Dukes story, a personal aside

Something Elijah Dukes did the other day took me by surprise. The Nationals were on the field running through pre-game drills, outfielders shagging, infielders taking grounders, others preparing to hit, etc., and he strolled in from right field where the outfielders were working and sat down in the dugout.

He was the only player to excuse himself from pre-game drills and then began a good-natured but profanity-filled dialouge with a teammate on the field about his (Duke's) striking out twice in a game the day before.

It just struck me as odd but also struck me as Elijah begin Elijah.

Maybe it was just me but there always appeared to be a certain tenseness in the clubhouse when Dukes was around, almost as though an explosion was waiting to occur.

That won't be an issue now.