Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Fresh off the debut of its alternate "Natinals" jersey on Friday, D.C.'s Major League ball club continues to rebuild its reputation as a respectable organization. Via the excellent Big League Stew, Chico Harlan of the Washington Post reports that boss Manny Acta benched and fined Elijah Dukes for showing up five minutes late one day this week. What kept Dukes? Charity work with a local Little League program.
"He was late for work, he broke a team rule, and we are going to change the culture here -- regardless of how well a guy is playing," Acta said. "And it was a bizarre situation, because he was doing something that we encourage our players to do: He was out in the community doing something for some Little League program and just showed up late to work. He was very remorseful about it. He felt bad, but we have to lay the law on whoever."I'm sure this comes from a leadership book Acta read over the summer. "Rule No. 257 to Changing the Culture of Your Organization: Punctuality is more important than humanity. Motive and apology mean nothing when the sanctity of discipline is at risk."
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Natinals… lucky they didn’t base the team in Virginia.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Apr 19, 2009 10:09 PM EDT reply actions
These are the types of things players remember when their contract is up.
by jcargle on Apr 20, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions
My favorite part of this story isn’t mentioned above. The little league agreed to pay Dukes fine. They’ll present a check for $501 – $500 for the fine and $1 for "administrative expenses."
by PackFan on Apr 21, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions
Would they have fined him for missing the charity gig too?
Washington is dangerously close to becoming the worst franchise in every conceivable way…all they need now is that John Rocker guy as a human relations department guy and maybe put David Wells in charge of conditioning…
by a-roid on Apr 27, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions
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