good luck Josh

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061207&content_id=1753752&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp

"Under the Rule 5 provisions, Hamilton must stay on Cincinnati's 25-man Major League roster for the entire season, or be offered back to Tampa Bay for $25,000. "

[Edited on December 7, 2006 at 4:12 PM. Reason : 1]

12/7/2006 4:09:55 PM

ha, he went to my high school. after the whole drug thing i figured he'd never go pro

12/7/2006 4:15:54 PM

man, you ever been signed by the reds...

...on weed?

12/7/2006 4:20:38 PM

that's cool, everybody deserves a second chance...or a seventh

12/7/2006 4:30:30 PM

2 bad he is washed up these days

never gonna be what he was but maybe Jerry can get him back on track

12/7/2006 4:34:18 PM

he wont do shit in the majors.

12/7/2006 4:40:24 PM

This just goes to show that with a lot of talent and some really sweet tatoos you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

12/7/2006 6:04:02 PM

not to self: sweet tatoos will get me where i want to go.

12/7/2006 6:33:40 PM

anyone have a espn insider account and can post the article that espn.com has up?

12/8/2006 1:42:13 PM

good for Josh...

I wish him the best, I aint seen him in a couple months


he's still a good guy

12/8/2006 1:43:20 PM

Quote :

"man, you ever been signed by the reds... ...on weed?"

hahah. that was good

12/8/2006 2:26:26 PM

he's only 25, he's still has plenty of time to make it to the big leagues

12/8/2006 2:33:19 PM

ESPN.com insider article:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- After snorting enough cocaine, drinking enough booze and seeing enough suns come up to jeopardize his baseball career and his life, Josh Hamilton finally found peace in the company of the Lord. And he became adept at reading signs.

On Wednesday, Hamilton awoke at 5 a.m. for a hunting trip in his native North Carolina and found a text message waiting on his cell phone.

"Jesus never fails," the message said. "Send this to nine other people and you will get good news."

Whether it was a question of divine intervention or mere chance, Hamilton didn't have to wait long for an answer. On Thursday morning, the Chicago Cubs selected Hamilton in Major League Baseball's Rule 5 draft and traded him to Cincinnati for cash. Just a few months after playing for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York-Penn League, Hamilton is preparing for spring training in Sarasota, Fla., where he will share a clubhouse with the likes of Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn.

"I don't really believe in coincidences," Hamilton said, "but I thought that was pretty amazing."

"I can't describe it. It's a dream come true. When you look at where I've been for the last three or four years, and now to have this happen, I just feel fortunate that someone has that kind of faith in me."
-- Josh Hamilton
Eight years ago, when Hamilton was hitting baseballs off scoreboards, digging hard from first to third and throwing out runners from the warning track as a high school star, scouts talked about him with the sort of wistful tone they typically reserve for the Mickey Mantles and Bo Jacksons of the world.

The Devil Rays gave him a $3.96 million bonus as the No. 1 pick in the 1999 June draft, and it was never a question of if -- simply when.

"People always said his ability is off the charts," said Scott Nethery, a longtime scout who now works in Cincinnati's front office. "It's a freakish type of ability."

But there's no accounting for fate -- or the ravages of temptation. Since his days as a Baseball America darling, Hamilton became a walking cautionary tale, falling in with the wrong crowd, adorning his well-sculpted body with tattoos and spiraling downward through drug use until he reached what looked like the point of no return.

After numerous rehabs and second chances, he finally found himself on the bargain rack. The Rule 5 draft consists of players who aren't protected on 40-man rosters, and is basically an afterthought to the multimillion-dollar signings and impromptu Scott Boras news conferences at the winter meetings each December.

Although it was quiet in the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort ballroom Thursday morning, lots of scouts and front-office people sat upright in their chairs when the Cubs chose Hamilton third overall. MLB official Roy Krasik announced the pick directly between Kansas City's selection of Joakim Soria and Pittsburgh's choice of Sean White.

Here's how it works: The Reds, who paid $50,000 to acquire Hamilton, must keep him on the big league roster for the entire 2007 season. If they want to take him off the roster, they must put him through waivers, and the other 29 clubs can claim him. If Hamilton clears waivers, Cincinnati must offer him back to the Devil Rays for $25,000.

It remains to be seen what this year's Rule 5 draft will mean for Hamilton, Josh Phelps, Lincoln Holdzkom and the 16 other players chose in the major league phase. But through the years, it's done wonders for the likes of Roberto Clemente, George Bell and Johan Santana -- the gold standard of Rule 5 picks.

Hamilton was in the woods helping his brother cut trees to earn some extra Christmas money when he got the news. An hour later, a dozen writers were on a conference call grilling him about what comes next.

"I can't describe it," Hamilton said. "It's a dream come true. When you look at where I've been for the last three or four years, and now to have this happen, I just feel fortunate that someone has that kind of faith in me."

Hamilton will have to overcome numerous obstacles to succeed in Cincinnati. He is 25 years old, and he has lost a lot of development time because of his off-field travails. Last year, he was limited to 15 games and 50 at-bats with Hudson Valley before suffering a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

Even the most mature, well-adjusted Rule 5 picks must adapt to a new life filled with autograph hunters, groupies and media scrutiny in the majors. Two years ago, the Kansas City Royals anointed veteran pitcher and solid citizen Jeremy Affeldt to ease the transition for 6-foot, 9-inch wild child Andrew Sisco. The Reds, in all likelihood, will have to find someone to help babysit Hamilton.

