Up Up and Away

Justin Upton, the brightest star in Arizona's galaxy, was sent packing yesterday, proving unable to crack the big league roster. The five tool phenom couldn't stick in triple AAA or double AA either, bussed instead all the way down to single A Visalia to hone his craft. Sort of like paying Keanu Reeves a visit to learn acting.

Team Pishposh Bob Melvin, who sent "Up" down, is, of course, thrilled:

"...Rarely do you see a guy of his age, both in the clubhouse and on the field, handle himself the way he does. This guy is on the fast track."

Veteran Tony Clark observes Upton's meteoric rise through a colored lens, for sure, and it's similarly rosy.

"...There aren't a whole lot of young black players and we have one of them. It's going to be fun to watch what he does."

The prescient Clark must have Visalia Oaks cable.

And ruing the dearth of "young black players", we feel, is unfortunate and misguided. The Diamondbacks hardly need more young black players. They require more young black hitters. Careless off the cuff remarks like this imperil incumbent Clark's re-election bid for the office of "Unofficial Team Sage".