His Name is Melvin Upton Jr.
Last week, we heard that the Center Fielder of the Atlanta Braves would have a different-looking uniform this season – the name on the back will read “Upton Jr.”
That’s not the only change.
B.J. Upton will go by the name Melvin Upton Jr. this year. Upton will explain his reasoning when he reports to #Braves camp.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 22, 2015
In lieu of that explanation, the Internet has filled in its own blanks… twitter has already been loaded with sarcasm at this report; sarcasm bordering on vitriol. I won’t bother to regurgitate any of that here. Let’s suffice it to say that the vast majority of commenters don’t give a rat’s rear end about how B.J. – or Melvin – opts to be addressed.
But I think they should care.
The Explanation
We will hear about his reasoning in the next day or two when position players report, but I believe there are two possible reasons for the change… and in my humble opinion, both are good:
1. He is a “junior” – the namesake of his father, Melvin Upton, Sr. Family means something to many folks, and this could be a means of honoring his father for one reason of another. That’s a respectable thing, and certainly should not be a topic of ridicule.
Whether that’s the core reason or not, certainly the Upton parents have raised two sons with the support necessary to make both of them into Major League baseball players. Good on them, and maybe when Melvin Sr. sees Melvin Jr. playing this year, that bond will be ever-strengthened.
2. It could also be about fundamental change. No – a name change doesn’t make Melvin into a .280-.300 hitter. It doesn’t change his swing. It doesn’t help his concentration in the outfield.
But a name change does something else: it means that every day he comes to work, he sees something that different from years’ past. Something to remind him that he wants to be different – wants to change past behavior and past performance.
It separates him from that player who wasn’t playing up to the expectations of his contract and helps him – psychologically at least – put off the ‘old Upton’.
Change for Change’s Sake
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Clearly over the last 3-5 years, B.J. has not been the “Bossman” that was nicknamed “Bossman Junior”. He wasn’t living up to that moniker in any way. Perhaps he feels he needs to shelve that; perhaps he feels he needs to earn that back.
Regardless: this is about change. And for Atlanta Braves’ fans, that should be embraced – not ridiculed.
Will the change work? This is much more than being about the change of a name… I believe there’s a recognition of the need for change from the player himself.
That’s an important first step.
Yes, Braves fans: you are entitled to boo and jeer. That is your perogative and, for professional athletes, it certainly comes with the territory. I imagine that Mets fans, starved without being able to heckle “Larrrrr-y”, will now have a new target.
But for those of us in Braves’ Country, I would like to suggest that we give Melvin another chance this season.
After all, he’s putting his name on the line.