Nats looking @ Elijah Dukes...

[Nat of the Living Dead]

i am a defender of women but there are exceptions to every rule. are you going to wimp out when you are being attacked no matter whether it is a man or a woman. what would you do, sit there and take it? I don't think so.

and furthermore, there is the example of the golfer Milkenson or whatever his name is. He is playing lousy at the present tournament because his girlfriend beat up on him and he obviously took it.

Well, last time I checked my schedule, I am not playing in any golf tournaments so I can get beaten by all the females I want if I so chose to.

But let me get a handle on this:  Your saying that if I was a guy Young's size, you would want me to jab some woman in the face because I was "physically threatened" by her?  Your also telling me, indirectly, that my manhood would be called into question just because I didn't whack some woman for slapping me a few times?

[Air Zimmerman]

We have completely strayed from the topic.

The topic at hand is, Dukes is a beast talent wise and with a change of scenery he has the chance to become a full fledged stud and be a part of our future. If Dukes was say 30 years old with these OFF the field problems i would say heck no, but he is 22. He will mature. There are no ON the field issues with Dukes. He bats viciously and he fields fantastically and has remarkable speed for a man his stature. He is an athletic masterpiece.

[mikehughes]

Another new article.

Elijah Dukes In More Trouble
 
Devil Rays top prospect Elijah Dukes is being accused of getting a 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes pregnant. She told the police that she is due in November and that when she confront Dukes, he became angry and threw a Gatorade at her. She went on to say that it was consensual. Dukes has already been linked to four other women who have his children, and has recently been accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend. This is just another reason that the Devil Rays should trade Dukes before he really starts to effect the clubhouse. This is really a sad story because he is such a good ballplayer with so much potential but could be forced to leave baseball if these allegations continue. I do not know what else can be done right now except for a good talk from his manager or a couple guys on the team. I know tons of teams would love him, but it just seems unlikely that a team in the heat of a race would take on a big distraction.

Im not one who cares about character, I want good players with talent and im still all for accquiring Elijah Dukes. although I would much rather see us get Dunn than Dukes, since Dunn can hit tons of homer but has a bad average aswell as Dukes who still hasnt proven he can do this since this is his first year.

[Air Zimmerman]

She told the police that she is due in November and that when she confront Dukes, he became angry and threw a Gatorade at her.

Call me crazy or just immature but I actually think Dukes is a funny dude. I think his phone call to his wife was slightly humorous. In one interview he ended it because he wanted to finish a video game. Now, throwing a gatorade. I scarily think he is funny.

Just get Dukes out of FLA and bring him to DC and he will be just fine. He needs to get away from all the distractions and start to focus on baseball. Because when he does, the results are great. See his highlights and you will know what I'm talking about.

Point: If Dukes becomes a Nat i will be his #1 Fan and support the acquisition 110%. He will immediately become by second favorite player. Behind Zimmerman and in front of Belly.

[shoeshineboy]

Dmitri on Dukes:

From Ladson

Talking about Dukes: While there is no way to foresee whether the Nationals' perceived renewed interest in Elijah Dukes will ever lead to a deal, if the young outfielder were to find his way to Washington, first baseman Dmitri Young pledged to help provide him with a nurturing environment.

Dukes is currently a teammate of Young's younger brother Delmon in Tampa Bay. Dmitri said the talented Dukes could benefit from a change of scenery, and from some mentoring. Dmitri, considered one of the Nationals' clubhouse leaders, sees himself as someone who could teach a younger player the facts of life on and off the field.

"I'm sure he needs a change of scenery," Dmitri Young said of the talented but controversial player. "That never hurts anybody. If he came over here and played some center field -- the guys has power. He is an athlete. He can bring some wonderful things here. You need to have someone teach him the right way.

"You need someone to take him under his wing and show him the ropes on how to be a big league ballplayer -- the proper things to say to the media, what not to say, how to conduct himself on and off the field like a professional."

Young is just an interested bystander. He can't make a deal. But he promised to make the deal work if it happened.

[ronnynat]

Point: If Dukes becomes a Nat i will be his #1 Fan and support the acquisition 110%. He will immediately become by second favorite player. Behind Zimmerman and in front of Belly.

