Dear Elijah: Since the very first day of meeting you, The African Queen and I have been impressed by your attitude. You were far better than advertised. When you accidentally ran into Sohna at Our Washington Nationals Training Complex in Viera, Florida--you began the transformation in front of our very eyes. A favorable opinion began to develop. And when we once again saw you, totally by chance, earlier this summer at Union Station in Washington, DC--you were nothing short of charming.
You remember that get together? "I remember you!!" you so proudly stated. "And I remember you too!!", replied The African Queen. We all had a great time talking with your family. Sohna directed you on how to get to The National Zoo. You appreciated her help. Remember how your Son wanted to go see the animals badly? Later on, you surprised both of us when you gave signed baseballs to a friend of ours to be delivered at New Nationals Park.
The African Queen was quite taken by your thoughtfulness. And so was I. We have always found you friendly, jovial and downright entertaining to talk to. Proud and happy we have always been to experience your good side. No question about it--you are quite the engaging fellow.
And that is the type of person we want to continue see play for Our Washington Nationals. Especially, one with the abundance of talent you possess.
YOU ARE A FIVE TOOL PLAYER.
YOU HAVE THE TALENT TO BE A STAR!!
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE GAME!!
Please, Sohna and I implore you, PLEASE DO NOT THROW ALL YOUR TALENT AWAY!!
We are very taken by you. Just like thousands of other Fans for Our Washington Nationals.
You my friend, and that is what we consider you, are a valuable player for DC's Team.
Please don't throw it away with your fits of anger. Your temper got the best of you tonight. There is far too much to lose--FOR YOU.
Tonight at Shea Stadium, you socked a TITANIC HOME RUN off Mike Pelfrey. The African Queen and I rejoiced at your continuing success. Once again you proved that YOU ARE A KEEPER!! A player for years to come.
But why? Please Why!!?? did you attempt to throw all that GOOD WILL AWAY by blowing kisses at The New York Mets Dugout and then harping at Pelfrey in your next At-Bat when The Mets Starter threw an off speed pitch--A LITTLE INSIDE? That toss did not appear to be a PURPOSE PITCH. The purpose of which, you believed, was for you to feel the pain of hitting a homer and BLOWING KISSES toward The Mets Dugout.
Yes, you blew kisses at The New York Dugout. No question about that either. That's a little disrespectful. No place for that in this game. You should have expected to be hit. Going ballistic over the matter was uncalled for. The very fact that you got Our Manager Manny Acta and Our Hitting Coach Lenny Harris to come out of The Dugout to calm you down was not a good sight to witness. Even Our Former Catcher Brian Schneider got his body between you and Pelfrey.
There are better ways to let out your anger. Like by taking advantage of the situation and doubling down the line later in this very same At-Bat. Then, scoring two hitters later with second run of the evening.
Yes, there are better ways to take being hit--like by just calmly taking it like a man. You can be upset while walking down to first base. Just like after Pelfrey DID HIT YOU in your third At-Bat this evening. By keeping your cool, simmering on your own, you allowed our next hitter, Kory Casto, to rip a double with the bases loaded and get Our Washington Nationals back into this affair at 7-5 in the 5th inning. A New Ball Game developed because you kept your cool.
As Sohna says: "Don't get mad, get even by Hitting The Ball Out Of The Park!!--the next time you bat."
And did you and Our Washington Nationals ever attempt to get even tonight in their Final Game they will ever play at Shea Stadium.
Our Team was able to fight back into this affair--although we eventually lost by three runs in a Total Slugfest. A game that found "The Guz" ripping two home runs. A night that featured five RBI by Cristian Guzman. Too bad Joel Hanrahan gave up a TITANIC Blast of his own to David Wright in the bottom of the 8th that sealed this deal--once and for all.
But Elijah, Why O' Why did you continue your antics in the top of the 9th. After grounding out on a close, but well fielded play by New York's Argenis Reyes, did you feel it necessary to raise both your arms in an attempt to incite The Mets Fans Again? Why was that necessary? You can have all the talent in the world, but you need to use that head. You must understand the situation at hand and the feelings of your teammates--whom may also be affected by your actions.
