- Dukes received a relatively short three (3) game suspension after a full-on screaming match with then-Bulls hitting coach Richie Hebner.
- In June, Dukes was suspended for fifteen games (15) after a heated dispute with teammate Ryan Knox, another outfield hopeful, in the lobby of the club's hotel on the road after a game with Charlotte;
- The International League suspended Dukes for five (5) games after refusing to leave the field when an umpire ejected him during a game on July 25, 2006;
- In August, 2006, Dukes drew a thirty (30) game suspension from the Devil Rays in the wake of the incident in late July, effectively ending his season;
- USA TODAY ran a piece on the Bad Boy Bulls, who took the opportunity to take a shot at the D-Rays organization for leaving them down on the farm. Dukes' contribution, in part, was a stunning dis of the D-Rays: "Those guys up there [in the big leagues] shower in Evian. Here, we use sewer water." Dukes later denied saying it.
None of this should have been news to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, though. Scouting director Dan Jennings was fully aware of Dukes' emotional and authority issues from his high school days, when the club signed him up.
The hope, of course, is that a talented player, pulled out of a negative environment, will turn his personal life around in the pursuit of a major league career. Thus far, though, Dukes has carried his negatives with him, and possibly been the catalyst for the outbursts from the other Triple-Bs. While he did not room with Young last season, the two have been roommates in the past.
Teflon Men
Little has happened to the Triple-Bs other than time lost playing, and fines that range from the inconsequential to Delmon Young's record $140,000 smack down for the bat-toss.
Largely as a result of the disciplinary problems of the Triple-Bs, Bulls manager John Tamargo, pitching coach Joe Coleman, hitting coach Richie Hebner and trainer Tom Tisdale all lost their jobs after the season ended (See: "Off With Their Heads!", MAJOR BLOGS, 09.10.06)
Somewhat after the altercation with Dukes, Knox was sent back to AA...
<<BACK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | NEXT>>
