I mentioned this in the comment thread below, but since he's kind of been flying under the radar, and since I'd like to give the guy credit for owning one of the most dominating relievers in baseball, I think it warrants a post of its own:
Josh Hamilton could very well be the best position player in the AL West.
He doesn't have Ichiro's bat control, Vlad's terrifying raw power and maniacal intimidation, or Michael Young's whatever it is that makes people think Michael Young is good, but his skillset is absolutely that of a superstar, and once he gets more than a half-season in Cincinnati under his belt I think everyone's going to know it. I mean, ten years from now, the possibility exists that when people talk about Josh Hamilton, they'll be talking about his performance instead of his remarkable backstory. And that, to me, speaks volumes.
The Rangers aren't going to be as bad as a lot of people think they are. And Hamilton's the biggest reason why.
0 recs | 119 comments
Got up just in time to see this.
I better keep my eye on this guy.
ThundaPC - April 2, 2008
Absolutely
and obviously unlike some of the other players that kick our ass, Hamilton's easy to root for. So he's got that going for him.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
Texas is still gonna suck though
Edgar for Pres - April 2, 2008
Makes Hamilton that much easier to root for...
seattlesundevil - April 2, 2008
totally agree.
if he gets a haircut, I'm all for rooting for him.
PShwa - April 2, 2008
I don't think they'll contend
but suck is a little harsh.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
I like some of the moves they've made
Like getting Hamilton and Bradley. Blalock could have a nice year. I just have a hard time seeing this team win a game with their pitching staff and infield defense.
Edgar for Pres - April 2, 2008
IF the Rangers surprise, he'll be the reason
but I've now seen the Rangers put up two of the most brutal defensive games I've ever seen back to back.
You can take Kata out of Texas, but...apparently it makes everyone else in Texas field like Kata. Some sort of odd homage.
Yes, Hamilton will be good in center (though he totally misplayed a fly ball early in the game for a single), but we in Seattle know that just having a stud CF doesn't make your outfield, let alone your defense, all that good.
They could improve in many ways and they're still going to hemorrhage runs.
marc w - April 2, 2008
Gee maybne if we had tried to go get him
we'd have him in left, Jones in right, Sherill setting up, and we could actually score some runs.
Just goes to show that selling the farm for a Proven Ace is not a great plan of attack.
JI - April 2, 2008
How could the Reds trade him too?
That's what baffles me.
JI - April 2, 2008
He had character issues
they were afraid he was going to implode, and they have a guy named Jay Bruce who was ready to take over center until the new manager decided he wasn't
Trenchtown - April 2, 2008
Josh Hamilton : Jose Guillen :: Jay Bruce : Adam Jones
Matthew - April 2, 2008
Jay Bruce hit 600 homeruns for me on baseball mogul
JI - April 2, 2008
...and Raul has 95 defense rating too... better than Ichiro
JI - April 2, 2008
Jay Bruce is no centerfielder
I realize they're stuck with Griffey, but the could have had a Bruce/Hamilton/Griffey OF with Dunn at 1B until Votto is ready, or they could have done the smart thing and sold high on Dunn.
...This is why managers like Dusty Baker are completely obsolete, young players make rosters go, managers who give away all kinds of ridiculous veterans entitlement have no place on a winning franchise.
JI - April 2, 2008
Dusty Baker makes me laugh though
And for that I am thankful
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Rangers fan here...
1. he didn't fit in very well in Cincinnati(it's believed there was anger over the media attention Hamilton received, no other players ever sat in on him telling his story to reporters, and no one ever invited him out to eat after practice/games)
it was expected Bruce was going to force him out(as they weren't going to bench Dunn or Griffey)
vfn - April 2, 2008
???
1. Who ever sits in on listening to other teammates talking about their stories?
2. How often do these guys go out to eat at midnight or 1 A.M.? Methinks they either get on a plane, go to their hotel, or go home immediately after the game 95% of the time.
