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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Sportsline: Miller: National disaster area or land of second chances? You decide

I think Scott Miller already has…

The Nationals are the Island of Misfit Toys, and general manager Jim Bowden is Santa Claus.

...Bowden flinches at the “Misfit Toys” label—“Only one of them,” he says, referring to Dukes—and makes no apology for a career-long willingness to grant second chances to players badly in need of a guardian angel.

“When you don’t have big-market payrolls, when you’re not going to be able to sign guys for $15 million a year, the only way to get them is to trade or give a chance to a guy who, for whatever reason, his career has gone backwards,” the GM says.

...“I know some of these guys through my brother,” Dmitri Young says, referring to brother Delmon—now playing for Minnesota after spending 2007 as Dukes’ teammate in Tampa Bay. “He tells me straight up, ‘With Milledge and Dukes, you’ve got nothing to worry about.’

“You’ve got to look at the situations. There were no veteran black players with the Mets (Milledge) or Devil Rays (Dukes) to show these guys how to be big league players on and off the field.”

...“With Dukes here, me, Ray King, Willie Harris ... we have veteran black players who have been there, done that,” Young says. “Guys who will give him (Dukes) support.”

Repoz Posted: March 11, 2008 at 12:39 PM | 34 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 12:52 PM (#2710342)

There were no veteran black players with the Mets (Milledge)...to show these guys how to be big league players on and off the field.”

I seem to recall that Willie Randolph might've been black.

2. Craig Calcaterra Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:18 PM (#2710356)

I seem to recall that Willie Randolph might've been black.

There's a difference between a mentor and a boss.

Not that I think Milledge ever did anything to deserve being lumped in with Dukes in the first place.

3. I Love LA (OFF) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:40 PM (#2710371)

Hmmm....isn't Cliff Floyd black?

4. Moloka'i Three-Finger Brown (Declino DeShields) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:43 PM (#2710374)

Not that I think Milledge ever did anything to deserve being lumped in with Dukes in the first place

For sure.

The other thing that has occurred to me since the trade is the talk of Dmitri Young serving as Dukes' mentor sounds a bit naive and perhaps cynical. I mean, Dukes' past behavior reveals some pretty serious issues -- and, while Young has a domestic violence episode in his recent past, he has always attributed that to the diabetes and a previous inability to medicate it properly. But now Young will mentor Dukes on (presumably) how not to terrorize domestic partners, except Dukes doesn't have a mis-medicated diabetes excuse to fall back on.

This all underscores Dukes' apparent serious need to get some counseling. Not to say that a counselor obviates the need for a mentor, but . . .

5. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:45 PM (#2710376)

Dmitri is going to take Elijah under his wing...and then eat him.

6. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:46 PM (#2710377)

There's a difference between a mentor and a boss.

A manager is worthless if he can't be both to those players who need it. And Randolph surely qualifies under the "been there, done that" rule.

7. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:47 PM (#2710378)

Leaving aside the dis to Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd and, heck, even Michael Tucker, well, here's this implication that whatever Dukes and Milledge lack in composure is the result of the notion that young black players can't figure out "how to be big league players on and off the field" if the guidance doesn't come from other black players. That just sounds like the wrong tack.

8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:51 PM (#2710382)

"Hmmm....isn't Cliff Floyd black?"

His first name is "Cornelius". Does that sound like a black guy to you?

9. Chris Needham Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:56 PM (#2710387)

In separate interviews, Young and Ryan Zimmerman independently began giggling when bringing up Milledge's high-five incident.

"He hits a home run and gives out high-fives, and everyone thinks he's a criminal or something," Zimmerman says.

Says Young: "I thought that was absolutely classic. It's never been done before. I wish I'd have thought of that. People were like, 'That's not baseball.' Well this isn't baseball of the 1960s or 1970s. Society's changed. That's about as fan friendly as it gets, right there."

Adds Bowden: "You jump into the stands in the NFL, nobody complains. To me, this is a great kid. Anyone who says anything else about him just doesn't know him."

It's definitely a different culture in DC than in NY. Some of that is likely the media pressure/focus, but not all of it.

10. Moloka'i Three-Finger Brown (Declino DeShields) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 01:59 PM (#2710389)

Some of that is likely the media pressure/focus, but not all of it

Some of it might also be that Jim Bowden has rather relaxed standards for taste and decorum.

(Not that I think high-fiving fans is a terrible act, of course.)

11. Double-Spin Mechanic Posted: March 11, 2008 at 02:00 PM (#2710390)

Dmitri is going to take Elijah under his wing...and then eat him.

Not if Ray King gets there first.

12. OsunaSakata Posted: March 11, 2008 at 02:25 PM (#2710405)

Some of it might also be that Jim Bowden has rather relaxed standards for taste and decorum.

(Not that I think high-fiving fans is a terrible act, of course.)

For his first home run at Nationals Park, Lasting Milledge will high-five the fans while riding a Segway.

13. Cowboy Popup Posted: March 11, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2710409)

I seem to recall that Willie Randolph might've been black.

This reminds me of Eddie Murphy talking about his conversation with Bill Cosby about cursing.

14. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: March 11, 2008 at 02:46 PM (#2710413)

Damion Easley, Cliff Floyd, and Darren Oliver all played prominent roles for the 2006-2007 Mets. That doesn't include guys like Marlon Anderson, Chip Ambres, and Michael Tucker who played smaller roles with the team.

15. Jimmy P Posted: March 11, 2008 at 03:21 PM (#2710446)

while Young has a domestic violence episode in his recent past, he has always attributed that to the diabetes and a previous inability to medicate it properly. But now Young will mentor Dukes on (presumably) how not to terrorize domestic partners, except Dukes doesn't have a mis-medicated diabetes excuse to fall back on.

Young's also an alcoholic. It seems Dukes is just crazy, and Milledge was the NY media scapegoat.

With Beltran hurting and Alou down, I bet the Mets are glad they have Ryan Church!

16. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: March 11, 2008 at 03:24 PM (#2710448)

His first name is "Cornelius". Does that sound like a black guy to you?

Makes me think of Planet of the Apes.

17. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: March 11, 2008 at 03:30 PM (#2710460)

I wonder if Lastings told guys on the Nationals that the Mets vets "froze him out"?

18. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 11, 2008 at 03:34 PM (#2710468)

I wonder if Lastings told guys on the Nationals that the Mets vets "froze him out"?

He better not. Nick Johnson might think he meant "thawed out"...and then eat him.

Folks, I'll be here all day for all your Fat Nats needs!

19. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 11, 2008 at 03:39 PM (#2710474)

His first name is "Cornelius". Does that sound like a black guy to you?

Makes me think of Planet of the Apes.

Racist!

I loved Planet of the Apes as a kid but even as a 10 or 11 year old, I was a bit uncomfortable by the racial overtones of the series. I guess I was destined for an advanced degree in Literature as evidenced by my complete inabililty to just enjoy things for what they are. Still, Planet of the Apes is an amazing science fiction franchise. They just kept coming up with interesting ideas.

20. Hurdle's Heroes (SuperBaes) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 04:04 PM (#2710497)

I'm glad the Nats have assembled a team like this. Between fat, crazy, and psychopath jokes, this season will provide endless laughter for all involved. Wasn't this essentially the plot of Major League?

21. Cowboy Popup Posted: March 11, 2008 at 04:06 PM (#2710499)

Wasn't this essentially the plot of Major League?

Pena is most definately Cerrano.

22. Who wants Teixeira dessert? Posted: March 11, 2008 at 04:09 PM (#2710501)

I hope all the guns I see around that neighborhood shoot jelly too.

23. Hubie Brooks (Not Really) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 04:31 PM (#2710515)

Young and King will teach Lastings how to be fat? I don't know how that well that works for a CF. Besides Andruw off course.

24. Sexy Lizard Posted: March 11, 2008 at 05:30 PM (#2710579)

I loved Planet of the Apes as a kid but even as a 10 or 11 year old, I was a bit uncomfortable by the racial overtones of the series. I guess I was destined for an advanced degree in Literature as evidenced by my complete inabililty to just enjoy things for what they are. Still, Planet of the Apes is an amazing science fiction franchise. They just kept coming up with interesting ideas.

But the racial overtones aren't even overtones -- they were the whole point of the series! Not only the humans/apes divide, but the intra-ape divide, between the ruling orangutans, the brainy chimps, and the grunt gorillas. Without that it's just silly. I didn't start to get oooged out by it until Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.

25. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 11, 2008 at 05:35 PM (#2710583)

But the racial overtones aren't even overtones -- they were the whole point of the series! Not only the humans/apes divide, but the intra-ape divide, between the ruling orangutans, the brainy chimps, and the grunt gorillas. Without that it's just silly. I didn't start to get oooged out by it until Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.

Yeah, you're right of course. The movie just lays it all out there, doesn't it?

26. standuptriple Posted: March 11, 2008 at 05:39 PM (#2710588)

So Delmon Young is a character expert now? Wasn't he involved in a "war of words" with Carl Crawford just last week?

27. Francoeur Sans Gages (AlouGoodbye) Posted: March 11, 2008 at 06:09 PM (#2710620)

A manager is worthless if he can't be both to those players who need it. And Randolph surely qualifies under the "been there, done that" rule.

Yes, but I think a lot of people have already concluded that Randolph is worthless.

28. TerpNats Posted: March 11, 2008 at 08:55 PM (#2710777)

His first name is "Cornelius". Does that sound like a black guy to you?

Makes me think of Planet of the Apes.

Makes me think of "Soul Train," and Don Cornelius. (BTW, congrats to Gamble & Huff for joining the Rock Hall. It's time to get down!)

29. cardsfanboy

Posted: March 11, 2008 at 09:27 PM (#2710789)

I just ordered Planet of the Apes book (yes I know it's different than the movies since it's high tech instead of low tech) I loved that franchise (except the marky mark one, man what a dumb ending) I also love how they always talk about that while they were filming the movie how at lunch the there was a natural tendency to segregate during eating time.

Not too sure how good of an influence Dimitri could be, since you would imagine he had some influence on his bat throwing younger brother. And I loved that Bowden and Dimitri both defended the high fiving thing, I still can't fathom having an issue with that. It's not like he is a dumb back up catcher deciding to get himself hurt by blocking the plate in an exhibition game.

30. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: March 11, 2008 at 09:38 PM (#2710795)

Scott Miller hates black people

31. Greg Pope Posted: March 11, 2008 at 11:05 PM (#2710821)

I just ordered Planet of the Apes book (yes I know it's different than the movies since it's high tech instead of low tech)

The ending is significantly different.

32. vortex of dissipation Posted: March 12, 2008 at 12:01 AM (#2710838)

Scott Miller hates black people

Watch Who You're Calling Space Garbage Meteor Mouth

33. Argu!!!! SATAN!!!! (Sessile Fielder) Posted: March 12, 2008 at 01:21 AM (#2710864)

His first name is "Cornelius". Does that sound like a black guy to you?

Babar anyone?

34. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: March 12, 2008 at 01:33 AM (#2710867)

Beat me to it, vortex.
As for Cornelius, I think of this guy, which I guess goes back to Planet.

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Sportsline: Miller: National disaster area or land of second chances? You decide

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