Upton's all-around game one for the ages

ST. PETERSBURG - Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg was holding court in the press box during the second inning of Monday's home opener against the Yankees when he stopped to watch Xavier Nady send a blast to center field.

"Uh-oh, [a] home run," Sternberg said, his gaze fixed on a flat-screen TV monitor.

Nope, it wasn't that deep.

"Oh, we've got our center fielder back," Sternberg said, still watching. "He's not going to get that one, though."

A little faith next time, Mr. Sternberg.

What first looked like a home run and then a double over the center fielder's head became an out when B.J. Upton, racing to the wall like a streaking wide receiver, caught the ball over his head and bounced off the padding.

"Willie Mays," an incredulous Sternberg said. "Welcome back, B.J!"

"He even threw it in sidearm like Mays."

Hyperbole was hardly out of place on a night in which the Rays raised two championship banners, fired torches during player introductions and bombed the Bombers 15-5. Then again, Upton's catch in his season debut really was that good.

It was certainly Mays-esque, reminiscent of the catch the "Say Hey Kid" made in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series that shows up on most of the greatest-plays reels.

Upton said afterward he's never spent much time watching Mays footage, but he has "seen the basket catch over and over again."

About his own catch, Upton said. "I actually lost it for a second [against the ceiling], but I just wanted to make a play on it if I could. I looked up and the wall was kind of close. I have to say that ball caught me, I didn't really catch it."

Rays starting pitcher Scott Kazmir had a 4-0 lead when Upton made his one-out catch with nobody on. The Rays would add five more in the bottom of the inning to spot him a 9-0 lead that was more than enough.

"Right after B.J. made that play, that just gave me all the confidence in the world, knowing that no matter what the count is, you could just go out there and throw a quality strike and you have guys behind you that will make plays like that."

Before the game, pitcher J.P. Howell noted what it meant to have Upton back in center, patrolling the gaps with his speed and athleticism.

"Not that I was nervous whenever they hit the ball to center when he wasn't there, but when he's there, it eliminates a good hit," Howell said. "The stuff he can do, you can't really replace. He's special, and there aren't many players who come along like that."

Upton also took up his new spot atop the Rays' batting order, and he made an immediate impact. In his first at-bat, he walked, stole second and third and scored. An inning later, he reached on a bunt single and scored on Carlos Pena's sixth career grand slam.

He went 1 for 3 with three walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases.

"He's just growing into this," manager Joe Maddon said of Upton's new assignment. "It's going to take some time. But I believe if we're able to leave him at that spot - meaning that if nobody were to get hurt and you could still afford to keep him in a lead-off role - I think he's going to do very well there. And he likes it."

Upton said the Rays made the right call holding him out of the opening road trip to Boston and Baltimore so he could work on his stamina after offseason shoulder surgery. He said his legs feel strong, his shoulder fine and he's ready to play every day - "whatever he [Maddon] needs me to do."

Maddon said he'll monitor Upton's fatigue level, especially during the current seven-game home stand on artificial turf.

The Rays' leader in on-base percentage and the American League's No. 2 base stealer last year didn't reprise his power show from last fall, when he hit seven home runs in the postseason to tie an American League record. Maddon is counting on the power.

Monday, he couldn't think of another active leadoff hitter with Upton's offensive skill set.

"You probably have to look back a bit," Maddon said. "I don't want to say Rickey Henderson yet, but I mean, he's that kind of hitter.

"I'm a big Cardinals fan. Lou Brock was a combination of speed and power. It's pretty interesting when you're able to do that."

And play defense, too.