BJ Upton

What a wonderful athlete. He has all 5 tools and is finally healthy to display all of those tools. The wispy athlete has a gun for an arm, strong wrists (like Aaron), can hit for power and run like a deer.........and he is the most frustrating baseball player for me to watch.

The guy can do it all....then he continues to cheapen those skillls with his lack of hustle. It seems that every time he hits a groundball that he jogs to 1st. I don't mean sometimes, but every time. He has been benched before for his lackadaisical effort. You would think that the point has been made, but Mr. Upton just doesn't seem to get it. He spent most of the summer playing through pain and I tip my hat for that effort, but apparently it took a wizened veteran to finally approach him to say (paraphrasing), "Hey, if you are hurt and can't play go tell Skipper...otherwise quit complainin' and suck it up."

Apparently, BJ has not learned that by hustling, he might beat that throw to first. That by hustling, he might be able to stretch that single into a double. That his constant styling and profiling is not cool.

His father played pro ball, his brother plays pro ball; how can a player with that support not learn the importance of hustle and how the lack of it can affect your teammates? At what point do you say, "He will never get it"

BJ Upton may be living up to his athletic potential, but until he embraces the importance of hustle, he will never reach his full potential as a baseball player...and that's what frustrates me. If you look at every superstar in every sport, the commonality of those athletes is no matter how much god-given talent they have, they are never satisified by their play or effort. They always feel they can do more and play better.

 

Share your frustration

Unfortunately I don't feel he's alone. There are others too and it just burns me up watching them half-a@# it by jogging to first. There are so many kids who yearn to have just some of their talent. On the flip side their are some guys who go all out and it is a joy do watch a gifted athlete give it their all.

Why don't we list some of those that we really admire and some of the others we really are disappointed by.

 

David Eckstein and Dustin Pedroia....two guys that have ignored everyone that told them they were too small and that they couldn't play at that level. Two guys who do not get cheated and play the game right!...I hope Pedroia wins the AL MVP!

 

We are talking about paid professionals, so I think it would be appropriate. I'll let you start Yankee. Just post 3 of each so we don't all post the same names.

and for those that do respond, please cite why you chose the players that you have.

 

ahhh...two great picks

Since I mentioned a player on the Rays, I'll go with Carl Crawford as an extremely talented athlete that gives it his all. He plays baseball with a football mentality; always looking for a way to beat you. I'm glad that he is finally getting in the spotlight. It is way overdue.

 

Agreeing with Braves...Again!

Totally concur with your call on Upton. I thought he was dogging it to first last night when he grounded into an inning ending, rally killing, bases loaded double play in last night's WS game.
On another note. Great article in SI a few weeks ago about Upton's AAU/Travel team in Va. Article explained that his coach on that team died prematurely from throat cancer. I wondered if he had been a big dipper. As a baller from the 70's at Campbell University ( it was college then and BTW...my alma matta), I would venture he was a big dipper.
Regardless, How in the world can BJ be rocking that giant load in his mouth all the time?

 

Effort

Ichiro would be at the top of my max effort list!

Minimum effort list would have to contain Manny, and Bonds.

 

Could be, but I have a friend on this board that just learned he has throat cancer.......and has never had any kind of tobacco near his lips or throat. Not saying that is the case in this instance, but it is not always the case

 

more

My 14 year old daughter has commented on the lack of effort while watching games this post season. Upton is not alone, but does make a great example. I always thought Andruw Jones never took the game seriously. I think his last year as a Brave, his number of put outs were down simply because he did not make plays he should have. Just let the ball drop!!

 

by the way

I think the lack of hustle shown by some Major Leaguers is trickling down to the high school game. When did it become the on deck batter's job to retrieve passed balls or foul balls (with nobody on base)to the back stop? Our catchers were expected to hustle after those regardless of the situation.