"You know what, where I was positioned, it's a long way to go. Joe's always said it to me that you shouldn't assume, but I assumed the leftfielder (Matt Joyce) might be there, but he wasn't and maybe I should have cut it off. But it's over with now.''In an odd way, I get that. I'll guess that he and Carl Crawford can play the field together without even thinking. BJ probably knows where Carl will be in just about any sitiuation, and vice versa. This was just the third game with Matt Joyce in left field. That's no excuse...but, in normal circumstances, this would be a non-issue. The Longoria-Upton disagreement will be blown out of proportion all over TV over the next 24 hours or so. BJ is known for his less than full-speed play. But, the Rays need to move on. The Red Sox await.
[picappgallerysingle id="8492478"]Clearly, BJ Upton loafed after the ball hit by Rusty Ryal. That lead to a verbal conflict between he and Evan Longoria between innings. The world will make a big deal about the obvious disagreement between the two, but I'm not sure it needs to be a big deal.
I'm probably the last person that would come to the defense of BJ Upton. But, as quoted to St. Pete Times beat writer Marc Topkin, he has a point:
BJ Upton has demonstrated that he is more important than the team with his lack of hustle the past three years. Lack of hustle and lack of contact at the plate should put him on the trading block. It is, and has in previous seasons, affecting the team.