Nationals' Outfielder Dukes Defies Expectations: Doesn't Go to Prison

Washington Nationals outfielder and repeat violent offender Elijah Dukes proved that one is never too old to learn something new this week by achieving the previously unattainable feat of not going to jail. The power hitter avoided a stint in the California Penal League by paying $40,000 in back child support to his estranged wife on Friday at 4:57 p.m., exactly three minutes before the court-imposed deadline of 5:00. Congratulations to Mr. Dukes and his team-appointed “Special Assistant of Player Concerns” for keeping the Nationals’ best hitter and most prominent sociopath on the streets this offseason.

Aside from the various beatings, and unwanted pregnancies, he has allegedly bestowed upon people over the years, the most tragic side effect of Dukes’ remarkably poor behavior is that it overshadows his prowess on the baseball field. Dukes led the 2008 Nationals in adjusted OPS+ (save for Alberto Gonzalez’s 144 in 49 at-bats), tied for the team lead in walks and finished third on the team in VORP (a counting stat that heavily values playing time) despite coming to the plate just 334 times. In limited playing time in his age-24 season, Dukes did those things that result in runs scored—walking or hitting for extra bases—in roughly 24 percent of his plate appearances. Behold how Dukes stacks up in that regard against the top three MVP finishers in each league:

Player                BB+XBH     PA        %
Albert Pujols         185         641    28.8
Elijah Dukes        81          334    24.2
Ryan Howard        159         700    22.7
Kevin Youkilis       138         621    22.2
Justin Morneau     150         712    21.0
Ryan Braun          125         663    18.8
Dustin Pedroia      123         726    16.9

Dukes problems staying on the field last year were the result of injuries, rather than misdeeds, but 2008 was not without its charms for the mercurial felon. In addition to the child support shenanigans, Dukes exchanged words with Nats manager Manny Acta in a well-publicized on-field episode in June. The incident was quickly swept under the rug by team officials, with Acta reporting, “We talked it out after the game, and we're cool, we're fine.”

I'm not optimistic, but it would be very cool if Dukes could get his act together, between his health problems and emotional issues and stay on the field for an entire season. If he can, the Nats could find themselves with a pretty special player.