Now normally I ignore things written by the clearly inferior but...

by jacksontsmith on Aug 6, 2008 10:30 PM EDT

I have read some insanely ridiculous comments by people lately, also. While most of the things that I have read have been written by someone who obviously either a) knows nothing about baseball, or b) knows nothing about the Rays and just now hopped on the bandwagon. This topic of Upton only hustling when he wants to needs to be dropped right now. It is asinine to think we would be a better team without BJ Upton in the line up and in center field. He has single handedly saved games with numerous amazing catches. Not to mention his OBP and the ability to steal bases at will.

Everyone needs to remember a few things. The Tampa Bay Rays were not picked to win the division. Not even making the playoffs. If you've been a Rays fan for a while, you will know that most of us expected around 80 wins and we would have been ecstatic with that! The fact that it is going on August 7th, and the Rays have the 2nd best record in baseball, means that we don't have a whole lot we should be complaining about. But suddenly, we're cocky like we've been a top tier team for years.

Sure, Carlos Pena is only hitting in the .230's. But he's also saved a number of games with his glove, and has played Gold Glove defense all year.

Sure Carl Crawford hasn't hit to his potential this year, but in my eyes, he has improved his defense making some spectacular catches. Not to mention a large number of RBI and triples.

Scott Kazmir can't get through the 5th inning. But how many games has he started that we lost? Seemingly all of our starters, with a few naturally rough games aside, have put their team in a position to win the game every night out.

If you really want to complain about anybody on a baseball team that is 68 - 45, then you're just looking for a reason to be angry. This shouldn't become a BJ versus Joe Maddon situation. Maybe they both handled this situation wrong. But remember they are on the same side. And as far as saying BJ is a weak link and he should be traded, then you're crazy. With the turn around we have seen, we should be talking about locking all of these guys up long-term and winning for the next 10 years. Let's all just relax with the criticism and enjoy the penant race. Since it is our first one... ever.

By the way, I love Evan Longoria.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm pretty sure that everyone that posts here loves

B. J. Upton. That is the running joke. Played out? Yes, but draysbay loves the guy. Radio morons not so much. To me it’s the difference between Rays fans and Devil Rays fans. With a few exceptions everyone on here is both a fan of the team and a fan of baseball

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 6, 2008 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

We're just lazy. Like BJ Upton.

"STP is me. He can do everything I can do." - R.J. Anderson

by P Brady on Aug 6, 2008 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly sometime im too lazy to comment on a issue and ill just read it

just like when bj hits a HR and just jogs around the bases lol, i guarantee if the rays were ever stupid enough to put upton on the trading block 29 teams would be calling not stop asking for a bj lol

longo=ROY. friedman=Executive of the year. Maddon=Manager of the year. Rays=WS champs 08! fiddler cat=best way to show your excitement middle name lamar=success, last name lamar=fail, sorry chuck! pause not!

by RaysOfHope on Aug 6, 2008 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasnt talking about this site

I’ve just been reading genius comments on espn.com among other sites. just had to get it off my chest.

by jacksontsmith on Aug 6, 2008 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

oh ya alot of us are getting this off of our chest

this is just stupid how upton is getting throw under the bus by so many of the fans that listen to the talk radio ppl and say we should trade one of our top players, i have always had a big man crush on upton as many of us have, ever since i became a rays fan in 2002 i have been waiting for this kid to arrive and now that he has im really shocked that now so many people hate him (none of us on here). him and cc play defense and run the bases about the same and cc dont get the same shit since he is the caption more less, but if anyone is going to critize bj they have to critize cc as well, i love cc too so no one take this as i dont like cc

by RaysOfHope on Aug 7, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions