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Baseball Primer Newsblog— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
There was no pregame chatter about Dukes’ phoned-in rant to WDAE, 620 AM, Tuesday morning, apparently because the vast majority of the players were unaware it had even happened. That was not the case for those with Dukes’ immediate future in their hands, though. Once again, the Rays’ front office was forced to put out a fire, and there’s a growing sense around the team that patience is wearing thin.
...
Dukes did not explain why he chose to call into the radio show at around 7 a.m. Arizona time after staying mostly silent since his estranged wife NiShea Gilbert’s allegations of threats and violence first surfaced last month.
Approached by reporters in the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field on Tuesday afternoon, Dukes didn’t say much. “[Expletive] you,” he said while walking away. “You know I’m not talking to you.”
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Dukes apparently has told team officials in recent weeks that he knows he probably would be better off playing somewhere other than his hometown. Of course, any trade would be contingent on another team being willing to take a chance on him and give up something of value. But if Dukes is simply released, he is talented enough that one of the other 29 organizations surely would risk signing him - keeping in mind that he still can be optioned back to the minors this season.
The Rays could take that route themselves, but Dukes probably would not receive a warm welcome in Triple-A Durham after the difficulties he had there last season, when he was suspended five times.
Tampa Tribune blog: Dukes Sounds Off On Radio Show
NTNgod
Posted: June 20, 2007 at 02:46 AM | 20 comment(s)
Related News: General, Tampa Bay
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I'd prefer they don't. The metro area is crowded enough without adding all the Dukes-spawn.
depends, if i can flip the wisecrack for any value in the hood
A saavy GM could use this trait to advantage.
"I'd love to have Burke on second, but I can't get rid of Biggio without causing a firestorm. Hmm...Biggio is crabby towards the younger players...yeah, this might work..."
+
I wouldn't want this guy anywhere near "my" team. He's just a wisecrack away from shanking somebody with a sharpened toothbrush.
+
A saavy GM could use this trait to advantage.
=
No more Jay Gibbons problem.
I suppose it depends on who the "somebody" is. I'm sure most fans could think of a player on their team's roster that they wouldn't mind Dukes shanking.
John Rocker.
I, for one, wouldn't mind him shanking the reporter, line editor & copy editor(s) involved.
"So if you knew he was going to keep stealing your money, why did you always let him play?"
"Got to, man ... this is America"
I don't think they could refuse to add him to the roster, but they could definitely retaliate by pulling their affiliation the next time the contract's up. Durham is a pretty choice spot, so they probably wouldn't have too much trouble finding a new team.
I guess they could also ban him from using their facilities, and only let him play on road trips, if they wanted to turn up the heat on the D-Rays.
Indeed, Raleigh/Durham is probably a better place for a major league team than Tampa/St. Pete is.
Durham can put Dukes on their roster, but there's no law saying they have to play him.
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