The issue always lingers under the surface with Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes.
From the day the organization traded for the gifted, but troubled, 23-year-old last December, his conduct has been under a microscope. A string of suspensions, arrests and court appearances during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, including one last year for threatening his wife by text message, made Dukes’ acquisition a risky one.
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In the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dukes engaged in a heated shouting match with Nats manager Manny Acta in the dugout. The confrontation occurred just after teammate Lastings Milledge hit a go-ahead two-run home run.
Team officials, including Acta prior to last night’s game with the Pirates, wouldn’t disclose what started the argument. Television replays showed Acta and Dukes yelling at each other before Nats outfielder Wily Mo Pena stepped between them. During the postgame handshake, Dukes refused to shake Acta’s hand.
“Manny and I met with Elijah after the game,” Nats general manager Jim Bowden wrote in an e-mail. “The issue was handled behind closed doors. I support Manny 100 percent. The incident is now behind us.”
That remains to be seen. Last Thursday, Dukes appeared to taunt home plate umpire Doug Eddings after blasting a game-winning home run against the St. Louis Cardinals. Earlier in the season, he led teammates in boisterous dugout cheers that angered New York Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa.
Is this unfair scrutiny over relatively minor incidents? Or more trouble from an immensely talented player viewed by some as combustible? Either way, Dukes, who was 9-for-28 with three doubles, a triple and a home run in his last eight games, was back in the lineup Wednesday.