3. You are speculating way too much when the reason is obvious (Jay Bruce).
Wilder. - April 2, 2008
Blalock, Young and Kinsler
all sat in on Hamilton's first presser with the Rangers during the onset of ST. He said it was the first time any teammates had ever come to listen to his story. It meant a lot to him that his teammates weren't just writing him off.
That is why the last guy brought it up.
tdi1985 - April 2, 2008
Your girlfriend gets an A for effort and a D for execution
You clearly don't love her for her wit.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
I'm a huge fan of Hamilton
and believe he has the talent to be Carlos Beltran, but it's not "obvious" that the reason is Bruce.
Hamilton's talent has always been known. Scouts wet their panties at the sight of him. He did have a very serious addiction problem. Even last season, all the money he earned, he did not touch at all. It was all handled by his wife, who would then give him a daily allowance. The reason was that even he himself did not trust himself not to spend the money on drugs.
rfloh - April 3, 2008
According to an ESPN article
his per diem is handled the same way - he has a minder that he travels with, and the minder gets the per diem and doles it out to Josh as needed. Josh is totally cool with it, too - "the last thing I need is to be walking around with money in my pocket".
pdb - April 3, 2008
Can't do it...
still have irrational hate. I hated Jeromy Burnitz for no reason for like 7 years, and its Hamilton's turn.
dkulich - April 2, 2008
Didn't we have the opportunity to pick up Hamilton in the Rule 5 Draft?
Too bad for Tampa Bay. Think if Hamilton and Rocco were both healthy. That would be one killer outfield and one killer lineup.
Wilder. - April 2, 2008
Tampa Bay doesn't need any more help
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
Yeah, and if
Elijah Dukes and, to a lesser extent, Delmon Young weren't insane, they'd have an OF of Dukes, Hamilton, Baldelli, Young, Crawford and Upton.
yow.
marc w - April 2, 2008
You cant have a 6 man outfield, though.
PShwa - April 2, 2008
You can if you have a 1 man infield!
seattlesundevil - April 2, 2008
this is the truth.
I cant argue.
PShwa - April 2, 2008
And...
One of our top scouts was begging for Albert Pujols back in the Hamilton draft. We could've had Hammy, Crawford, and Pujols in one draft.
R.J. Anderson - April 2, 2008
I bet that scout really sucks to hang out with these days
Smug son of a bitch.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
"hheeyyy guyssssm remember when I said we shou-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP" *punch*
PShwa - April 2, 2008
Scout 1: Hey, what do you feel like for dinner?
Scout 2: Wendy's. I could really go for some Wendy's.
Scout 1: I dunno, not really feeling the burgers tonight. A burrito would kill though. You good with Mexican?
Scout 2: Remember that time I said we should draft Pujols?
Scout 2: And you guys didn't listen?
Scout 1: Dude, enough.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
yeah mine was a little harsher and less formatted
but thats the general gist of what i was trying to get across.
PShwa - April 2, 2008
Jeff's pretty much the master of the fake convo
R.J. Anderson - April 2, 2008
We all have our talents
mine just happens to be pretty much useless in real life.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
I'm sure your real life fake convos must be fascinating
Robert - April 2, 2008
It's funny
hold a fake conversation on a website and you're the king of comedy. But hold a fake conversation in real life and suddenly you're schizophrenic.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
Yeah, nobody likes him too much.
R.J. Anderson - April 2, 2008
That's a pretty good draft.
We could bat those three and take six straight outs and that would probably be a more effective offense than ours right now.
>:(
cwel87 - April 2, 2008
It would've been great, 2004 isn't too shabby though.
R.J. Anderson - April 2, 2008
Hamilton sure would look nice in RF now....
too bad the Rays used a 40 man roster spot for Elliott Johnson that winter.
Jason Collette - April 2, 2008
I see where they were coming from though
and they had already invested a lot into Hamilton and for whatever various reasons, he hadn't gotten there yet.
Now he's finally over that stuff and filling the promise he had when he got drafted, so good for him, and good for the Rangers too. Did the Reds really trade him to make room for Jay Bruce?
