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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nat..._released.htmlQuote:
Manager Jim Riggleman said it was a strictly baseball decision and not related to any off-the-field problems. "We like some of our other options in right field, really," Riggleman said. "Elijah was great."
LOL. Yep, fail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
FailQuote:
The candidates to replace Dukes in right field are Justin Maxwell of Olney, Maryland, Roger Bernadina, Mike Morse and Willie Harris
So funny.
haha....let's see.
potential perennial all star, for four guys who have no business being starting right fielders.
give them austin kearns back ;)
They should just have open tryouts.
from mlb trade rumors
Quote:
Dukes, 25, hit .250/.337/.393 in 416 plate appearances last year, playing a below-average right and center field (according to UZR). He also played 22 games in the minors. Dukes has avoided off-the-field problems since Jim Bowden acquired him from the Rays in December of '07, with a June '08 dugout confrontation with Manny Acta probably his worst offense. Just a couple of weeks ago Goessling noted that the Nationals had "taken the reins off Dukes -- letting his personal adviser go and allowing him more freedom with the media."
bet TNP could make itQuote:
Originally Posted by OregonDuck1989
They would just confuse him with Boof Bonser.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffy25
I have a question:
Marquis, a sinker baller pitcher, how well will be perform having three below average defensive infielders (Zimmerman is basically the only good one) until Desmond joins.
Will Marquis get wins?
The Nats won't get winsQuote:
Originally Posted by Jeffy25
Predictions have them looking alright. 70-80Quote:
Originally Posted by filihok
Not if they keep making decisions like this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffy25
Even I cant argue that this (Dukes release) doesnt have atleast some failure to it.
We, as fans, had some high hopes for him this season as he performed well last year once he was recalled from Syracuse. He was even using what I would call the "right" rhetoric to generate a sense of belief in him once the season was over. This, to me, smells too much like off the field issues that Riggleman has already says isnt the issue. If its not the case, then why not send him back to Syracuse to start out the year since he has 1 more option left? Plus he is only making 400k .....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffy25
not any more :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ragecage
and as we saw earlier in the thread... its not like they care about spelling :p
Wow. Elijah Dukes? released? whew.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elijah Dukes GM Handbook
hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by Alloutwar
http://twitter.com/masnBen/status/10626843836Quote:
Rizzo said the #Nats made many attempts to trade Dukes, but could not find an interested team
And you can't play a guy like that. Not even as a 4th outfielder. Not where your starters are:
Josh Willingham
Nyjer Morgan
Willie Harris
Justin Maxwell
Roger Bernadina
Ok - Willingham is decent. Morgan a speedy one. Harris is passable, right? So worst case scenrio, Dukes as a 4th OF'er and PH? And if he pulls it all together this year - or even platoons well - he could get to a starter role.
I've never heard of Maxwell or Bernadina...are these better options that Dukes?? I cannot conceptually get this move into my brain.
No.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alloutwar
Maxwell probably deserves a shot.
He's big, he's fast. He strikes out a ton. Has some pop. His upside would be something like well...Elijah Dukes but less refined.
Bernadina is a fast CFer who doesn't hit.
Over the last two years, Maxwell has basically done in AAA what Dukes has done in the majors.
If you wanna look at it that wayQuote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
OBP/SLG
Dukes 2009: .337/.393
Maxwell (AAA) 2009: .344/.396
Maxwell did add 35 steals and I think he played CF but I don't know how well
The only thing that might make sense is if they decided that Dukes was going to be the 4th outfielder, but that he didn't want to accept that role. The difference between Dukes and the next option as a 4th outfielder would probably be less than a win, and that might not have been worth the headaches they expected him to cause.
Keeping in line with the Nats/Dukes/Failure line of thinking, don't forget Willy Tavares is a Nat now (although I don't know that him or Morgan have a RF arm), and I've seen rumors about the Nats' interest in Jermaine Dye.
Somebody could get a very good player for free..pretty much free, anyways.
Detroit could probably use him on the bench over Raburn or someone. With Ordonez/Damon/Jackson there's bound to be 400 PA in the OF this year.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...dukes-releasedQuote:
Originally Posted by 200tang
Quote:
Dukes would seem have at least some trade value, but Ben Goessling tweeted that Rizzo could not find any takers on for a potential Dukes trade.
I don't get why you quoted that, Jeffy...lol
that apparently he wasn't trade-able according to Rizzo.Quote:
Originally Posted by 200tang
Didn't you say that another team might want him? :confused:
For free now, hell yeah, but as a trade-able option, it doesn't appear anyone wanted him.
Unless I am missing something.
I guess I should have quoted AOW rather than you tang ;)
Awww! Look at the lil Nats pretending to be a real baseball team!
The little cuties think releasing their minimum wage starting OF is a good idea! Those sillies.
hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by BenFink
They sure are trying, aren't them?
It's absolutely adorable!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffy25
I think Raburn's fine. Dukes could outplay him, but, marginal upgrade at best.Quote:
Originally Posted by 200tang
I think the Royals should pick Dukes up.
marginal upgrade this year, bu next year I think they'll need a corner outfielder with Ordonez & Damon likely gone. Not to mention given the choice of Dukes or Raburn, in terms of talent, it's a no brainer.Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
I think Mark Zuckerman has the best write-up concerning this story.
Nats Insider
The best quote of the piece
Quote:
No, Dukes wasn't released today because he made mistakes off the field. He was released because he wasn't good enough on the field to make up for the rest of the package.
Good piece overall. Strives to explain this.
This is funny. "There's a reason to keep a guy around, despite being horrible at his job. If you are slightly less horrible, with much more upside and still in your mid-20s under team control, we will let go of you completely."Quote:
There's a reason a guy like Austin Kearns is kept on the roster an entire season despite his horrific production at the plate. Kearns was revered inside the Nationals' clubhouse for his work ethic, his attitude and his refusal to grumble over lost playing time.
The stats-first mindset will dismiss this as ridiculous. And seeing my own Red Sox win world series while Manny and Pedro and the like were in town, I can see their point. If the Nats are valuing cohesiveness as a group more than savvy business, then they're going to have a great group of guys, in last place, for years to come.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-bl...e-misspelling/
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-bl...0/05/Cocka.jpg
Quote:
Bobby Cox’s final season as Braves manager is not quite going as expected. The team is struggling and even a cake ordered for his honor on Capitol Hill spelled his name incorrectly.
I fail to see how this is a Nats fail. I can't argue that its not a fail overall though.