I hate to keep harping on this subject because its a viewable fact that BJs stats are what they are..They don't tell the story when you just read them..The fact he is hitting .280 looks good but when you view how his hits turn out..Uh uh...Stealing second very good then trying to steal third oops there goes another rally...Throwing out a runner at second trying to stretch a single ,that was good..Innings later throwing home with a slim chance of success and wide of the plate and letting two runners advance..UH Uh..There are more uh uhs than atta boys..Timely hitting is not one of BJs traits...He considers himself a power hitter and why not ?? He strikes out as much or more than one..With all that said I'm going to root for him to have a great season because it benefits the Rays and himself ...If he doesn't It still benefits the Rays and most of his disenters as it assures he will wind up in Oakland or Cleveland...But not for 7 mil....

You know, in my opinion, Upton is simply NOT a good baseball player. I believe he's been over-rated all along ... and on his best day ... he's just "average". Beyond that ... I certainly wouldn't pay him $7 million ... and ... after nine years ... I'd really like to see some new blood ... with a truly greater "upside" ... get a tryout in centerfield.

Frankly ... after nine years of no significant improvment in his play ... Upton reminds me of those instances where "the coach's kid" is a permanent starter on his father's team ... even though every other kid on the team could probably play the position better if given the opportunity.

Point taken..But the reality is we are a hurting team right now and BJ even with a few brainfarts is on the team..He isn't the worst player on the team..

Snce 2007 who has the most OF assists in the ML over Kemp, Granderson, Hamilton, Ellsbury, etc?
BJ Upton with 44!!! So say what you will, he is a very important piece of the Rays puzzle!

I would like to see Upton get closer to the plate when throwing home after his bad throw last night. Just makes since to see what else we have in the outfield considering Upton is free agent after this year.

I seen that stat in this mornings times..I'd still rather have what Granderson brings to the plate than what Upton trys to do..Upton is not in Grandersons class....There are many more times when a player in the right position makes the play thus eliminating the need for an assist..I'd rather see BJ hit the cut off man more than inacuratly throw to the plate than see another man reach scoring position..I want the Kid (yes he is still a kid) to succeed as much as anyone, but it turns fans off to see him be so predictable..I personally feel That DJ is as good a center fielder and BJ might do well in either right or left field..BJ just isn't as good as he himself thinks he is...When one becomes predictable it's either a good or bad thing..In BJs case,pick one..It changes daily..

My prediction: take note of Upton's stats TODAY. They are proportionately at the apex of what they'll be for the rest of the season, and will be headed down to mediocre...er...normal from here.

For whatever reason, Upton is joined at the hip to this team ... and he's been the everyday centerfielder for going on nine seasons ... whether he's played well or stunk out the joint ... and there's no reason to expect that to change anytime soon. In my opininon, that's an unfortunate circumstance ... but ... as they say ... it is what it is. And, I guess, determining who actually is "the worst player on the team" would vary significantly depending on who is making that determination and what factors were under consideration.

In my opinion, I don't believe Upton, Molina and Howell bring anything of real significance to the table. Of course, others will invariably opine otherwise.

My thing with Upton is simply based on the fact that, even in light of some of his most glaring misjudgments and brainfreezes along the way, he hasn't shown any improvement in any significant ways in the nine years he's been starting for this team ... and ... his situational stats and his repetitive mistakes in all areas over all that time clearly indicate that he has NOT had a significant impact on the team actually winning games many games over the period. Beyond that ... over-rated and over-paid ... and time for a change.

But ... right now .. when nearly everyone around him is also performing very poorly ... you're right! He doesn't look as bad as he usually does!

Letting Sam Fuld take over Left ruins your argument. If we let Upton go this summer then we will need to sign someone that can actually produce offensively in the outfield.

Upton and Joyce are the only ones keeping the team afloat offensively right now.

Here is the list of available outfielders this summer. Since I doubt Mahtook will be ready, and we don't have anyone else that can produce with the stick in the system.