I'm w/ you on this completely. If it's alright and no one else has taken it already, I'll be his #2 Fan and support the trade 105%.

[Evolution33]

Another new article.

Elijah Dukes In More Trouble
 
Devil Rays top prospect Elijah Dukes is being accused of getting a 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes pregnant. She told the police that she is due in November and that when she confront Dukes, he became angry and threw a Gatorade at her. She went on to say that it was consensual. Dukes has already been linked to four other women who have his children, and has recently been accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend. This is just another reason that the Devil Rays should trade Dukes before he really starts to effect the clubhouse. This is really a sad story because he is such a good ballplayer with so much potential but could be forced to leave baseball if these allegations continue. I do not know what else can be done right now except for a good talk from his manager or a couple guys on the team. I know tons of teams would love him, but it just seems unlikely that a team in the heat of a race would take on a big distraction.

Im not one who cares about character, I want good players with talent and im still all for accquiring Elijah Dukes. although I would much rather see us get Dunn than Dukes, since Dunn can hit tons of homer but has a bad average aswell as Dukes who still hasnt proven he can do this since this is his first year.

This guy is the Shawn Kemp of baseball.

[nospinzone1]

Well, last time I checked my schedule, I am not playing in any golf tournaments so I can get beaten by all the females I want if I so chose to.

But let me get a handle on this:  Your saying that if I was a guy Young's size, you would want me to jab some woman in the face because I was "physically threatened" by her?  Your also telling me, indirectly, that my manhood would be called into question just because I didn't whack some woman for slapping me a few times?

no, just sit there and get the crap beat out of you.

[nospinzone1]

Another new article.

Elijah Dukes In More Trouble
 
Devil Rays top prospect Elijah Dukes is being accused of getting a 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes pregnant. She told the police that she is due in November and that when she confront Dukes, he became angry and threw a Gatorade at her. She went on to say that it was consensual. Dukes has already been linked to four other women who have his children, and has recently been accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend. This is just another reason that the Devil Rays should trade Dukes before he really starts to effect the clubhouse. This is really a sad story because he is such a good ballplayer with so much potential but could be forced to leave baseball if these allegations continue. I do not know what else can be done right now except for a good talk from his manager or a couple guys on the team. I know tons of teams would love him, but it just seems unlikely that a team in the heat of a race would take on a big distraction.

Im not one who cares about character, I want good players with talent and im still all for accquiring Elijah Dukes. although I would much rather see us get Dunn than Dukes, since Dunn can hit tons of homer but has a bad average aswell as Dukes who still hasnt proven he can do this since this is his first year.

and this is the kind of moron that some guys would like in the team just for the sake of 10 homers. go ahead and shoot me for not wanting this piece of trash in the team.

[natsfan1a]

I suspect that this "article" was posted as a joke. No source is given and it doesn't read like a newspaper piece (blog pieces, however, are something else again as editorial standards tend to be lower, sometimes nonexistent, in some blogs)

Another new article.

Elijah Dukes In More Trouble
 
Devil Rays top prospect Elijah Dukes is being accused of getting a 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes pregnant. She told the police that she is due in November and that when she confront Dukes, he became angry and threw a Gatorade at her. She went on to say that it was consensual. Dukes has already been linked to four other women who have his children, and has recently been accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend. This is just another reason that the Devil Rays should trade Dukes before he really starts to effect the clubhouse. This is really a sad story because he is such a good ballplayer with so much potential but could be forced to leave baseball if these allegations continue. I do not know what else can be done right now except for a good talk from his manager or a couple guys on the team. I know tons of teams would love him, but it just seems unlikely that a team in the heat of a race would take on a big distraction.

Im not one who cares about character, I want good players with talent and im still all for accquiring Elijah Dukes. although I would much rather see us get Dunn than Dukes, since Dunn can hit tons of homer but has a bad average aswell as Dukes who still hasnt proven he can do this since this is his first year.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

no, just sit there and get the crap beat out of you.

Okay, woman beater.  Thank you for your wonderful insight on male and female relations. 

