Tampa Bay Rays CF B.J. Upton named AL Player of the Month

Tampa Bay Rays CF B.J. Upton was chosen as the American League's Player of the Month for June, MLB announced today.

This is Upton's first montly honor.

Upton batted .324 (34-105) in 26 games, with five homers, 20 runs, 22 RBI and an AL-best 10 doubles. The Rays leadoff hitter also posted a .562 slugging percentage and a .395 on -base percentage, with a majors best 14 stolen bases.

For winning the award, Upton will receive a 52-inch Sharp HD TV.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Tim]

Fielder--A+
Contact Hitter--D
Power--C
Base Stealer--A
Base Runner--F(Get's picked off a LOT)
Arm--A+
Potential--A-
Overall RIGHT NOW--B-

[joemaddonsucks.com]

razzlegator, jms doesn't have to eat crow, everything we stated still happened, and the Rays did lose 13 games so far this season thanks to Maddon's gaffe's. If you actually read the blog, you would see that almost every point we made about Maddon, has been correct, and Maddon himself has changed these same things. Our entry from yesterday sums it up pretty well, so try actually reading it. We stated facts, and used stats, and right now Maddon is managing terrific. You can't deny Upton's stats the first 2 months killed this team, just as much as his success has helped this team lately. The facts are that the Rays are 5 games out of first and could be in first place if Maddon had managed early in the year, the same way he is managing now. He no longer lets releivers choke away wins, he quickly pulls them, etc. Telling the truth and backing it up doesn't make us any less of a Rays fan. We give credit to Maddon the past month, and hope it continues. If anyone needs to eat crow, it's all the loyalists who act like it was ok to give games away the first 2 months of the season. All the games count, even those in April, that's why the Rays have a hole to dig out of, but let's hope they keep digging, as they clearly have righted the ship lately. Go Rays

http://www.joemaddonsucks.com/2009/07/maddon-now-managing-like-winner.html

[raymond]

For the money ball players make, the fans should have the right to boo or cheer their ballclub and players. That's the baseball tradition.

[Jeff C]

Why do the posters on this site feel such a need to bash Rays players and each other? Can we PLEASE show some respect?

...Anyway, I digress. If you look at BJ's overall numbers so far, they hide the fact that he has been much better lately. However, one can't disagree that, shoulder surgery or not, his numbers were pretty bad until the last 6 weeks or so.

Personally,I expect that will see an avg around .285 for the entire year.

At any rate, Congrats to BJ for a great month, and let's keep it going.

Go Rays.

[raymond]

Inquiring minds want to know, does JJ Jones just talk about people who talk about baseball...hum

[WTF]

So Tim, now you're saying, judging by his baseball card he's a...good player???

[Tim]

If he wasn't ready he shouldn't have been playing or should have been in the minors working it out down there........this team easily lost 6 or 7 games because of Maddon's love affair with him at lead-off. Nobody is saying he isn't a great leadoff hitter.......he just wasn't early in the year and shouldn't have been there until he got healthy.

[9equals8.com]

Lots of dumb comments on this board. Everyone knows BJ is a better player than he showed in April and May and that he has the potential to consistently be the player he was in June. Let's also not forget that the guy had no spring training AND he had off-season surgery. I've had shoulder surgery before and I can tell you it takes a lot more than a few months for it to feel normal. I would be willing to guess that it still does not feel the same to BJ, but he's learned to adjust from it. Nice work, BJ, keep showin' 'em who's the BOSS!!

[TampaFan88]

I never said B.J. was struggling because of our pitching, I said our pitching was very inconsistent.

[Tim]

BJ struggle because our pitching was struggling? Are you stupid?

I go with what Fred McGriff always says and that is you are the player the back of your baseball card says you are.....and BJ's says:

.271 hitter
.361 OB%
With more than 1 K per game
and only .5 walks per game.

[TampaFan88]

Everyone knows B.J. had a rough start but he has been playing well lately. You can't put all the blame on B.J. for the bad start because our pitching as a whole was very inconsistent, and there has been no production from the DH spot because of Pat the bum Burrell.

[BC]

Lets Go BJ! Rays Tribute Vide featuring BJ Upton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vjhsRqPAog

[Tim]

You miss the point. For all those gloating my point was baseball is all about the averages......and on average he has had a poor season. Great month combined with horrible 2 months equals bad year thus far. However, look at how well the team does with a good leadoff hitter. Too bad we didn't have one until recently or we wouldn't be in 3rd place.

[TampaFan88]

Hey Tim don't forget how good B.J. is defensively at center field.

[WTF]

Damn Tim...Did he kill your dog or something?

Seriously, we all know that BJ stunk until recently, so his stats are going to reflect that. Waddya say we give him a break?

[Tim]

Just as when things were bad we have to look at the overall picture to judge.....

On the Rays he is:
11th in on base percentage :(
14th in average :(
6th in RBI :(
2nd in strikeouts :(
1st in caught stealing :(

[Razzlegator]

BJ can use the 52" to watch JOEMADDONSUCKS.COM et al eat crow!

[JJ Jones]

Way to go Bossman! Haters drink Haterade.

[SC-Carl]

to all you impatient BJ Upton haters; please be quiet . . . aka STFU. Go Rays!

[Kapler's Millions]

Oh man, I know you haters be haten this right here!!! Good Job BJ.

[WTF]

Way to go Beej! Keep it up kiddo!