MLB must address conduct

ELIJAH DUKES A lot of baggage

Just last week, Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon, who is trying to be father, mentor, and amateur psychologist to Elijah Dukes, told his young outfielder that he can't stare down an umpire in a threatening way after a close call.

Maddon and the Devil Rays organization are trying to change the thinking of the talented Dukes, who grew up in chaos in the tough streets of Tampa. His father is serving a 20-year prison sentence for murder, and his mother has battled a cocaine addiction. Not many of us have walked in those shoes.

Nevertheless, at some point in life, you have to take responsibility for your actions.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Dukes's estranged wife, NiShea Gilbert, said she received a voice mail from Dukes in which he threatened to kill her and their two children. Gilbert, who said she feared for her life and sought a restraining order, also said he sent a photo of a handgun to her cellphone.

Dukes was held out of Tampa's lineup for two games last week as the team and police investigated. But he was back in center field Friday night against Chicago.

Dukes met with his Chicago-based agents, Alan Nero and Scott Pucino, who have genuinely cared about him since they made the commitment to represent him out of Hillsborough High School, knowing of his combustible nature. But even they have had problems trying to help him control his behavior.

Nero spent Friday with Dukes and also spoke to other people associated with the situation, including Devil Rays executives, but not with anybody from Major League Baseball.

While MLB appears to be focusing on steroids, other recent off-field topics -- such as drunk driving and domestic abuse -- have to become more of a priority.

"There have to be standards set by the league for this type of behavior, and it has to start with the league," said an American League coach. "I understand steroids is an important issue because it affects performance on the field, but how our players act as responsible human beings is far greater. We're talking about life, not just baseball."

There are provisions in major league contracts regarding "good citizenship" and personal conduct, and though they can be used to terminate contracts, they seldom are.

I would never accuse Major League Baseball of closing its eyes on this topic -- I've talked to enough people in the league office to know it's a major concern. Unfortunately, MLB has to weigh the union response (i.e. a grievance and a long legal process) to any action it takes. It also has to let the police do their work. But baseball should make its internal concern more public.

I remember standing in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway in early May when it appeared that Mariners pitcher Julio Mateo was having a beef with the traveling secretary because he wanted to make sure his wife had a room in New York, where the team was headed next. I remember seeing bench coach John McLaren having to step in and settle Mateo down, telling him to "calm down and don't worry about the small stuff."

It was in that Manhattan hotel room the next day where Mateo allegedly struck his wife and was arrested.

Mateo received a 10-game suspension from the team and was told to get his life in order before he returns. He is now in Triple A Tacoma trying to work his way back.

We remember all too well the eyewitness accounts of Phillies pitcher Brett Myers giving his wife a beating in the streets of Boston after a game against the Red Sox. The case was heard in Boston and charges were dismissed. We remember the very public Wil Cordero case, in which he hit his wife with a telephone.

These incidents are police business, for sure, but MLB also needs to come down hard on such conduct.

After Cardinals reliever Josh Hancock was killed after driving away from Mike Shannon's restaurant in St. Louis while intoxicated, Major League Baseball continued letting teams adopt their own beer-in-the-clubhouse policies. The Red Sox still allow alcohol in their players lounge.

In Dukes's case, there's a lot of baggage. There have been a number of incidents -- at least two suspensions levied by the organization -- and he has a troubled criminal past. Add this past incident, a verbal altercation with a Tampa cameraman Thursday, and it doesn't bode well for his future with the Devil Rays.

Nero has been trying to get Dukes to calm down and act professionally. We'll see.

A few questions for one of the greatest characters in the game, Jack McKeon.

A lot of your former Marlins pitchers are in the news. Just wondering what you thought of these guys then and now?

