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BRIAN BLANCO / Bradenton Herald

Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton circles the bases after hitting a home run, something he's done seven times this postseason.

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Posted on Wed, Oct. 22, 2008

Rays' Upton comes alive in postseason

By Marc Narducci

Inquirer Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon admits that this postseason has been a coming-out party of sorts for centerfielder B.J. Upton.

Besides tracking down balls in the outfield and making it look easy with his smooth glide, Upton has been a much different offensive player than during the regular season.

After hitting .273 with nine home runs and 67 RBIs in 531 regular-season at-bats, Upton has been a power machine in the Rays' two playoff series. He is hitting .304 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs.

As he prepares to face the Phillies in the World Series, Upton has already tied the American League record for most home runs in the postseason. He shares the record with Troy Glaus, who hit seven in 2002 for the Anaheim Angels.

"What you are seeing is how good he can be," Maddon said. "Trust me, he is just learning. He is a tremendous athlete who is becoming a better baseball player."

The 24-year-old Upton, the brother of the Diamondbacks' Justin Upton, was the second player taken in the 2002 draft. Last season he batted .300 with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs in 474 at-bats.

Maddon says that a shoulder injury has hindered Upton this season, but the Rays centerfielder is making no excuses.

"If I am out there on the field and playing I am expected to perform, hurt or not," Upton said. "The shoulder right now is not an issue and, hopefully, I can keep it healthy for the remainder of the year."

In August, Upton was benched on two different occasions by Maddon for lack of hustle. Maddon didn't want to do it, but now feels that Upton has responded positively since the incidents.

"Something like that only has a good impact if the player involved takes it the right way," Maddon said. "He never made an excuse, stood up to it, and admitted he did the wrong thing."

And now Upton is doing just about everything right.

"The biggest thing right now is I'm not missing my pitches," Upton said. "Pitchers have been making mistakes and I have been making them pay."

Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.

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