Volquez is a good prospect... but ever since he's been back, Hamilton has had star written all over him. Don't understand it.
seattlebruin - April 2, 2008
Shoulda traded Dunn...
JI - April 2, 2008
Hamilton's Power
I'd say it rivals Vlad's...
tait644 - April 2, 2008
I suppose he'll probably beat him in homers
but Hamilton doesn't really have Vlad's ability to turn pretty much any pitch into a souvenir.
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
And neither does anyone else, really
seattlebruin - April 2, 2008
Thank god Vlad plays defense like Helen Keller plays tag
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
that was awesome
pdb - April 2, 2008
do you mean before or after
her career ending death?
Bearskin Rugburn - April 2, 2008
Pointlessly thrashing around?
R.J. Anderson - April 2, 2008
Vlad's ability to do that
pales in comparison to Horacio Ramirez's
:ducksforcover:
Jason Collette - April 2, 2008
HoRam was a tru warier
It's too bad I'll never see his face again in an M's uniform.
Hey, my mood just got a little bit better!
cwel87 - April 2, 2008
I'd rather have Charlton Jimerson
He has a career MLB OPS of 1.750. Win.
seattlebruin - April 2, 2008
... enough about Josh Hamilton
how about Brian Bannister, who is completely fucking up Detroit right now.
Bearskin Rugburn - April 2, 2008
Bannister-1
Ordonez-0
Bearskin Rugburn - April 2, 2008
Go sabermetrics!
Fett42 - April 2, 2008
Heehee this is cute...
Angels fans are calling Jon Garland Ace#2
http://www.halosheaven.com/2008/4/2/388892/tony-reagins-behind-john-g#comments
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
As Jeff said yesterday
There's no point linking those idiots.
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
I love to laugh.
JI - April 2, 2008
My apologies...
I missed that one. Thanks for the heads up.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
there are much better angels blogs out there
6-4-3 I think is a pretty good one.
Bearskin Rugburn - April 2, 2008
Really I just go over there for the unintentional comedy.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
I think you mean 6-4-2
and Chone Smith's blog isn't bad, though he's now doing most of his writing elsewhere.
Yeah, there are good Angel blogs; it's too bad the one that got picked up by SBN was HH.
marc w - April 2, 2008
Chelsea is getting beat up.
You must be happy.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
We've scored an away goal
And we're not losing. It's cool.
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Well fuck that :P
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggggghsenal
should have killed this goddamn game off 20 mins ago
pdb - April 2, 2008
I would care more about football
But it's baseball season now
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Oooh the channel that was showing Chelsea is now showing
competitive table tennis. In other news, I want to go home.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
Gotta love Eurosport.
pdb - April 2, 2008
Ugh.
Another channel is showing handball. I defy you to find a more boring, ugly sport than handball. There is no beauty in the sport at all.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
Basketball?
*hides*
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Why I oughtta!!!!
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
I <3 you too
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
caber tossing?
pdb - April 2, 2008
Close.
But there is beauty in an exceptionally long toss, no?
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
No
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Yeah but....
handball is just so....repugnant.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
i plan on making the Olympics someday in team handball
it seems really easy to do.
Matthew - April 2, 2008
Screw you that was my plan
Nick S - April 2, 2008
alright! two people already.
we'll have a team yet.
Matthew - April 2, 2008
Need a goalie?
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Handball goalies are nuts!!!
No thank you. It is a requirement to be crazy to be a handball goalie.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
Sounds good to me
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Actually Britain
had to put ads in the newspapers to get people to come out for the handball team. They need one for the 2012 Olympics, cause the home country is represented in every event. So yeah, there were ads in the newspaper to be an Olympian.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
Do -they- need a goalie?
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Haha I'm not sure...
the ads were a while back.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
see what I'm saying?
London 2012!!
(is it too late for Beijing?)
Matthew - April 2, 2008
What is it with the Danes and handball?
Wasn't it a crazed german fan who stabbed a Danish handball player?
(different than the crazed german fan who stabbed Monica Seles)
marc w - April 2, 2008
Haha I don't know, I find the sport atrocious at best.
