Who's Running The Show? (Part 4)
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have some great talent in their minor league system. Unfortunately, their minor league talent is apparently already complete with major league attitudes.
B.J. Upton, Elijah Dukes, and Delmon Young were critical of the D-Rays organization in a USA Today piece published last week. All three were unhappy that they were still playing at AAA Durham and not in the major leagues.
All three have immense talent. Dukes is hitting .296 for the Bulls, with an .898 OPS. Young is at .350 with a .901 OPS, and Upton, although hitting just .270, has drawn 63 walks for a .373 On-base percentage and has stolen 46 bases. But all have very heavy baggage, as well.
Young, who made the same kind of criticisms of the Devil Rays last September, was suspended 50 games earlier this year for throwing a bat which hit an umpire. Dukes has been involved in a number of incidents involving fights with teammates, coaches, and pretty much anyone else. Upton has had significant issues with his defense at shortstop and was charged with DWI in June.
Interestingly, reports on all three say that none of them are really bad guys, just kids with issues. That certainly may be true; lots and lots of 21 and 22 year olds have issues and do really stupid things, then get on with their lives. Certainly Dukes' background reads like a horror story. Young served his sentence for the bat throwing incident like a model citizen. Upton seems to be trying to be a steadying influence on the other two.
But running their mouths like this in a national publication didn't win them any friends in the major league clubhouse or front office. Becoming a major league star is very hard work. Young, Dukes, and Upton just made it harder.
Last minute update...this afternoon B.J. Upton was recalled by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
B.J. Upton, Elijah Dukes, and Delmon Young were critical of the D-Rays organization in a USA Today piece published last week. All three were unhappy that they were still playing at AAA Durham and not in the major leagues.
All three have immense talent. Dukes is hitting .296 for the Bulls, with an .898 OPS. Young is at .350 with a .901 OPS, and Upton, although hitting just .270, has drawn 63 walks for a .373 On-base percentage and has stolen 46 bases. But all have very heavy baggage, as well.
Young, who made the same kind of criticisms of the Devil Rays last September, was suspended 50 games earlier this year for throwing a bat which hit an umpire. Dukes has been involved in a number of incidents involving fights with teammates, coaches, and pretty much anyone else. Upton has had significant issues with his defense at shortstop and was charged with DWI in June.
Interestingly, reports on all three say that none of them are really bad guys, just kids with issues. That certainly may be true; lots and lots of 21 and 22 year olds have issues and do really stupid things, then get on with their lives. Certainly Dukes' background reads like a horror story. Young served his sentence for the bat throwing incident like a model citizen. Upton seems to be trying to be a steadying influence on the other two.
But running their mouths like this in a national publication didn't win them any friends in the major league clubhouse or front office. Becoming a major league star is very hard work. Young, Dukes, and Upton just made it harder.
Last minute update...this afternoon B.J. Upton was recalled by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
posted by Jim at
10:04 PM
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