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AP: c2a87154-d35b-4fc6-9107-614b70318177
New Atlanta Braves player Justin Upton, who was acquired by the Braves from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a seven-player deal last week, is introduced during a baseball news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, in Atlanta. Justin Upton will have older brother B.J. Upton as a teammate. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
listen Listen: Derrick Hall, President of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Doug and Wolf welcome Hall to Newsmaker's Week and talk about the upcoming baseball season.

When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Justin Upton to the Atlanta Braves, management was happy with the package they got in return for their former franchise star.

But the team does think they may have mishandled the way they marketed their right fielder when he was in Arizona.

D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall told Arizona Sports 620's Doug & Wolf Wednesday the team regrets creating ‘Uptown', a tribute they had in the right field bleachers to their rising star. The team took down the sign before Upton was dealt.

"Yeah probably wouldn't have done it and it's because we put so much pressure on that kid at a time when we probably shouldn't have," Hall said. "But we put the whole weight of the world on his shoulders and he handled it fine."

Upton also had to deal with hearing his name in trade rumors for the past few seasons, which undoubtedly took its toll on the 25-year-old. Despite the constant chatter and uncertainty regarding his future, Hall said Upton behaved like a consummate professional.

"I have to say [Upton] handled all of this beautifully," Hall said. "He could have been upset. He could have pouted. He could have made comments the last couple of years and he never did and I credit him for that. But that's a lot of pressure to put on someone."

But now that the Upton Era is over in Arizona, Hall said the team has re-shifted its focus to branding the team in a new way.

"I think looking back ['Uptown'] was probably a mistake on our part and what's beautiful now is it's all about the entire team. It's about us. It's really going to be a theme this year," Hall said.

Daria Del Colliano, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

2 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    mesa mad man wrote...
    Uptown
    I get that maybe the "timing" of when they put uptown up was wrong and they should have waited a year for him to get some more experience and confidence, but if he couldnt handle the pressure in arizona, maybe the trade was the right thing to do.
  • Abuse
    DisgustedD wrote...
    Yeah well
    this trade makes sense for both teams.
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