Raise your hand if you want the Rays to make the playoffs…

Not so fast B.J. Upton. I can’t understand players dogging it in general, but in the situation that the Rays are in right now it’s downright absurd. They currently lead the very tough AL East division; have already set a franchise record for wins in a season; have just lost two of their most important position players due to injury; and need to continue to raise their profile while looking to have a new stadium approved and built. So, why, with all of this going on in such an important time for this franchise, is B.J. Upton loafing it down to first base (http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article772980.ece)?

I get it that he’s not worried too much about the stadium deal but he sure as heck should be worried about holding off the Boston Red Sox in the division and he should know that with Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria out with injury that he is being relied upon for significant offensive contribution and some degree of leadership. He has to know how many outs there are when he’s at bat and he has to hustle like every out matters (even if the game is all but over).

Making it even more embarrassing for Upton (I assume) and frustrating for manager Joe Maddon is that this is not the first time this season he’s been benched for not hustling. So, now Maddon is forced to bench one of his better available players to further prove a point that Upton has yet to fully understand. Way to help the team B.J.