Predict BJ Upton's final numbers

[MadduxFanII]

With his hot post-DL work, BJ Upton has hauled his batting average all the way up to .198. His OPS is over .600 (.602) for what I assume is the first time all year. In all, he's hitting .198/.283/.319 for the year, with a 64 OPS+.

CHALLENGE!

Predict where BJ's numbers will end up by the time the regular season concludes. Will he be above the Mendoza Line? How far? Will he reach .237, his lowest full-season number, posted in 2010? And what about OBP? Will the Beej post an OBP higher than .300? And will he ever again hit for power?

These questions and more will be answered...right now, by me. And you know I'm right, because I wrote a play about an Oracle (which (http://www.amazon.com/Apollos-Grove-Play-Five-Acts/dp/1481109774/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375996506&sr=8-1&keywords=Apollo%27s+Grove) you can buy on Amazon).

BJ will end up hitting .223/.310/.360 with 15 home runs. So let it be written, so let it be done.

[thethe]

Pharaoh, I believe he will hit 230/310/400 with 20 home runs. I expect a big power surge in September when the pitching depth of the opposition diminishes.

And please....let my people go!

[Heyward]

.238/320/390 with 18-20 HR's.

[gilesfan]

.210/.290/.340

[Gary82]

.208/.299/.330 12 HRS

[yeezus]

.208/.299/.330 12 HRS

one homer the rest of the year?
i'll go .219/.305/.348

[parkvadawg]

220/310/368 17 HRs

[cajunrevenge]

.224/.301/.364 13 HRs 21 SB

[Nerfherders]

I'll have him playing pretty well the rest of the way and he'll end up at:

41/15/40/19 .224/.298/.377/.675

[Gary82]

one homer the rest of the year?
i'll go .219/.305/.348

He currently has 8 homer runs.

[cajunrevenge]

He was probably looking at his ESPN projected season total which says he is on pace to finish with 11.

[yeezus]

He was probably looking at his ESPN projected season total which says he is on pace to finish with 11.

yes. yes i was.

[ChapelHillMatt]

I can see him getting hot and finishing around 230 with 20 homers.

He's due for a hot streak.

[Carp]

220/310/368 17 HRs


I like this. Seems pretty probable.

[Dunit24]

When BJ Upton gets hot, its about as hot as a player can possibly get.

I can see him ending up 20 HR with an average around .240.

I dont think people realize just how awesome he is when hes clicking. Him and Justin are very similar in this fashion.

[ramadon101]

.360/.410/.700

Beats CJ for batting title

[BlackwaterPark]

Then why were all the Rays fans I know happy to see him leave?


When BJ Upton gets hot, its about as hot as a player can possibly get.

I can see him ending up 20 HR with an average around .240.

I dont think people realize just how awesome he is when hes clicking. Him and Justin are very similar in this fashion.

[yeezus]

Then why were all the Rays fans I know happy to see him leave?

I read plenty that said they'd miss him.

[ChapelHillMatt]

Then why were all the Rays fans I know happy to see him leave?

Because he hurts you more than he helps you. Good thing for us is we've been able to win without him so if he does get hot then we'll be even better. When you look at his numbers for the season though they are not gonna be good and that's who BJ Upton is. Sad thing is people will think he's turned a corner and figured something out but next year he'll be right back to being a 230 hitter again.

[yeezus]

Because he hurts you more than he helps you. Good thing for us is we've been able to win without him so if he does get hot then we'll be even better. When you look at his numbers for the season though they are not gonna be good and that's who BJ Upton is. Sad thing is people will think he's turned a corner and figured something out but next year he'll be right back to being a 230 hitter again.

If he hits .240-.250 with 20+ homers/steals with his good defense, he does not hurt more than help.

[Dunit24]

To answer that question, how would you feel if BJ Upton were traded or signed with another team?

I think the majority of us would be happy like some of the Rays fans were. Hes so talented, but very streaky and frustrating.

