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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Losing Josh Hamilton

"The Rangers have done a lot for me, but I've got a question for y'all: Have I done a lot for the Rangers? I think I've given them everything I've had," Hamilton said. "I don't think anybody can say I haven't. When it comes down to it, people don't understand, fans don't understand, this is a business, this is an entertainment business."........ Josh Hamilton , Feb 24th/2012


"Things will have to play out. I truly think he would like to stay in Arlington, the Metroplex and be a member of the Texas Rangers. I think he's very comfortable and his family is very comfortable. We are certainly in hopes that we'll able to work a deal out with him. But I think [Hamilton and his agent] had the mindset they'll go through the season and see what happens and see what the market is for Josh Hamilton. It's hard to make any kind of prediction where that will go. I think it's probably pretty much where we are."....... Nolan Ryan, May 18th, 2012


"I've got faith in God and I trust God and I want to do his will more than mine. I don't necessarily want to do what's more comfortable for me or my family. If he asks us to leave and go somewhere else, it might not be comfortable. But you know what? That's going to bring me closer to him and make me have a better relationship with him"....... Josh Hamilton, when asked about Ryan's comments.

He may be the best baseball player I have ever seen. Mantle and Mays were on the back side of Hall of Fame careers when I was young. Barry Bonds has previously held that spot of honor in mind, but even pre-steroids, Hamilton has him beat as an all around player. Not since Nolan Ryan have the Rangers had a singular player that fans come specifically to see.



There is no doubt he has over come more personal demons and reached greater heights than any athlete in recent memory. His rise from the ashes is remarkable and in a time when our beliefs are challenged from all sides, Josh never shies away from his faith.

But every now and then we have seen the cock sure attitude of a former #1 draft choice, superstar baseball player slip out. Last year Hamilton was injured trying to score in a game with the Tigers. In his post game interview he was quick to absolve himself from all blame and put it squarely on Dave Anderson.

"I listened to my third-base coach," Hamilton said. "That's a little too aggressive. The whole time I was watching the play I was listening. [He said] 'Nobody's at home, nobody's at home.' I was like, 'Dude, I don't want to do this. Something's going to happen.' But I listened to my coach. And how do you avoid a tag the best? By going in headfirst and get out of the way and get in there. That's what I did. It was a stupid play"

Hamilton apologized soon after and as happens in baseball the incident was brushed off as nothing.

Again we get the comments that just don't seem to match the image we have created of Josh. And maybe that is the problem. Image. Josh is right. In a legal sense, he has a contract and he fulfills that contract  to say the least. He does not "owe" the Rangers or Ranger fans a thing. But you would think that with all that has happened, the adoration of the fans, the upswing in the quality of life since coming to Texas, Josh would have understood the question and answered it differently.

Being comfortable? As a free agent, Josh is going to get a minimum of $20 million for five years. I have looked at every Major League city and with that kind of money guaranteed, he does not have to worry about being uncomfortable.

CDog wrote once about becoming too attached to our teams and these Rangers make it hard not to do just that. They are a fun team to follow with so many individual stories and talent that is unmatched in the 40 years of Texas baseball. Hamilton's is one of those. I just wish he wanted to be back in Texas as much as his fans do. But as CDog hints, that balance never seems to happen.

As far as God deciding on his contract? It is my hope that God puts Hamilton's contract way down on his priority list. Whether Josh Hamilton is making $100 million in Texas, Anaheim, New York or Boston, is not something we should be praying for. How about we replace those prayers with prayers for our families, our country and a selfish one for my soon to be deployed soldier son? Or maybe instead of negotiating with Hamilton's agent, the Rangers need to negotiate with God.

They can call me to help...... I have to negotiate with God on a regular basis.............. JDaddy

(Note: Since Josh did his "comfortable" interview in Houston in which he seemed to take offense to Ryan's comments, he is hitting .231 with 4 HRs, 17 RBIs with 23 strikeouts in 95 at bats



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