Actually handball was invented by a Dane, so they have a bunch of national pride in it. They are pretty good too, just won the European Championships. I mean, they aren't good at anything else (besides creating hot women and maybe rowing), so you got to have pride in something, right?
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
I still care about the champions league a little bit
mostly because I detest Liverpool.
pdb - April 2, 2008
Well that was certainly a frustrating game
Walcott should be starting in place of Eboue, yes?
Nick S - April 2, 2008
Absolutely.
I'll take the young inexperience over the older incompetence any day. I'm really about done with Eboue.
pdb - April 2, 2008
I think they have a point based on his first game
A 0.00 K rate would make him a rather unique pitcher.
Fett42 - April 2, 2008
I have to agree
I'm surprised at how good he's looked both in the field and at the plate. Big time sleeper upgrade for the Rangers.
Gomez - April 2, 2008
Hamilton + Mariners = competent outfield and offense
I can dream can't I? Didn't the rangers only have to give up a "prospect" for him too.
Fin - April 2, 2008
Not too mention his leftyness perfectly fit for Safeco...
Fin - April 2, 2008
Yes but he did drugs!!!
We don't want that on our team OR in our community!!
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
But we do want wife beaters
They never get old.
cwel87 - April 2, 2008
Bonds + Hamilton
PR nightmare, but stathead's wet dream.
Fin - April 2, 2008
I think Hamilton's pretty good for PR these days
Jeff Sullivan - April 2, 2008
Yes.
Aside from the talent, he's a great story. I have a ton of respect for the guy.
tait644 - April 2, 2008
I don't get it. Why?
Because he overcame drug abuse? Shouldn't you have more respect for people that never abuse drugs in the first place?
NB: I'm not attacking your opinion, more the general PR-ness of stories such as his.
Matthew - April 2, 2008
Heh, you beat me to it
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Hang out with Josh Hamilton's parents for a little while
You'll abuse drugs too.
Not absolving him of his earlier bad choices, but he was born into a lousy situation, and that he's been able to overcome it is pretty darn cool.
davidcameron - April 2, 2008
Thank you for pointing this out
couldn't agree more...
and it exposes the ignorance of those of us that grow up with privilege and tend to judge harshly without having walked a mile...
johnbai - April 2, 2008
If you've know someone who is a drug addict or alcoholic,
you'd understand why it is such a good story. Usually people with his issues end up homeless, in jail, or dead. You should have more respect for those who don't abuse drugs in the first place, but what he has done to turn around his life should be lauded. I know nothing about his personal life, but I hope he uses his situation to help other addicts out there.
Jed MC - April 2, 2008
I'm not saying he doesn't deserve praise for getting out of that situation;
just pointing out that recovering addicts generally get far more positive PR than never-addicts and that's stupid.
Matthew - April 2, 2008
It is stupid....but...
Really, who wants to read a story about someone who hasn't overcome something that everyone can share in. Not to say everyone has done drugs, but everyone knows someone who has and understands the dangers of drugs. Not everyone can associate with gang violence, eating disorders, growing up in an impoverished home/community. People are wired to appreciate this story more than the story of the All-American Center Fielder who grows up to make the Hall of Fame and look good doing it. People like failure, because it makes them feel better about themselves. They like recovery, because it gives them hope.
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
Fuck that
My heroes are perfect
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
Yes but when do you ever fit into normal society???
brayden04 - April 2, 2008
Zola was too short
pdb - April 2, 2008
Short = higher awesomeness density
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
well played
pdb - April 2, 2008
I dislike how he screamed "You suck!" at the TV when Friedman (Rays GM) was being interviewed during the draft. I mean if Friedman kept him he would've been in the minors, not in the majors.
R.J. Anderson - April 2, 2008
You people sound like Reds fans last May
Patrick517 - April 2, 2008
Or scouts from 5 years ago
Graham MacAree - April 2, 2008
True enough
he's probably somewhere in between.
Patrick517 - April 2, 2008
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