We left off after page 12, with a promise to write an impressions review.  Not a synopsis, you can link to that many places.  I finished the book.  Yes, all in one reading, ending at 4 am Saturday morning.   I have this bookmark, a really nice one with inspirational inscriptions on it.  It was barely used, through one humanity break and one fresh pot of coffee.  

The first 14 chapters (some are short) paint a picture of great expectations sliding inexorably into crisis, then beyond.  One of the greatest young talents ever blossomed into the world of professional baseball, yet subject to three or four of the greatest pitfalls available to those who are young, full of promise, and vulnerable.  It isn't like Josh Hamilton's addiction to drugs and alcohol were a voluntary rebellion or push back at a system of living he was not prepared for.  The great lesson, if there is one here, is that simple idleness is a mountain to some that cannot be overcome with love, argument, attempts to control impulses, or the shame of the person affected.  Josh was weaponless, and frankly didn't see any need to be armed against taking wrong paths, making bad choices, or associating with those whose life and iving offered great harm to themselves and others. 

Let's get right to faith.  In my lengthy lifetime, faith does not have one particular name, nor recognizable stamp, nor specification for conduct.  It comes from within, and each individual either holds that system of belief closely, or demonstrates it outwardly.  With shades of grey, sometimes depending on circumstances.  Josh seems to have had a faith, present beneath the indifference to cajoling, pleading, and demanding by others.  He knew, even while doing wasteful, harmful, and dangerous habitual things, what he believed.  And suppressed it. 

Jumping ahead, his dynamic testimony to anyone who approaches him is brief, genuine, and from his soul.  Jumping back, his caring treatment of a Downs syndrome team mascot while still in his teens illustrates his natural and near instinctive care for others, especially disadvantaged or limited others.  Staying in the now, he emerged from four years of self tortune and persona abuse using that inner faith, which he credits to a loving grandma, his magnificent and supportive wife, his brother and parents, and an especially skilled educator who could sift through the addictive personality, the athlete life to live, the regional nature of goodwill in his upbringing, and possibly how to do something no drug nor human attention could do.  That is, replace the demon of his inner craving with the self awareness that permits a person to do, to live, and not to crave.  Without all those, this book could never have been written.  

This to me is an unique read.  A magnificent athlete, husked out like a five year old cornstalk, deprived of his strength and bearing, making it all the way back to excellence in one of the most difficult and demanding of all sports?  Look again at his faith.  It isn't a pronouncement, although at times that is its' role in his life.  It is literally a lifeline, available whenver tempted, and bonding him with Katie and his daughters in a quest to save not just himself, but any and all who are afflicted with addictions.  It's almost like the additctions that nearly killed him are the mile markers to show how far, how very far, he has come in life and living.  

Sure he needs reinforcement, and always will.   Sure, if he falls again it's pretty reasonable to think he'd never get back up.  But his lifeling of faith, and a determination to be that participant in living who has a say in his own destiny (which he never had in his youth, he was the performer but not the playwright).  He is blessed to be married to Katie, and to have had the resources of his and her families even in his worst of times.  

One more thing, from the last couple of chapters.  He respects and admires his team mates, the Texas Rangers,  His statement about it feeling like a natural, right place and time for him bears it out.  Reflecting on his rookie appearance at St. Pete, he admired his fellow players, particularly Carl Crawford, but only linked up with them to the extent a newcomer might. 

I hope the book is a living testimony for Josh.  In any future troubled days, he could and should sit and read his own testimony, and be reinforced.  Others should also learn about the diconnect between what you believe and what you do, from reading this book.  It's title, Beyond Belief, is a sort of paradox.  Read it and believe. 

Now I also know what to tell a young person who rejects family in favor of "friends who are not friends but props and suppliers and enablers.  Give it a couple of years.  Things might get worse, but they will ... inexorably will ... get better.

Ed

The UPS truck just pulled away down our driveway, and sure enough, Josh Hamilton's book was there under the front door mat.  It only took a moment to peel open the top and remove the shipping document and the book.  I've been awaiting this event since Adam so graciously decided to share copies among his readers.

Could not resist opening it, reading the acknowledgements, and delving about twelve pages into the first chapter.  Oh, and I read and smiled at the Nolan Ryan quote on the back cover.  Now I've set it down, to start this fanpost, because when I pick it back up, there will be no stopping until the whole thing is read (with pauses for humanity breaks and food).  

I know already that this is something to be used, applied, learned from, and valued.  It isn't recreational or idle reading.  I haven't figured out yet how to present it to my granddaughter, and how to endorse it in a way that will hold her attention to the book and its' message.  But I trust that in a few days, we'll get both objectives handled. 

Great thanks, Adam.  This opportunity to both inform me, and hopefully enlighten the path of a young one, is wonderful.  And for the blog, I'll do as promised.  Post again with part 2 after Beyond Belief is read and digested.  I won't do a synopsis.  But I will post what I take away from the reading, and what I hope for from another who will read it.

