Maddon decides to keep Dukes out

Elijah Dukes was not in the Rays lineup for a second straight game Thursday, but manager Joe Maddon said Dukes is expected to accompany the team on the weekend trip to Chicago and will play during the three-game series against the White Sox.

Dukes, who has been in the headlines since his wife alleged in Wednesday's Times that he threatened to kill her and their kids, was in uniform and went through pre-game workouts on Thursday.
Maddon said the decision to not play Dukes again was his, and was made for several reasons.

"I felt it was the right thing to do right now,'' he said.

Maddon said he was "not necessarily concerned" about the reaction from the Tropicana Field crowd, but indicated that primary issue may have been Dukes' ability to focus on baseball.

"Overall what's occurred over the last couple days, maybe the lack of concentration on his part during the course of the game, or focus, whether or not that may be true or not, I'm still considering that,'' Maddon said.

Maddon said Dukes, who had taken over as the primary centerfielder, would play in Chicago but when asked if Dukes would return to the starting lineup said only" "I expect him to play in Chicago.''

Also Thursday, Maddon said that backup catcher Josh Paul could be out for up to two months due to a sprain of a ligament in his left elbow. Shawn Riggans was promoted from Triple-A Durham and joined the team Thursday.

Comments

[jack strait]

Dukes represents everything that is wrong in profesional sports and Maddon, everything that is wrong with corporate management. No wonder the Rays are a habitual losing team, the players and the managers are habitual losers.
i feel sorry for the taxpaying citizens of St. Pete who are forced to subsidize this morally and ethically bankrupt form of entertainment by paying these bums salaries that are hundreds of times greater than the average fan makes in a lifetime. Getting rid of dukes is not enough, throw all the bums out at the plate.... yeeeer outta here!

[Mel Brooks]

I wonder, is it asking too much to expect professional athletes and athletics to perform and operate on a moral level commensurate with the salaries and profits they earn? When parents stop prostituting their children to the lure of athletics, i.e.,(financial gain), and professional management ceases recruiting morally bankrupt athletic prospects, then the game, whatever it may be, will regain some integrity.

[Mel Brooks]

As outrageous as Mr. Duke's alledged behavior was, enablers were ridgidly in place that facilitated such conduct. The first of which was his wife. The next was the Ray's Organization,(management),and more specifically Professional athletics.
The former by repeatedly (allegedly) allowing the abuse to take place without removing herself, and her children as far as she could from the source of said abuse. The latter by covering, if you will, the alleged conduct of a up and coming "meal ticket". Mr. Duke needs long term treatment. Until tnen, he should have his privileges curtailed and his movements monitored.

[commonSense]

You guys are idiots. Why must everyone jump to conclusions in today's 24 hour news cycle? He hasnt been charged with any of these alleged crimes.

One big question...if a man goes to a school threatening to kill someone, they are arrested 100 out of 100 times. Why wasnt Dukes? It isnt up to his wife to press charges in that situation.

Unlike many in this country, I do like to presume innocence unless there is overwhelming evidence indicating guilt. In this case, a messy divorce is involved, and I'll take a step back and wait for more details.

[J]

It wasnt so long ago Myers (Phillies pitcher) was arrested for getting into a physical altercation with his wife on a street corner that the organization bailed him out and he was applauded and welcomed back by Phillie fans to pitch that day.
Whatever his wife "did" or did not do does not account the action Dukes has taken and there has to come a time when society does not look past the actions of young men with perhaps too much money, status, and power due to the swinging of a bat or the throwing of a fastball.
Duke should sit, and if the charges are true maybe he needs to hang up his uniform.