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Dukes |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
VIERA, Fla.--
The prosecution in a case against Washington Nationals left fielder Elijah Dukes yesterday dropped the first-degree misdemeanor charge that he violated a restraining order.Dukes appeared in Tampa criminal court for a disposition yesterday morning and did not attend the Nationals' final spring training game, a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He was scheduled to fly to Washington last night and join the team there.
On Sept. 20, Dukes pleaded not guilty to the charge that he violated a restraining order by contacting the defendant on July 22, according to court records. Those records did not identify the defendant.
Dukes' attorney, Grady C. Irvin, did not return a phone message yesterday, and Assistant State Attorney Lindsay Mueller could not be reached for comment.
The Nationals traded a minor league pitcher to Tampa Bay for the oft-troubled outfielder on Dec. 3. He has a history of domestic violence, drug abuse and other legal problems, and the Nationals have taken extraordinary measures to rehabilitate him and keep him out of trouble.
They hired a full-time employee, James Williams, to serve as a mentor, counselor and disciplinarian for Dukes. The team also requires a public relations official to be present when Dukes speaks to reporters.
"He has done everything we have asked him to do," general manager Jim Bowden said Wednesday. "I have no complaints."
Dukes, 23, is recovering from a pulled right hamstring, but he will play in tomorrow's exhibition against Baltimore, manager Manny Acta said. Dukes is expected to start the season-opener at Nationals Park against Atlanta on Sunday night after batting .250 (10-for-40) this spring with one home run and three RBIs.
YOUNG'S NOT RESTLESS
First baseman Dmitri Young declared himself ready for the season after going 1-for-2 yesterday to improve his spring average to .280.
Spring training "went perfect," he said. "I didn't have to make every single trip and get 1,000 at-bats. I'm 34 now. I've been doing this for a long time. It doesn't take six weeks for people to get loose."
Young competed with Nick Johnson for the starting spot at first base this spring, and Johnson appears to have won. Johnson, the superior defensive player, showed that he is recovered from the broken right femur that sidelined him for all of 2007.
Young, meanwhile, has been hampered by lower back pain. He arrived at spring training weighing almost 300 pounds, in part because of his diabetes.
"That's something I have to deal with," said Young, the team's only all-star last season. "It's not an excuse."
Manager Manny Acta said he will reveal his starting lineup after tomorrow's exhibition, How will Young react if he isn't in it?
"You'll find out that day," he said.
INJURY NEWS
Left fielder Wily Mo Pena is recovering quickly from a partially torn left oblique muscle and is set to resume normal baseball activities on Monday, he said.
"I feel nothing," Pena said. "When I'm doing all those [rehab] exercises, they think it was going to bother me, but it's not bothering me. I told them, and they couldn't believe it."
Pena was expected to miss 4-6 weeks after tearing the muscle on Mar. 12. He will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list.
Right-hander Tim Redding said he feels no effects from the back spasm that forced him to leave Sunday's game early. He will start a minor-league game and throw 90-95 pitches in Florida today.
Right-hander Shawn Hill is scheduled to pitch three innings in a minor league game today and fly to Washington afterward.
Center fielder Lastings Milledge is fine after fouling a pitch off his left shin in the fifth inning yesterday.
LANNAN: ODD MAN OUT
The day after left-hander John Lannan learned he did not make the Nationals' four-man rotation to start the season, he held Baltimore to one run on three hits and a walk, and struck out five in six innings.
"A lot of guys just would have gone out there a little bit mad and careless," Acta said. "He didn't do that. He's a special kid."
Lannan, 23, believes he deserved to make the team after a stellar spring. His 2.18 ERA was better than that of any pitcher who made the rotation. In fact, Jason Bergmann (2.70) was the only other starter to keep his ERA under 4.50.
"I want to see everybody stay healthy, but I also look at it as I'm going to get an opportunity at some point during the year," Lannan said.
Acta said Joel Hanrahan and Saul Rivera will be the Nationals' long relievers. Hanrahan, who pitched 13 scoreless innings this spring and went 2-0 with a .050 batting average against, 15 strikeouts and two walks, will mainly pitch in the sixth inning to start the season. He could be used in more late-game situations later in the year depending on how well he pitches.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