If you don't, you will NEVER REACH YOUR POTENTIAL. And all your God Given Talents will be lost--like so many others that have preceded you in professional sports.
Elijah, don't piss off the home crowd of the team you are playing. There is no reason to get an always, already rambunctious, New York bunch of homers something or someone else to sink their teeth into. You allowed that to happen, unnecessarily. This was New York City I remind you, where every single gyration is followed and scrutinized to the Nth Degree.
Instead, please just act like a man and TRY TO BEAT THEM. No more is desired from your effort.
Lessons, you hopefully will learn from tonight in Queens.
Dear Elijah--Sohna and I care about you. We beg you to control your temper. You have come along way this 2008 Season. On the field you have become a dangerous player--one that can change any outcome--of any game. Please don't be dangerous on the field--for all the wrong reasons. You can be a Great Player. Your tools can carry you to the greatest of success in a uniform representing Our Washington Nationals. But, it all comes down to what lays between your ears that will take you to that promised land. Unless you use your brain--you are not going anywhere soon.
We know you have the ability to succeed--not only for you--but for your family as well.
The African Queen and I are confident you can make this happen. Please don't belie our faith in you.
Final Score in one of those you can't leave your seat for a moment barnburners--The New York Mets 13 and Our Washington Nationals 10 in the last game Washington will ever play at Shea Stadium in Queens. No one can say Washington didn't go out in style in New York. And no one can say right now Washington doesn't have spunk. They fought and fought and fought. Eventually, their pitching let them down. Too bad, for if Our Washington Nationals had come back to garner a win--it would have gone down as An Instant Classic.
For entertainment value--this one gets a 10!!
Tonight's InGame Photos--(AP) Kathy Willens
36 comments:
I love the passion Elijah has for the game, if the rest of the team had that passion we would be a winning team with a winning attitude instead of a team which will be satisfied with 99 losses instead of 100. we have not had passion like this from a player since Jose Guillen. With passion comes a fiery personality, as long as it does not spill into off the field antics, let the fire burn Elijah!!!
You call that passion i call that being a savage. Elijah is a punk and does not deserve to be in baseball..he is a disgrace to the game...don't you find it sad that this animal needs a 24hour chaperone??the nationals will go nowhere with him.
I understand your sentiment, however, why did you find it necessary to pour all of this out in an open letter? How about putting this in a letter and sending to him at the park instead? Do you honestly believe that Elijah goes home each night and reads your blog? If you want your comments to get to him - send him a letter.
Anonynmous -- a letter mailed to Elijah would take some time to reach him at Nationals Park. Enough players read this blog that the word may reach him as early as today.
I have to echo SBF's sentiments. I didn't watch the game, but I would echo SBF's sentiments here. Dukes has more than enough talent to let his bat and glove do the talking, and make a huge contribution to the team. I hope his temper doesn't get the better of him on the field and affect the atmosphere in the club house. With quotes like Zimm's (the gist of the quote in the Post story is that Zimm doesn't really know if there's a place for the way Dukes was showing his emotions in the game) I think there is very real reason for concern.
Can someone please explain what the term "zero tolerance" REALLY means? Does it mean something different when you display extraordinary talent? Elijah Dukes reminds me of a 13-year-old who is battling testosterone poisoning and is desperately trying to discover his manhood. When you ARE the man, you don't need to throw a tantrum to prove it. Children throw tantrums. Behaviors such as making gestures at umpires, opposing pitchers, opposing fans and blowing kisses at the opponents dugout (what did he expect -- a standing ovation???) are childish and do not belong in major league baseball.
Funny how the double standard applied to the Nationals applies even in this blog - when other teams' players show "passion" everyone talks about their "fire to win" - a la Utley's head long bum rush of Flores last week.
When a Nationals player does it - he's out of line or off his rocker.
Now, I grant you, Dukes needs to live under a tougher standard because of his past behavior. Zimmerman is right, what Dukes did last night has no place in the game - especially for a last place team that's losing the game at the time.
However, other, more reasonable displays of passion -- manager arguing with umpire, players holding each other accountable, "message" pitches and bench-clearing brawls have their place sometimes - the Nationals should not act like patsy's nor allow the media to treat them that way. A little righteous anger might help sometimes and, they, like every other team in baseball, need to be held to the same standard when these things occur.