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I suspect that this "article" was posted as a joke. No source is given and it doesn't read like a newspaper piece (blog pieces, however, are something else again as editorial standards tend to be lower, sometimes nonexistent, in some blogs)

St. Petersburg Times has this as an article on it's site.  Funny, it is a blog from one of their reporters:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2007/06/teen_dukes_got_.html

[natsfan1a]

The link that you just posted is worded differently and has content that was not in the item that was posted here. The item that was originally posted here apparently paraphrased the article below, or I suppose it could have been posted pre-edit. Thanks for posting a link to the original source.

St. Petersburg Times has this as an article on it's site.  Funny, it is a blog from one of their reporters:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2007/06/teen_dukes_got_.html

[shoeshineboy]

The link that you just posted is worded differently and has content that was not in the item that was posted here. The item that was originally posted here apparently paraphrased the article below, or I suppose it could have been posted pre-edit. Thanks for posting a link to the original source.

Good points.

[Dave B]

The Dukes to the Nats story has gotten a lot of pub.  Probably more than any potential trade rumor yet. Svrluga mentioned it. Ladson mentioned it and even got quotes from Dmitri about it.  The latter seems kinda interesting as Dmitri said something to the effect of "he would help the team".  I wonder if that violates some sort of code because saying something like that means that he would be better than the current CFs.  I wonder how Logan and Langerhans feel when they read that.

[nats2playoffs]

Teen: Baby Is Dukes'
By CHRIS ECHEGARAY The Tampa Tribune
Published: Jun 13, 2007

TAMPA - The Devil Rays' Elijah Dukes will not be criminally charged for having sex with a girl - 17 years old at the time - who claims to be carrying the outfielder's baby, police said.  The girl, now 18, was a foster child of Dukes' step-grandmother. She told investigators she had consensual sex with Dukes at his step-grandmother's house, Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said Tuesday. The baby is due Nov. 5, McElroy said.  Since Dukes is 22, McElroy said, he will not face charges.  "The young woman was very clear that it was consensual," McElroy said. "The way the law is written, a suspect must be 24 years old for it to be a crime."  Florida law allows adults between the ages of 18 and 23 to have consensual sex with 16- and 17-year-olds.

Dukes never responded to an interview with authorities, McElroy said.  Although he has not been arrested, Dukes is mired in legal trouble with a history of issues and recently a restraining order from his estranged wife.  Dukes left a voice mail threatening his estranged wife and sent a picture of a gun to her cell phone, according to court records. The Devil Rays rookie has fathered five children with four women.  On Tuesday night, the player declined to comment.  "Elijah will not comment on personal matters," Rays spokesman Chris Costello said. There also was no comment from Rays management.

Police said Dukes' step-grandmother, Johnnie Johnson, was being investigated by the Department of Children and Families, McElroy said.  Johnson was not at home when the girl claimed to have sex with Dukes, McElroy said. There were no charges against Johnson because it is not illegal to leave a 17-year-old foster child alone in a house, he said.  DCF Regional Director Nick Cox declined to comment on the case. Cox said that as with all foster cases they investigate, "We determine whether the allegations are substantiated."  Cox said DCF also look at the family to see whether foster children are at risk.  The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department received an anonymous tip on May 28 about the girl being pregnant. It's the child protection arm of the sheriff's office that conducts DCF investigations in Hillsborough County.  The case was later turned over to Tampa police.

Fast Facts - Elijah Dukes' children:
    Date of birth         Mother       Child    Elijah's age
1. Nov. 25, 2003   NiShea Gilbert     boy    19
2. Dec. 3, 2003     Carla Bryant       girl     19
3. June 7, 2004     Shantell Mitchell  boy    19
4. June 16, 2005   NiShea Gilbert     girl      20
5. July 19, 2006    Porcia Daniels     girl      22
6. In process         ?                      ?       ?

Esoteric could run TV ads for a new law practice:
"If you are a woman between the ages of 16 and 40, and you know Elijah Dukes, you may be able to make a claim for child support and alimony, and you could receive a restraining order.  Call the Law Offices of Esoteric today for a free consultation."

[Dave B]

While this sounds crazy to most of us, he hasnt broken any laws with this latest thing and it just sounds like a case of piling on.  Hey, some people like having kids. Some religions promote having kids with multiple wives. 