Michael Bourn
Marlon Byrd
Melky Cabrera
Matt Diaz
Andre Ethier
Curtis Granderson
Josh Hamilton
Torii Hunter
Carlos Lee
Angel Pagan
Carlos Quentin
Aaron Rowand
Luke Scott
Ryan Spilborghs
Ichiro Suzuki
B.J. Upton
Shane Victorino
Reggie Willits
Delmon Young

It is not a long list when you weed out those who cost too much, are too old, and will probably re-sign with their original team.

Every critic of Upton needs to put down their XBOX controller and realize that in real life players hit for a lower average and not everyone hits for 40 homeruns. Players do NOT earn attribute points after each game!

Also, averages and the number of homeruns have dropped since the end of the steroid era.

Throw to home plate was dreadful last night. Nice homerun though. (whatever)

did not mention last nights game. But whoever we sign to replace Upton, is going to cost more and we won't be getting much more.

upton is outta here at end of this year. Jennings will play CF I think.

I'm not making an argument ... and I have no input whatsoever into the decision as to who plays any particular position for the Rays or who the Rays might be interested in trading or signing to play any position.

I simply believe Upton is an over-rated, over-paid and relatively mediocre baseball player in all elements of the game. He may have a hot streak at the plate here or there ... he might make a good play in the outfield now and then ... but ... overall ... I believe the totality of his performance over the last eight seasons has been low-average at best.

I believe he will be with the Rays for the forseeable future ... and I regret that some others haven't been and won't be given the opportunity to prove themselves at that position. And ... it's a statistical fact that Upton DOES NOT PRODUCE with men on base, with men in scoring position, when there are two outs, or later in the game with the game on the line. He's shown no permanent improvement in any element of his game over eight prior seasons ... and he has not shown any versatility whatsoever ... a required trait among many other Rays' players ... in terms of playing other positions or making other contributions to winning.

He's definitely got the job ... but I just happen to think he doesn't do it very well ... nor do I think that he's some kind of "irreplaceable part" of the team.

Then stop commenting if you do not have a solution. Fact is there is no one on the list of free agents that will produce more and be paid less. Additionally, Upton's pay grade is right where it should be compared to some of the other centerfielders in the league!

A "solution" for what?

I simply think Upton is a very mediocre ballplayer who hasn't gotten one whit better over the last eight years ... and MY preference would be to see him playing elsewhere.

Next season, I'd be perfectly happy to see Jennings in center with Fuld getting a serious everyday tryout in left ... or even Jennings remaining in left and Fuld getting a tryout in center.

(And, I don't believe in the signing expensive free agents to ridiculous contracts.)

Ok so you would rather rely on defense and pitching to win every game. Ok, under your plan we lose tonight's game!

I like Sam, I like his style of play, I like his attitude, but if you honestly and truly believe he can bring more to the Rays as the everyday LF or CF, more than BJ, you are sadly mistaken, there is no comparison......
Sam is what he is, a reserve OF, nothing less, nothing more and that is his value.....He will not put up 25 homers, he will not have 85 RBi and he certainly won't steal 40+ bases......
As for Jennings he has made it clear that he is very comfortable in LF and prefers playing there rather than CF because, in his words, "that belongs to BJ."....
Ask Joyce, Rodriguez, Elliot, Zobrist, etc. (and I have) about playing CF and they all say the same thing.....They will do it because of BJ being on the DL or a rest day, but he is THE CF'er for the Rays and that's how it should be.

B J will be gone after this year without contract extension. Reminds me of the C C situation. Joyce, Jennings, Zobrist are viable outfield starters for the future.

Don't be so sure that BJ will be gone after 2012.....The one thing the Rays are weak at are OF'ers in the sytem who are readyb for the ML....The one's with promise like Vettleson, Mahtook, Sale, Glaesman, etc. are 2-3-4 years away, plus the Rays cannot afford to go after any "name" FA's as far as OF'ers........I know BJ would love to stay here for his career and I would not be surprised if some kind of 3-4 year contract is worked out to keep BJ a Ray.....Would be no surprise if the starting OF in 2013 is Jennings, BJ, Joyce/Zobrist.