Dropped by Halo Heaven to see what might be posted there after the season finale with the Rangers.  Didn't have any quotable or referential content regarding the Rangers, of course, but there was a very interesting chronology put up by Rev listing how the Angels acquired their current roster.  

Of interest to me was the mix of signing draftees, signing undrafted amateurs (a couple of eye openers there), making trades that turned out beneficial, and several free agent signings.   Two things to pay particular attention to.   The first is the total length of time it took to build the Halos roster.  The other is the relative sequencing of amateur draft signings, undrafted amateur signings, trades, and free agent acquisitions.  They searched for and collected some talent, got it to achieve improvement, then traded for needed positional skills, and finally went after or traded for high value free agents. 

I think this is an instructive link.

http://www.halosheaven.com/2008/9/29/624229/how-the-2008-los-angeles-a

Noticed a link to this work posted on Lookout Landing, so I followed the links.  There is an info section, and linkage to position player and pitcher sections.  From the Info section, this explanation of player value calculations is given:

"Total value (TotalValue) measures value above replacement level for position players, in runs. It is based on hitting runs above replacement (RAR), as well as a composite fielding measure (average runs saved according to zone rating and revised zone rating). This measure includes adjustments for differences in difficulty among defensive positions, as well as differences in difficulty of leaves (AL>NL). Pitchers are rated via two measures--RAR (runs above replacement) and FIP-Runs. RAR measures actual value similar to total value for position players, whereas FIP-Runs is a defense-independent estimate of value. Closers receive a bonus reflecting the leverage of situations in which they pitch. For details on all methods, please see this series of posts:"

Interesting that the Rangers have six players ranked 10.0 or above, then look at the pitcher rankings.  Sorrow prevents me from revealing the rankings, but let it be said that Sidney Ponson (listed as a Ranger) is high on the TEX list.

Click here

or copy in http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pfk_WuYpfdux2FC_hs6ROEQ&gid=0

 

Browsing the Athletics' Nation chunk of SB Nation late, I read this and shook my head.  I've already had a fairly bad day, so this wasn't fun.

From ESPN Front Page on Inoa

Inoa and his parents turned down more lucrative offers from the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers due to Oakland’s positive results developing young pitchers. The Reds offered a $5 million signing bonus and a major league contract, while the Rangers offered $5.2 million, according to Inoa.
“After careful thought, my parents and I decided that Oakland has a better pitcher development program, and that will be more important for my career in the long haul,” said Inoa, who became eligible to sign with any major league ballclub on Tuesday at the strike of midnight.

Inoa (6 foot 7, 210 pounds) is a right-handed hurler with a three-pitch repertoire consisting of a fastball (93 mph), changeup and curveball.

A’s general manager Billy Beane was expected to make an official announcement Wednesday at noon from Santo Domingo.

“I think the personal treatment that Beane put into this was the determining factor so that Inoa’s parents opted to stay with Oakland even though there were higher offers,” said Edgar Mercedes, president of the Born to Play baseball academy where Inoa played since he was 12.

by Trainman on Jul 2, 2008 1:44 AM EDT

If this report is correct, and it seems to be. 

http://forum.newbergreport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5143

It doesn't add anything toward 75 words, but here is the source of the quote

Smoaky.com

Pretty big news, and will surely mean some roster changes beginning tomorrow (Thursday 6/26).  Also makes one wonder if the Hamilton discomfort or the Bradley aches are more than has been reported. 

In the meantime, pound out those Kinsler-Young-Hamilton-Bradley AllStar votes!

 

 

Jennifer, an Athletics Nation fan, posted a FanPost covering her trip to see the recent A's series in Arlington. She did a very nice job of recounting the trip, and her photos are good as well. Definitely worth a read-through. Also noticed in the comments that some of the A's fans didn't realize that RBIA is a really nice venue, and some now want to trip here. I hope the 75 word limit has been reached, it's late and I can't even count on my fingers. Here is the link:

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2008/6/3/543857/texas-the-lone-win-state

 

From an email from Jamey Newberg: "Texas was predictably unable to find a team interested in taking on Ben Broussard's contract (or trading a non-roster prospect in exchange for Broussard on a subsidized basis), and so, according to multiple local reports, the Rangers have placed Broussard on release waivers, which means the club is on the hook for the entirety of his $3.85 million contract." I'm not surprised the Rangers made him available, but that there were no takers. Or seemingly so.

Today baseball's brass, including the Commissioner, Donald Fehr from the players' union, are testifying on the hill.

I intended to pay little or no attention to anything coming out of the hearings.  However, this morning I decided to get a little breakfast down the road.  Driving back, I heard these excerpts from today's testimony.

Unidentified Congressman:  Something about did Palmieri knowingly take steroids before his *300th* hit?

Same nincompoop:  Mr. Sellick is to be congratulated on his attention to the matters.

Let's see.  Members don't know the names of the people involved.  Or can't pronounce them.  These are our national leaders.  I say don't worry about baseball, worry about Congress.