As we reported in our latest Arizona Diamondbacks update, Justin Upton is mired in a deep slump and after an 0-5 performance yesterday the fans at Chase Field let him know exactly what they were feeling with a loud chorus of boos. Upton was asked after the game about the boos.
“To be honest with you, I don’t care anything what the fans think of me. My teammates, my coaches, they know I come here and I bust it every single day.”
“I try to do everything I can to help this team. My teammates have my back and whatever the fans want to think, they can think. They can call me lazy.”
“Whatever they want to call me but at the end of the day I am thankful for every opportunity to come out on a baseball field and I will try my hardest every day.”
Not exactly a response that’s going to make you many new fans to be sure. Upton is 24 years old with lots of talent, but has struggled for much of this season, especially when it comes to power numbers. Upton was an All-Star last year where he hit .289 with 31 home runs and 21 steals.
However, fans memories are short and it is very much a what have you done for me lately mentality for them. Being called lazy is often a default critique of fans, but that criticism seems to run in the Upton family.
Brother B.J. Upton of the Tampa Bay Rays has heard some of that same criticism. With the trade deadline looming, and Upton apparently not happy you can expect trade rumors about Upton to begin in earnest immediately.