SBF said...Elijah, don't piss off the home crowd of the team you are playing. There is no reason to get an always, already rambunctious, New York bunch of homers something or someone else to sink their teeth into. You allowed that to happen, unnecessarily. This was New York City I remind you, where every single gyration is followed and scrutinized to the Nth Degree.
SBF, correct again! These NYC fans don't forget. These players don't forget. When the Mets have a 5 run lead against us the next time and a Pedro or Johan are pitching, E.D. will find what it feels to have old-fashioned baseball retribution in the middle of his back.
I think the only reason this didn't escalate was the Mets restraint not to blow their chance to make the playoffs by following through on actually drilling him at that point in time.
I almost hate to compliment the Mets, but they played it smart this time. It may have also helped that Brian Schneider was there front and center.
Please tell me we have heard the last of this.
Stat of the day. When Dukes, Zim, and Milledge play in the same game we are 18-20. While that is nothing to brag about, that is a far better winning % than what we currently possess.
Stat of the day. When Dukes, Zim, and Milledge play in the same game we are 18-20. While that is nothing to brag about, that is a far better winning % than what we currently possess.
Throw Flores into that mix and see how the numbers come out. I bet the Dukes-Milledge-Zim-Flores percentage is above .500. The Dukes-Milledge-Zim percentage was way above .500 until Flores went down last week, then it started dropping.
I know, small sample size and all. But still, it shows that there's a damn good nucleus here when everyone is healthy. That's step one. Now, step two is to fill out the team so that there are good backups to fill in across the board when starters go down. That will happen. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Well, if Dukes doesn't read it, somebody should show it to him, and probably will. I love the way this guy plays and think the Nats have handled him brilliantly. Yes, he can behave like teenager, but in light of his incomprehensibly unfortunate background, the Nats have gambled that with the right guidance he can continue to mature and learn from his mistakes. I have to believe that this incident is getting a lot of focus today, behind closed doors.
So view it as a step backwards, or as a continuation of his maturing process (or both). Either way, I am much more hopeful and optimistic about Dukes now than I was before the season started.
You know. Elijah is who he is. He's a damn good ballplayer who shows fits of anger occasionally. To say there is no place in baseball for a player who blows kisses to the opposing team's dugout disrespectfully is to forget some of the greatest players in the sport. Players as great as Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth often showed their "unsportsmanlike" side to opposing players. Even Joe DiMaggio wasn't a saint.
Anyway, I feel the only unpardonable sins in baseball are to hit an umpire or to blatantly ignore a child's request. Elijah is innocent of those crimes, so far.
I'm a mets fan but I look forward to seeing Elijah get control of his anger. He has limitless potential.
Others, such as Lou Piniella have succeeded despite anger issues. why not? Baseball deserves to see what Elijah can get done.
The future with Dukes and Milledge can be hard to beat.
janet said...
Anonynmous -- a letter mailed to Elijah would take some time to reach him at Nationals Park. Enough players read this blog that the word may reach him as early as today.
Players honestly read this blog? Do you personally know that or just assume? Just curious.
I think Elijah has talent, but he is young and immature. He needs to work on anger management issues for sure. Even young Zim said that there was no place for that type of behavior in baseball.
There's difference between a passionate athlete and being completely unprofessional.
What I saw last night was a player going over the line, and a complete lack maturity from a professional athlete.
If I were in the position to punish Dukes I would for his actions last night. Right now, it doesn't matter if he's out young stud at the plate, or if we love him now because he helps us win; however, he needs to learn a lesson.
He's in no position to be showboating at all considering the Nationals are in dead last place. The New York Mets may teach him a lesson, but Dukes has to learn how to act as a winner, not some immature idiot.
Our right-fielder disrespected the game, his organization and himself.
That has no place in sports, period.
Again, a lot of people are giving Elijah the benefit of the doubt because he's "our guy".
If the tables were turned, I'd imagine the reaction to be a lot different on this blog.
Anonymous said at 11:45PM
---if the rest of the team had that passion we would be a winning team with a winning attitude instead of a team which will be satisfied with 99 losses instead of 100.---
Hopefully your comments are out of frustration because nobody who is a competitor is satisfied with losing. The "losers" were let go on July 31st. On July 31st there were predictions of losing 120 games.
