have his apple sauce and go to bed. Rays win 9:31 PM

4-2 bottom 9th

[Brian]

Horrific call, but I don't think it is going to cost us the game. My favorite part was when Darling stepped in and tried to argue down Joe, who quickly chewed a piece out of his rear also.

It didn't cost the game yet; 3-2! Go Rays!

[Adam]

Shouldn't you wait to see the result of the game before you say it "cost us the game"?

[Adam Tebrugge]

There is no accountability for these umpires. That call was beyond bad; it was corrupt and cost us the game.