Me, I would not like to have 5 kids.  But if you got the money to support them (hopefully he doesnt waste it all) and willing people to have kids with, knock yourself out.

I guess somewhere along the way, some/most people/religions decided monogamy was the way to go.  While others havent. I guess its a toss up as to what type of behavior human nature dictates.

I guess you never really think of things in this light unless you are trying to build a case as to why it is OK to trade for someone like Elijah Dukes.

There is no shortage of women are looking to get pregnant by rich athletes/celebrities so they can get really high child support payments. Songs have been written about it such as "Gold Digger" by Kanye West.  Dukes is the victim here

[shoeshineboy]

I wonder if that violates some sort of code because saying something like that means that he would be better than the current CFs.  I wonder how Logan and Langerhans feel when they read that.

I've heard guys say these types of things before. It is pretty customary for players to suggest that a guy could help the team or that a team could use one or two more guys.

Also, it seems that a lot of the stories that have been written about this are by colimnists who love to write about how much of a punk Dukes is. Certainly the Tampa/St. Pete writers have been using Dukes and his exploits as go-to fodder for their columns.

[nats2playoffs]

...There is no shortage of women are looking to get pregnant by rich athletes/celebrities so they can get really high child support payments...

I've heard NBA players claim that they used a condom, only to learn that the contents were later used to create a pregnancy, after they left.  Cha-ching!

[UMDNats]

We have completely strayed from the topic.

The topic at hand is, Dukes is a beast talent wise and with a change of scenery he has the chance to become a full fledged stud and be a part of our future. If Dukes was say 30 years old with these OFF the field problems i would say heck no, but he is 22. He will mature. There are no ON the field issues with Dukes. He bats viciously and he fields fantastically and has remarkable speed for a man his stature. He is an athletic masterpiece.

No on the field issues? He's hitting .199 or something around that.

Being arrested at age 22 like 5 times is not something someone grows out of. Once or twice I can understand but like 5 times is unacceptable.


I don't want this punk near the team. He has good power but his BA is terrible and we don't need another .199 average. Not to mention EVERYONE says hes a punk. 

I know I said I didn't like Dmitri early on because of his off the field issues. But he's over 30 and he had worked to make sure he didn't do anything wrong again. Duke doesn't show that.



If Bowden trades Balester or Flores for Dukes, he should be FIRED.

[mikehughes]

I suspect that this "article" was posted as a joke. No source is given and it doesn't read like a newspaper piece (blog pieces, however, are something else again as editorial standards tend to be lower, sometimes nonexistent, in some blogs)

If you want the link so bad here it is..
http://www.mlb-rumors.blogspot.com/
First article at top of page.

[shoeshineboy]

Batting average is an incredibly overused and misleading statistic. OBP is much more important and more meaningful. Dukes's OBP is better than any of the regular starters on the Nats except for Young, Guzman and Church. He would immediately be one of the best batters on the team (which actually isn't a major compliment given how poor most of the lineup has underperformed).

Still, while I see the benefits of taking a chance with Dukes, I agree that there is no reason to trade anything we have of great value like Balester or Flores. Midrange relievers and extra replaceable OFers is all I want to give up.

[UMDNats]

I would no be fully opposed to trading someone like Rivera or Logan for Dukes. Even then I'd want to talk to Dukes to get a feel for what kind of player he's like.

Right now there is no reason to talk trades involving ANY of our prospects.

[mikehughes]

Point: If Dukes becomes a Nat i will be his #1 Fan and support the acquisition 110%. He will immediately become by second favorite player. Behind Zimmerman and in front of Belly.

So will I, I follow the D-rays, Angels, and Nats, I dont know why so many, but I do. Dukes is one of my favorites on D-rays along with Delmon Young and Iwamaru. Id be really glad if we got him because he would be a much better choice over Nook and Logan who both cant hit for average, so its not like were losing anything, we would be gaining since he can hit home runs and drive in runs unlike Logan and Langerhans. Although they have better defence but still.

[natsfan1a]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Now I see that it was a blogger's spin on a news piece, which would explain the unconventional grammar and syntax.

If you want the link so bad here it is..
http://www.mlb-rumors.blogspot.com/
First article at top of page.