VIDEO: Was BJ Upton’s Basestealing Blunder The Final Straw?

The Rays have overcome some very long odds to get back into the playoff race. So when they trailed 5-0 with 1 out in the 8th inning with BJ Upton on first and Evan Longoria at the plate, there was a glimmer of hope that the Rays could pull off another miracle. But then BJ being BJ did what BJ does. Upton attempted to steal second base… How bad was it? Let’s count the ways: One run means nothing there. Upton says he was trying to avoind a double-play. On the season, Longo has hit into 10 double-plays in 546 plate appearances. Baserunners are far more important in that situation than worrying about something that happens less than 2 percent of the time. Upton slows down about 15 feet before the bag (0:26 mark). Why? We have no idea. He was out. Despite being out, Upton vehemently argues the call. He even turns to the dugout and appears to be expecting Joe Maddon to come out arguing. He didn’t Upton gets ejected. While watching BJ clap his hands over and over, we ...