The team regrouped and set their focus on playing .500+ ball from August 1st on.
It isn't being satisfied with 99 losses, but that became a challenge and along the way to beat a bunch of playoff contenders. If they can reach it they have to go 7-9 the rest of the way. With Florida, Phillies and the Mets next week, 99 still will be tough to reach.
And as far as passion, I saw a ton of it during the winning streak and including comebacks during games that we eventually lost. This is what teams go through that they have to learn how to win and come together. You may be right about the team on July 31st but not the team on August 31st.
As ABM said, put Flores, Zim, Dukes and Milledge all on the field at the same time and they are a .500+ team.
There is a lot to look forward too.
Talking about coming together. I hope this doesn't break them apart.
If Elijah doesn't know what he did in his heart was wrong, we have bigger problems.
Luckily today is an off-day.
It will be interesting how management handles it because according to ESPN, in the 9th inning:
ESPN said...Dukes ended his night by egging on the booing Mets fans by waving his arms and blowing a kiss to the crowd as he entered the dugout after grounding out in the ninth.
Elijah Dukes will never change his behavior, for he's angry at the world since his childhood. He will blame everyone else for his problems, except his own. If Elijah charges the mound and threaten the pitcher, he should be in prison for assault and battery. Common people always go to prison for lesser crimes, so baseball players should be treated the same. But money and politics will save MLB players from going to court and settle problems on their own. Elijah is still a threat to society, so all citizens should watch out for him.
Great post, SBF. Elijah has become the player I am rooting for the most do well, but particularly what he did in the 9th inning (from your description, I didn't see it) can lose him any friends on the team and respect around the league. There is a fine line between being fiery and being out of control, and he crossed the line last night.
BTW I have stopped reading anonymous posts and urge others to do the same.
Pertinent excerpts from the Washington Post gives the full comment from Zim.
Asked if Dukes would face disciplinary action from the team, Manager Manny Acta said, "I'm not anticipating any of that, but the day hasn't even finished yet, and we have to think things through and go from there."
"I think he had a very good game; he hit a home run and a double," Acta added. "Everybody knows he has worked very hard this year and the Nationals have worked very hard with him to work with his temper, and he's been great the whole season. It's unfortunate what happened tonight, but he's human."
Dukes declined to comment after the game, saying, "What the [heck] is there to talk about?"
But afterward, all the talk was about Dukes, who ignited the game by his response to an inside pitch when New York had a 7-1 grip on things.
"He's an emotional player, but I don't know if there's really a place for that in this kind of game," teammate Ryan Zimmerman said. "But he's a great player. He's got a lot to learn, but he showed what kind of talent he has tonight, too."
Unfortunatly this is more of the same. He has an amazing talent but nothing upstairs. We Tampa fans followed him with great interest and hope. Thank yourselves you were spared the Playout of his offield adventures in the local media. It was a horrible thing to watch a great athlete unable to check himself AT ALL. He and Delmon Young were the future stars of the Rays but in the end it was better to let them quietly go Elsewhere. Perhaps if there was someone that E.D. Respected that could be a mentor.... But alas. I dont think E.D. even respects himself.
On a side note I recently got to enjoy the Nationals and their fabulous ballpark. Even though they lost the game (against the METs) I saw a lot of talent and great hope for the future. What a great place to see a game. Gotta love a halfsmoke. To bad they didn't get the property where that ugly cement factory (or whatever it is) sits. It would have been schweet to go all the way to the river. (such as it is)
Annon at 10:52 said To Janet-Players honestly read this blog? Do you personally know that or just assume? Just curious.
I know players that read this Blog but won't name names, and also their families do.
These are normal guys that do things in their spare time like you do which includes reading Blogs and posting on their websites and Facebook, etc. Some of them even bid and sell on eBay which is a story for another day!
If you are going to read about the Nats, why not come here because in my opinion its better than what you get from the local papers sometimes.
If you are going to read about the Nats, why not come here because in my opinion its better than what you get from the local papers sometimes.
Sometimes. You mean like on days ending in 'y', right?
ABM - Ooops...I didn't want to offend Chico Harlan, Mark Zuckerman, and some others who may be reading my posting as I also like their writings.
