Justin Upton: 'There's No Extra Pressure' Playing With High Expectations
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) -- Justin Upton has played in just over a dozen postseason games during his nine seasons in the MLB.
Coming to Detroit, the 28-year-old outfielder isn't worried about any extra expectations that come with playing for the Tigers, which include lofty postseason results.
Upton spoke live on 97.1 The Ticket's Valenti and Foster show after his introductory press conference on Wednesday and said that every big league ball player should have high expectations.
"If you have the team and everybody goes out and does what they're supposed to do then good things happen," Upton said. "So there's no extra pressure. I think -- if anything -- it's a good thing."
The Tigers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010 last season. But with the addition of Upton and some other key players, the Tigers -- and their fans -- expect the team to be back in contention in 2016.
Upton admitted that a perfect storm of health and high performance is key to the team's success in the coming season.
"The fans want to see a winner, the ownership wants to see a winner and everybody on the team wants to win," Upton said. "So I don't see why there should be added pressure if that's the common goal."
Upton solves the problem of who manager Brad Ausmus will trot out to left field on an everyday basis. Before Upton's signing of a six-year contract, Cameron Maybin and Tyler Collins were expected to split time in the outfield.
"I played in some pretty big parks in Atlanta and San Diego -- this is another one of those parks," Upton said. "I think I'm still going to hit home runs, I think there's a lot of room in the gaps for doubles, and I still have a little speed left so maybe some triples."
But one question remains -- will Upton hit ahead or behind slugger Miguel Cabrera?
"I don't know if there's a better place in the league to bat than second for the Tigers," Upton said. "Hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera every day isn't too bad of a job. I guess if I'm there it's going to be a pretty fun year and if I'm in the six hole I think it'll still be a great place to hit.
"At this point I don't know, so I'll just be prepared to hit either place," the three-time All-Star said.
Regardless of position in the lineup, Upton made it clear that his number one goal in Detroit is to win a World Series, not just the American League -- like the Tigers have done twice since 2006.
"That American League ring isn't as cool as a World Series ring," Upton said.