JM: "Carl Pavano took the ball for me every time. He was terrific for me. He won 18 games and was that dominant. Pitched big games. A.J. Burnett had the best arm of the bunch. Period. He was young and hurt a lot then, but he had the best physical tools. Josh Beckett had the best stuff and the best head. Nothing he's done has surprised me. Brad Penny was a kid who could throw 97-98, but now he really knows how to pitch. He throws 93-95, comes right at you with that fastball and curve, and dares you to hit it. Really enjoy watching him. Dontrelle [ Willis], of course, is a kid who just energizes a baseball team. He loves to play. His energy is contagious."

What have you seen from Beckett in particular?

JM: "I watch him a lot with the scouting I do for Florida, and last year he tried to blow his fastball by everyone. He's smarter than that, and now we're seeing when he mixes it up he can be unhittable. What I love about him is he's a competitor."

Are you surprised Pavano has broken down?

JM: "I really am. It's a shame because he has some real ability. He knows how to pitch. I actually caught him early in the season and I thought, well, he's back to what he was when he pitched for us, and then all of a sudden he's down again. I hope he can make it back, because if he can, he's a much better pitcher than anyone gives him credit for."

You don't like babying pitchers, do you?

JM: "Never have and I never will. There's too much of it in the game today and pitchers are getting hurt more than ever. I had Johnny Sain with me as my pitching coach and he believed in throwing a lot. His pitchers didn't get hurt. His biggest pupil was Leo Mazzone and you can see the success he had with the Braves guys over there. They threw every day."

In 2003, you took over for Jeff Torborg, energized the Marlins, and won a World Series. You've done that throughout your career. Would you come back to "energize" another team and manage again even at age 73? JM: "Sure I would. It's what I do. I'm a manager. I come in and I can get things going in the right direction."

Stumped by the mysterious slumps of this season's 'dirty dozen'

Twelve players having bad seasons (stats through Friday):

1. Richie Sexson, Seattle: The 6-foot-8-inch first baseman is being paid $15.5 million and is hitting .180 with 5 homers and 24 RBIs. He was benched for a couple of games last week, returned Wednesday with a pair of hits, but went 0 for 4 Thursday in a 13-12 loss to the Devil Rays.

2. Andruw Jones, Atlanta: Hitting .214 in a contract year. He would love to stay in Atlanta, but with free agents-to-be Ichiro Suzuki and Torii Hunter having superb seasons, Jones needs a big-time turnaround. His strikeout total (54 in 168 at-bats) is exorbitant; he whiffed fives times in a game at Fenway last weekend.

3. J.D. Drew, Red Sox: A $14 million-a-year player who can't get it going. He claims it isn't the new league or anything related to his shoulder, but you have to wonder if it's one or both.

4. Paul Konerko, White Sox: He's not the only guy in this lineup with an anemic average (.213), but he's a high-priced power hitter. Jim Thome's return from the disabled list should give him some protection and get him better pitches to hit.

5. Scott Rolen, St. Louis: His .229 average has scouts wondering if he has lingering pain from his shoulder injury of last season. The Dodgers, who are trying to obtain a power-hitting third baseman, are scouting him closely

6. Frank Thomas. Toronto: Hasn't looked like last year's Thomas.

7. Carlos Delgado, Mets: At .224, he has no solution; he just hopes it comes back.

8. Jeff Weaver, Seattle: 0-6, 14.32 in his first six starts. On the DL since May 11 with a sore shoulder.

9. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs: Theories abound on his 4-4, 5.61 start. Is he upset about his contract? Is he hurt? He was supposed to be the ace of this staff, but if he keeps this up, he'll cost himself millions.

10. Adam LaRoche, Pittsburgh: Under the Mendoza Line. Traded for Mike Gonzalez (OK, he's out for the season).

11. Ervin Santana, Angels: Can't pitch on the road (0-5, 9.30 this season). Was pounded Thursday for eight runs in 3 2/3 innings at Detroit. Once-promising career has really become a riddle.

12. Adam Everett, Houston: The shortstop, formerly Red Sox property, has a great glove, but .185?

Etc.