No denying though that when BJ Upton is hot, its about as good as it gets..and Rays fans will tell you that.

[ChapelHillMatt]

No denying though that when BJ Upton is hot, its about as good as it gets..and Rays fans will tell you that.

You can say that about anyone, when everything is clicking they obviously are going to look good.

[Dunit24]

You can say that about anyone, when everything is clicking they obviously are going to look good.

True, but since BJ is a 5-tool player(or was supposed to be) for those stretches where he is hot, he is CLEARLY the best player in baseball hands down. You cant get him out, he steals bases, plays great defense and wins a lot of games for you. Sure you can say that about a lot of guys, but a lot of guys dont have the overall game that BJ can show. Guess thats the point I was making.

[50PoundHead]

.360/.410/.700

Beats CJ for batting title

I was thinking closer to .350, but we're in the same ballpark.

As long as he's not an automatic out swinging a toothpick, I'm fine with him. Looks like he's rejuvenated since the rehab and sometimes a break like the one he had can give guys a mental fresh start, and like Yogi Berra said, "90 percent of the game is half mental."

I thought we went about a few million per year too high on Bossman Jr., but the guy just drips athletic talent and you can understand the temptation of scouts when grading him. I just don't know what was wrong with him the first part of the season. I don't think I've ever seen a hitter that clueless or inept.

[gilesfan]

I was thinking closer to .350, but we're in the same ballpark.

As long as he's not an automatic out swinging a toothpick, I'm fine with him. Looks like he's rejuvenated since the rehab and sometimes a break like the one he had can give guys a mental fresh start, and like Yogi Berra said, "90 percent of the game is half mental."

I thought we went about a few million per year too high on Bossman Jr., but the guy just drips athletic talent and you can understand the temptation of scouts when grading him. I just don't know what was wrong with him the first part of the season. I don't think I've ever seen a hitter that clueless or inept.

Im not sure I have ever seen a player with the athleticism of BJ, but with the swing of a postal worker. Dude has the most unathletic swing in baseball.

Dunit, put your pipe down.

[Hulavol]

240/317/680

21 HR

We are talking red freaking hot boys!

[57Brave]

IMHO he wasnt injured that bad. Braves just took the 15 Day DL opportunity to get him out of the spotlight to work it out in peace with an old trusted hitting coach.

[Diesel]

Both Uptons struggled immensely with their timing. It's really odd that both of them went through similar stretches of being totally lost as to how to get that timing back. The ability to time a pitch and adjust to changing conditions is the reason they are big league hitters.

It's weird how timing comes and goes for hitters.

[50PoundHead]

Im not sure I have ever seen a player with the athleticism of BJ, but with the swing of a postal worker. Dude has the most unathletic swing in baseball.

Dunit, put your pipe down.

There are times it looks like he's trying to chop down a Redwood with a hand axe. He looked really mechanical in the first half. I hate to invoke the name, but it's kind of "Francoeur Syndrome." Great athlete who looks the part (and more) against competition below his level, but gets exposed (and then some) when he finally gets to the level where everyone is as good as he is. You see a lot of guys like that in the minors who devour rookie league or Low A ball and then just fall through the floor when skills become as or more important than athletic ability.

[gilesfan]

There are times it looks like he's trying to chop down a Redwood with a hand axe. He looked really mechanical in the first half. I hate to invoke the name, but it's kind of "Francoeur Syndrome." Great athlete who looks the part (and more) against competition below his level, but gets exposed (and then some) when he finally gets to the level where everyone is as good as he is. You see a lot of guys like that in the minors who devour rookie league or Low A ball and then just fall through the floor when skills become as or more important than athletic ability.


BJ has always been an enigma. Guy has a lot of athleticism, but just has never been able to put it together outside half a year or so at a time. This guy couldn't even survive in our high school district (GPA requirement was 2.0). Before moving to a private school coached by Gary Lavelle (former major league all star), he wasn't even one of the top 4 players in the district. (David Wright-his teammate was a better player and even he didn't win player of the year until he was a senior)