Let me restate, If you are going to read about the Nats, why not come here because in my opinion its better than what you get from the local papers all of the times.
SBF - How do you like that!!!
This guy is a clown, plain and simple. He's now in for some rude treatment every time he comes back to NY. Nice job creating a distraction for your team. I am glad we don't have a nut job like this on the Mets.
How do DC fans root for somebody with so little class?
An unrelated question for you Nats fans, from a Mets fan. Why does the team allow Millege to play so deep? The guy's practially standing on the warning track (the mets commentator had a funny line about how's he playing CF in citi field) I'm sure theres been many more balls that fell in front of him than deep flies that otherwise wouldn't have been caught.
Just last nite that accounted for a few runs. (sorry to post this unrelated comment here, but am stumped by this "strategy" your team employs. I expect that Acta is smarter than that).
Can a player with Bo Jackson skills and Albert Belle persona succeed? I thought Dmetri Young, who is now back in the dugout, is charged with playing Chris Carter to this Randy Moss - is he taking that responsibility seriously. Nice that Milledge has Dukes back, but there is a fine line between teammate and enabler. Wish he had saved this for Florida where it would have been like a bear going in the woods...
Trust in the Dukes of Elijah. All classic.
Dukes looks pretty good in '08 compared to '07. I think he's on the road to becoming a great ball player.
This year's "episodes" include:
1) The "Softball Girls" incident (vs NY Mets)
2) The showboating/Manny Acta discussion
3) The Shea Stadium "meltdown"
4) Assorted minor expressions of emotion
Looking back to his signing, and the potential downside, he's been GREAT.
As Manny says, he played a good game, he let his emotions get the better of him. It's not right, but its also not the end of the world.
I really don't think he's the punk or delinquent he's made out to be.
Class comes in different packages -- and I think he's developing his own kind of class.
Fighting your personal demons is a lifelong affair. Just ask Dmitri: He gets the Comeback Player of the Year award and then falls down to diabetes and lack of fitness. (Can you win the award twice?)
Elijah -- if you do read this -- RESPECT!
Let's rock in 09.
The Nats need to enroll Dukes in an anger management program before he has a stroke.
Milledge plays deep because he does not know how to go back on fly balls hit over his head.
"He's an emotional player, but I don't know if there's really a place for that in this kind of game," teammate Ryan Zimmerman said. "But he's a great player. He's got a lot to learn, but he showed what kind of talent he has tonight, too."
If Zim played with 1/100 of the emotion that Dukes did I would respect him for making this comment but instead he chews his nails, stays silent and kicks around dirt during the game like a little kid!!!! Grow a pair Zim and "Cowboy up" this team needs you as a leader not a great talent without any leadership skills!
Anon at 7:16 said ...If Zim played with 1/100 of the emotion that Dukes did I would respect him for making this comment but instead he chews his nails, stays silent and kicks around dirt during the game like a little kid!!!! Grow a pair Zim and "Cowboy up" this team needs you as a leader not a great talent without any leadership skills!
This team needs Zim doing exactly what he is doing right now which is everything right on the field!!!!
Everyone has opinions and yours in my opinion is way off because you read into a small piece of what Zim said and you weren't there in the locker room.
Also, this has nothing to do with Zim and everything to do with Dukes poor behavior. The reason Zim's quote was in the paper was that is where all the reporters go for a quote.
What did Dukes say to reporters?Dukes declined to comment after the game, saying, "What the [heck] is there to talk about?"
Zim didn't ask to be a team leader so why do you think he should be? He is 23 years old and 3 years out of school.
What about Cristian Guzman. He was the team All-Star and a league veteran. Why not him?
Most found it refreshing that Zim spoke the truth in that small quote and finished up the quote with a compliment. He had the balls to say what Acta wouldn't. It was bush league and it won't happen again is what Acta should have said and go on to say what a great player Dukes is and he will have a long career in DC.
Zim complimented him "He's a great player.... He showed what kind of talent he has tonight, too." and yes he spoke the truth "I don't know if there's really a place for that in this kind of game".
Can't handle the truth I guess.
What do you do for a living? Did you lead your group at 23 years old?
