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Originally Posted by M&M Guy
I saw on ESPN today that Elijah Dukes, one of the players mentioned in the article, was suspended indefinitely by the Tampa Bay organization from an incident that happened last week. I cannot find if the "incident" was connected with the article, or if it was something else.
Must've been something in the water.  |
Dukes Suspended Indefinitely Again
Published: Aug 2, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - For the second time this season, the Rays have suspended Triple-A Durham OF Elijah Dukes indefinitely. This time, Dukes appears to be questioning his future as a baseball player.
The former Hillsborough High standout received a five-game suspension last week from the International League after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes. He was to be reinstated by the IL on Tuesday, but the Rays followed up with Tuesday's indefinite suspension pending a review of the incident.
It is believed that the review could be completed by the weekend and might include no additional suspension, but in a telephone interview conducted by Baseball America on Tuesday, Dukes brought up the possibility that his baseball career could be over.
"I have no idea when or if I'll be back," Dukes told Baseball America.. "I packed up all my stuff and I'm headed home. To be honest, I don't even know about baseball anymore. Everything is just wearing on me and this year has just been so frustrating."
Devil Rays director of minor-league operations Mitch Lukevics declined to comment, saying he had yet to read the Baseball America report.
Dukes also was frustrated with his role in last Friday's USA Today article, in which he, B.J. Upton and Delmon Young were cast as a trio of talented, yet disgruntled, prospects. He added that the organization wrongly considers him a "bad influence" on Upton and Young.
LINKS IN LINEUP: Upton's speed and on-base percentage may make him the prototypical leadoff hitter, but he hit eighth in Manager Joe Maddon's lineup.
"[B.J.'s] got a lot going on right now mentally, and I want to take some of that off of him," Maddon said. "I want him to relax and work his way into the major leagues."
Maddon likes what CF Rocco Baldelli has done hitting leadoff lately, including two doubles and two runs scored Monday. His other priority was keeping Upton and Ben Zobrist around Baldelli and Carl Crawford without moving run producers like Jorge Cantu down in the order.
"I'd like to keep those guys linked," Maddon said. "So even though it's 8-9, it's 8-9-1-2 to me."
AROUND THE HORN: IF Ty Wigginton said doctors have told him his fractured left hand could heal in three weeks, slightly faster than the four-to-six week prognosis given right after the injury occurred last Saturday. … LHP Scott Kazmir threw off flat ground Tuesday, and plans to do the same at least one more time before his next bullpen session, which has yet to be scheduled. … Rays prospect Josh Hamilton will have his left knee examined next week by orthopedic surgeon and team medical director James Andrews. … RHP Dan Miceli, who has pitched three scoreless innings of relief during his rehab assignment at Double-A Montgomery, may be activated from the disabled list as soon as this weekend.
Bart O'Connell