Elijah Dukes Released!

He’s still young and has a world of talent, he hasn’t even had 2500 ABs as a pro yet, too many times guys get written off because they aren’t established in their early 20’s, some guys just don’t put it together till later, and I would take my chance that Dukes could easily be one of those type of guys. it wouldn’t surprise me to see him put up a pretty big age 27 year if he can establish himself a role with someone this season heading into the next.

Off the field problems aren’t what you look for in a player but lets be honest there are a lot of athletes who aren’t the best citizens. teams that throw out the ‘off the field issues’ as an excuse are in a majority of cases are full of BS, if the guy was tearing it up they wouldn’t release him. When guys are problems but produce they stick around, if they are problems and they don’t produce they’re gone that’s just the way it goes.

Was Dukes out of options? What if the following was about to happen?

Nats go crazy and decide to start Norris at 1st base. That pushes Dunn to LF and Willingham to RF and Morgan is already entrenched at CF. Harris is the primary backup outfielder. Maybe it was just a numbers game?

in a league that barry bonds, jermaine dye, frank thomas and gary sheffield can’t find a job. there is no room for a headcase like dukes. no, i would not take a flier. terrell owens produces and teams don’t want a guy like that. this is professional base ball, not sandlot baseball. not a guy you want in the clubhouse and around young players. productive or not.

They agree to a contract with him 4 days ago and then release him now? And he didn’t play yesterday even though they had a split squad?

I believe he played exactly 2 games after the two agreed to a contract. Then he isn’t playing when it’s a split squad. Then released.

Yeah, that spells baseball decision. lol

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Nationals nine that day;
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, “If only Elijah could but get a whack at that —
We’d put up even money now, with Elijah at the bat.”

But Flynn preceded Elijah, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat;
For there seemed but little chance of Elijah getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Elijah, mighty Elijah, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Elijah’s manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Elijah’s bearing and a smile lit Elijah’s face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt ’twas Elijah at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance flashed in Elijah’s eye, a sneer curled Elijah’s lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Elijah stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped —
“That ain’t my style,” said Elijah, “Strike one!” the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
“Kill him! Kill the umpire!” shouted some one on the stand;
And it’s likely they’d have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Elijah’s visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;
But Elijah still ignored it, and the umpire said “Strike two!”

“Fraud!” cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered “Fraud!”
But one scornful look from Elijah and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Elijah wouldn’t let that ball go by again.

The sneer has fled from Elijah’s lip, the teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Elijah’s blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in Washington — mighty Elijah has been kicked out.

Courtesy of Mr. Howard Berger
http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=fanboard&id=flb&tid=6565804