Josh Hamilton

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 9:04 AM PDT in The More You Know

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.

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Got up just in time to see this.

I better keep my eye on this guy.

by ThundaPC on Apr 2, 2008 9:07 AM PDT 0 recs

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.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 9:15 AM PDT up 0 recs

Texas is still gonna suck though

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 2, 2008 9:25 AM PDT 0 recs

Makes Hamilton that much easier to root for...

by seattlesundevil on Apr 2, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

totally agree.

if he gets a haircut, I'm all for rooting for him.

by PShwa on Apr 2, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

I don't think they'll contend

but suck is a little harsh.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 2, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by marc w on Apr 2, 2008 9:26 AM PDT 0 recs

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.

by JI on Apr 2, 2008 9:35 AM PDT 0 recs

How could the Reds trade him too?

That's what baffles me.

by JI on Apr 2, 2008 9:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

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

Don't believe the lies Bill!!!! look at the sparkly ERA!!! Sparkly, Sparkly!!! - McCovey Chronicles

by Trenchtown on Apr 2, 2008 12:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by JI on Apr 2, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dusty Baker makes me laugh though

And for that I am thankful

by Graham on Apr 2, 2008 12:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

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)

by venturafearsnolan on Apr 2, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

???

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).

by Wilder. on Apr 2, 2008 1:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

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.

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Apr 2, 2008 4:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Your girlfriend gets an A for effort and a D for execution

You clearly don't love her for her wit.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 5:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

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.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 3, 2008 2:55 AM PDT up 0 recs

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".

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 3, 2008 8:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

Can't do it...

still have irrational hate. I hated Jeromy Burnitz for no reason for like 7 years, and its Hamilton's turn.

by dkulich on Apr 2, 2008 9:40 AM PDT 0 recs

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.

by Wilder. on Apr 2, 2008 9:46 AM PDT 0 recs

Tampa Bay doesn't need any more help

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 9:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by marc w on Apr 2, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

You cant have a 6 man outfield, though.

by PShwa on Apr 2, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

You can if you have a 1 man infield!

by seattlesundevil on Apr 2, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

this is the truth.

I cant argue.

by PShwa on Apr 2, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

I bet that scout really sucks to hang out with these days

Smug son of a bitch.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 10:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

"hheeyyy guyssssm remember when I said we shou-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP" *punch*

by PShwa on Apr 2, 2008 10:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 10:15 AM PDT up 0 recs

yeah mine was a little harsher and less formatted

but thats the general gist of what i was trying to get across.

by PShwa on Apr 2, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

Jeff's pretty much the master of the fake convo

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

We all have our talents

mine just happens to be pretty much useless in real life.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 11:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm sure your real life fake convos must be fascinating

by Robert on Apr 2, 2008 11:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

by Jeff on Apr 2, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, nobody likes him too much.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

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.

>:(

by cwel87 on Apr 2, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

It would've been great, 2004 isn't too shabby though.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

Hamilton sure would look nice in RF now....

too bad the Rays used a 40 man roster spot for Elliott Johnson that winter.

visit rotojunkie for your all of your fantasy baseball help

by Jason Collette on Apr 2, 2008 9:58 AM PDT 0 recs

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.

by seattlebruin on Apr 2, 2008 10:05 AM PDT up 0 recs