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Diamondbacks owner calls out Stephen Drew, Justin Upton in radio interview

Kendrick is none too pleased with a couple of his franchise's cornerstones. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Ken Kendrick

Arizona Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick called out two of his stars on Tuesday in a radio interview (audio clips here).

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has the transcript of Kendrick's comments.

On Drew, a 29-year-old shortstop who missed the second half of the 2011 season with a severe ankle injury and has not played this season, Kendrick said: "I'm going to be real direct about Stephen. I think Stephen should have been out there playing before now, frankly. I, for one, am disappointed. I'm going to be real candid and say Stephen and his representatives are more focused on where Stephen is going to be a year from now than on going out and supporting the team that's paying his salary. All you can do is hope that the player is treating the situation with integrity. Frankly, we have our concerns."

Drew is making $7.75 million this season and has a $10 million mutual option for 2013.

On Upton, a 24-year-old rightfielder who is hitting .243 with five home runs and 20 RBIs after finishing fourth in NL MVP voting in 2011, Kendrick said: "I think Justin is an enigma at this point. I know he had an injury (thumb) early on and may be a little bit of a nagging injury. But he's played. He's certainly not the Justin Upton that he has been in the past and that we would expect of him. He's 24 years old and it's time for him to be a consistent performer and right now this year he's not been that."