Don't Blame The Messenger!
Man - I NEVER expected the backlash of email that I received after my post about the Pirates potentially talking with the Rays.
Never in a million years did I expect to see so many outspoken critics.
On one hand I had at least 75 Rays fans telling me they saw Gonzalez for Dukes as a good deal and that Dukes just needs an everyday job to succeed.
On the other hand I had about 40 Pirates fans emailing me that if Littlefield traded Gonzo for Dukes, they would go off the deep end.
Then the rest of the emails.. probably 200 or so that either thought Dukes was a mental case who didn't deserve to wear any uniform in baseball or Pirate fans saying the deal sounded good but asked if he might upset the clubhouse?
LoL
Look, if this country can elect a President who lied under oath about being arrested (George W Bush) when he was 30, why can't a young man like Dukes be given a chance to play baseball? And come to think of it, Bush was even arrested for theft when he was in college. So how did he get to own a baseball team to begin with I might ask those same critics?
Well, there is no doubt that Dave Littlefield has an open door to know anything he wants about Dukes because ex-Pirate Richie Hebner was at the center of one of Dukes disputes. Of course, Hebner was subsequently let go too. And let's be honest, Richie was never known to be an easy going guy by any means. hehe
How much of Dukes problems have to do with immaturity, poor management around him, and Delmon Young, I don't really know.
If you remember, the Pirates had a few guys swinging a gun around in Indy not too long ago and they are now history so that might be the biggest clue on whether or not Littlefield would even pursue Dukes. But then again, Littlefield let Jason Boyd pitch in 2004 after hitting a guy in the face with a beer bottle in 2003 - his second arrest in one month, so who knows. It isn't like the Pirates organization - or any baseball organization - is arrest free. Nor is the White House.
With that being said, all I meant to do was explain that there might be more going on behind the scenes right now in Pirateland than we are hearing about regarding Gonzalez. The Rays were one team.. who knows who else has an interest. But it is nice to hear Littlefield continues to work toward a solution.
And you know what? I'd take Dukes any day of the week for Gonzalez. Until he proves he isn't worth putting on black-n-gold and playing as a Pirate, he's platinum in my corner. The past is the past. We all grow up.. ask Bush.
Besides, name one Pirate - other than Bay - who can even come close to his ceiling on the field? Nobody - not even McCutchen. Right hand bat or not, he is offense that can be had for Gonzalez - he's cheap, he's a 5-tool player, and he's a risk. But as a small market team, sometimes you have to take that risk.
Love him or hate him. That's your choice. I doubt you will ever have to worry about it in Pittsburgh. But you never know.