The Dukes situation well-summarized by Boswell this morning
From Tom Boswell wrote...But if such selfish, disrespectful, inflammatory behavior becomes part of your identity in baseball, it makes you a marked man to your foes and, eventually, toxic in your own clubhouse no matter how great your talent or how fierce and sincere your passion for the game.
Interesting comments but especially TOXIC IN YOUR OWN CLUBHOUSE.
Stan Kasten has more experience in troubled players than anyone else associated with this team so hopefully this incident which to me is an isolated one-time thing in Washington gets defused quickly.
what would Boz know about being toxic in the Nats clubhouse? this only the second time this summer he's written about the Nats.
it bothered me in Harlan's gamer how he pitted Zim's comments agaisnt what Milledge said. it's like Harlan was TRYING to create a rift.
with the constant undertones of subliminal racism permeating the media coverage of Dukes, it's no wonder the kid has an over-reaching and potentially dangerous sense of "prove them wrong" mentality. it's obviously what drives him on a daily basis, makes him the ballplayer that he is, but ultimately could drive him from the game and society.
stay classy Elijah. celebrate in the clubhouse. don't let your emotion motivate your opponent. let your immense talent do your chest-thumping and kiss blowing for you.
DUKES APOLOGIZES FOR SHEA ANTICS
MIAMI -- Elijah Dukes seemed to be in another world the last time the Nationals played.
The Nats outfielder took exception to a Mike Pelfrey pitch that almost hit him on Wednesday and then got into it with Mets fans at Shea Stadium the rest of the night.
Before the series opener against the Marlins, Dukes -- who was in the lineup for Friday night's game, playing right field and batting fifth -- met with skipper Manny Acta and general manager Jim Bowden for about five minutes.
Afterwards, he came out with a statement.
"I just wanted to apologize to my teammates and the Nationals organization and the fans for my actions in the game on Wednesday," said Dukes, who wouldn't take any follow-up questions. "I basically let my emotions get the best of me, and it was just tough to take in what I had to endure, and I just shouldn't have done it. I just wanted to apologize about it."
In the fourth inning, after hitting a home run in his previous at-bat, Dukes was brushed back by a Pelfrey fastball and had to be restrained from charging the mound. Then, after scoring on Wil Nieves' RBI single later that inning, the Mets fans booed, and Dukes made an obscene directed at the crowd. Later, Dukes stuck his tongue out at the fans after lining out and, after grounding out in the ninth, the 24-year-old Homestead, Fla., native waved his arms at the crowd and blew them a kiss.
The team would not say whether Dukes was fined or received any other sort of disciplinary action.
"We've handled the situation internally, and we're going to leave it internal," Bowden said.
Dukes entered the three-game series against Florida batting .275, with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs. Over his last eight games, Dukes is hitting .313 (10-for-32) with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Dukes' talent has always been well known, but on-and-off-the-field incidents have marred the right-handed-hitting slugger since he was drafted in 2002.
"I think it was good that he understood that it has no place in baseball and it was wrong," Acta said. "It was good that he came out and apologized to the team and the fans. And as long as he understands that it's not the right thing to do, and it's not going to be tolerated here, because we do need to send a message to the kids coming here that it's not going to be acceptable.
"We all know that he's working on [his attitude]. And this is a good step that he acknowledged it was wrong."
Alden Gonzalez is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
Why did it take almost 2 full days for this quote from management.
"I think it was good that he understood that it has no place in baseball and it was wrong," Acta said. "It was good that he came out and apologized to the team and the fans. And as long as he understands that it's not the right thing to do, and it's not going to be tolerated here, because we do need to send a message to the kids coming here that it's not going to be acceptable. We all know that he's working on [his attitude]. And this is a good step that he acknowledged it was wrong."
Better late than never! Way to go Elijah! Case closed.
I am glad to read that Elijah Dukes apologized. And I hope it comes from his heart, not just something he was told to say.
Either way, it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully, he must now understand how his actions can affect everything surrounding Our Washington Nationals.
Good Re-Start. We Hope Elijah Dukes continues to learn from his mistakes. Sohna and I don't want to see him ruin his own life and that of others--when he has a great opportunity here in Washington to truly make it--successfully--both on and off the field of play.
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