I can’t think of anyone who it would be worse idea to dog out a ball in front of.
D-backs right fielder Justin Upton was removed from Sunday’s series finale with the Rockies in the middle of the third inning for not running out a deep drive to center field in the top of the inning.
Upton took starter Jorge De La Rosa to the wall in deep center, but he only got a single out of it, as Carlos Gonzalez fielded it cleanly off the wall and made a strong throw to second to hold Upton at first.
Upton thought he had a home run after making contact, walking out of the box as he watched the deep fly. He trotted down the line and did not run hard until he was around first base and had no time left to make it to second.
True the decision was made by manager but Gibson is the bench coach and I personally would be embarrassed to have done that in front of him.
But it looks like the young man took his benching respectfully as a learning experience. That’s a good sign:
“He did the right thing,” Upton said of Hinch deciding to bench him. “I should have been on second, at least. It’s one of those things that happens, and you’ve got to learn from it.”
I’m sure he won’t be doing it again, but lets look at the other end of the coin as well, if Carlos Gonzalez assumes it’s at least a double and doesn’t hustle to get to the ball into second Upton might have still managed second. So Kudos for Gonzalez on that play as well.
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