Touching the bases
Apropos of nothing: 1. The only pitchers with ERAs over 3.00 on the major league-best Padres staff are Greg Maddux, David Wells, and Cla Meredith; 2. Politics and baseball. Interesting blog by Manhattan attorney Corey B. Bearak called "The Nub" on perfectpitcher.org; 3. I've been told to keep an eye on Chunichi Dragons center fielder Kosuke Fukudome (.320, 9 homers, 35 RBIs in 44 games), who is expected to jump to the US as a free agent next season; 4. I might be wrong, but I don't think Todd Helton would OK a deal to the Yankees; 5. Great to see fellow Hanson native Jason Delaney leading the Carolina League at .358 (with 5 homers and 28 RBIs) for the Lynchburg Pirates.

Rocket science
The best part of Roger Clemens's minor league duty has been Clemens teaching young pitchers some of the finer points of the game. One Yankee minor league pitcher, who asked for anonymity because he didn't want to ruffle feathers, told me, "We have really good pitching coaches here with the Yankees, but a few of us were talking that we learned more in a half-hour with Roger than we've learned in a full spring training and season with our guys. I'm not trying to say that to put our coaches down, but Roger just teaches us things that are practical and that we can use on the mound in a given moment in a game." Which is why the Astros must be in a hurry for Clemens to finally hang it up and execute that 10-year personal services contract he has with them.

Scouting reports
Things you hear from special assignment scouts: They love Mets outfielder Carlos Gomez. "Out of this world," said one. "Absolutely a future superstar." . . . Toronto closer Jeremy Accardo has "electric stuff" and a "great arm. You never want to see a guy like B.J. Ryan go down, but it gave J.P. Ricciardi a chance to see this kid's makeup and stuff. Pretty impressive." . . . A lot of surprise that Sam Perlozzo hasn't been fired . . . Mike Lowell's name has been out there in trade talks . . . The luck, genius, or whatever it is in the Red Sox obtaining Hideki Okajima.

Is John Smoltz a Hall of Famer now that he has become the first pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves, plus 15 postseason wins? It says here yes. Dennis Eckersley (197 wins, 390 saves, 15 postseason saves), the guy he's often compared to, also gives the thumbs-up. "One hundred percent yes," Eckersley said. "I'm really jealous of him, because he had a lot better stuff than I did. This is a guy who started and was on top of his game, and then got hurt and went to closing and was the best at that. Then he goes back to starting and he's still one of the best. It also looks like he's got two or three years left."

When the Yankees were considering the pursuit of Hideki Matsui, they relied heavily on former Yankee third baseman Mike Pagliarulo's international scouting service, iScout. It was three years worth of analysis and reports that led the Yankees to make a very good decision. Over the course of time, Pagliarulo has advised them about players to pursue and not to pursue in Japan, estimating that he saved the team more than $40 million in potential busts. But in 2006, the Yankees dropped Pagliarulo's service and decided to go with their own evaluations. Pagliarulo, who played for the Seibu Lions and was familiar with their owner, coaches, and trainers, had advised other clients that the posting fee on Daisuke Matsuzaka needed to be around $50 million, which is about what the Red Sox bid. The Yankees bid $30 million. Pagliarulo also was not a big fan of Kei Igawa, whom he envisioned as a spot starter and long reliever -- not someone who should have been posted at $26 million. Guess what the Yankees did.

In the June 7 amateur draft, the Braves will draft from their highest position (14th) since 1991, when they took outfielder Mike Kelly of Arizona State with the second overall pick. That was a year after they drafted Chipper Jones with the No. 1 pick overall. That's been it in terms of prime picks, and the team's long run of success is a tribute to their scouting and development. They've built a great farm system despite poor drafting position. The White Sox, on the other hand, have simply blown their picks. The last first-rounders who did anything for them were from 1987-90 (Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas, and Alex Fernandez). Their last first-rounder who became an established big leaguer was Kip Wells (16th overall in 1998), and he is with the Cardinals. GM Kenny Williams has taken a greater interest in the draft, so we'll see what develops.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com