"We feel it's worth the gamble," Cincinnati GM Wayne Krivsky said. "He's still young, and we like his upside. You do as much background work as you can and make a decision. There's risk in everything you do."

Because of his checkered past, Hamilton must undergo regular drug testing. But he has learned to cope thanks to his religious awakening and the support of his family and his wife, Katie. Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron, a fellow North Carolinian whose nephews played youth ball with Hamilton, plans to contact the newest Red soon just to let him know he's wanted.

Devil Rays GM Andrew Friedman won't be shocked if this experiment ends with Hamilton being offered back to Tampa Bay. But after watching everything Hamilton has endured in his fight with drug addiction, Friedman hopes the story has an upbeat ending.

"I'm sure Josh would be the first to tell you that this is a daily thing, and something he's going to fight every day for the rest of his life," Friedman said. "But the way he's responded and stepped up is very admirable. I don't think there's anybody in the country not rooting for him."

As Hamilton took stock of his past difficulties and future opportunities Thursday, he made it clear that success is more a question of personal will than of baseball.

"Baseball has never been the problem," he said.

12/8/2006 5:32:22 PM

I dont see this being a lasting thing...hate to say it because it would be a tremendous story for future kids and people alike...but I just dont see the complete turnaround, especially now that hes makin bank again.

12/8/2006 6:33:14 PM

Quote :

"A true dependent knows you have to do just enough in life to keep the supply coming. You are right, in some regards he did fuck up. He needs to find a way to make big money again because once you've lived his life style theres really no appeal to grinding it out for one gram at a time. That's why he's trying to make this comeback. Its not for the love of the game, his family, his legacy, or any of that bullshit. Its to buy more drugs. You're kidding yourself if you think this guy has a shot in hell of staying clean for the rest of his life. He's an addict. Right now baseball is nothing more than an enabler for him. $8/hour jobs don't interest him because grams don't interest him. He's just trying to squeak out one big contract so he can binge again. He's not going to be able to change his mentality until he hits rock bottom. He's not even close yet. He still has $75,000 for gods sake. He still has his wife, his kids haven't given up on him, his family hasn't given up on him, major league baseball and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays haven't given up on him. Wait til he's 40, alone, penniless, and broken. THEN, he can start the road to recovery. Until then he's just a rat hitting the pellet feeder for a fix. It doesn't mean he's a bad person, it just means he's an addict. I wish him all the best and everything and if he goes on to live a happy life without drugs ill be impressed and take back what i said. But the truth is he's just fooling people and maybe even himself with all this "ive learned my lesson" talk... we're not talkign about a guy who was confused and starting experimenting. His brain has been re-wired by all that drug usage. He's an addict and that doesn't just magically dissappear. Everyone wants to think he's changed because thats the happy story, but it's just unrealistic... good luck to him anyway"

quoted for accuracy. - rally

[Edited on December 8, 2006 at 6:45 PM. Reason : a]

12/8/2006 6:43:07 PM

Went yard in the first spring game today. 2-4 w/ 2 RBIs.

3/1/2007 4:05:54 PM

damn every spring we get a damn thread about this kid. I am tired of it don't pull for him don't cheer him on. He screwed up again and again and again. If he was a normal person he would be in jail for a long time. I hope he doesn't make it and he has to go back to working at like a wal mart or something.

3/1/2007 4:07:58 PM

Quote :

"It doesn't mean he's a bad person, it just means he's an addict."

3/1/2007 4:08:39 PM

how can you not believe in coincidences josh?

3/1/2007 4:10:59 PM

Quote :

"Went yard in the first spring game today. 2-4 w/ 2 RBIs."

The kid's a beast... no doubt... My dream was to play baseball, I'd give damn well near everything to have the talent he has [had?].

Fuck him for screwing it all up.


But good luck to him if he can bring it all back.

3/1/2007 4:36:03 PM

hes a good kid who was sheltered by his parents most of his life. the sudden fame and money got the best of him.

he served his punishment. he has endured the public humiliation, yet he is still man enough to own up to his mistakes, publicly.

i hope he does well. good luck to him.

3/1/2007 5:31:22 PM

i hear u josh, shut 'em up.

3/1/2007 6:04:04 PM

^^^ ditto

3/1/2007 6:21:28 PM

leading the MLB in hitting right now through the first few days of spring training. i believe he's hitting 8/15 with a HR and couple doubles.

3/5/2007 2:24:48 PM

roids

3/5/2007 2:33:19 PM

since he gets drug tested like 3 times a week, yea.. roids

3/5/2007 3:51:18 PM

secret roids

3/5/2007 3:55:17 PM

im glad to see him getting another shot at it.

3/5/2007 4:00:22 PM

Quote :

"Hamilton, who was earning some extra money cutting trees near his North Carolina home when he got word of the deal, was stunned by the news."

AHA

He is a total addict.

Some kids sell their CDs to buy drugs in between allowance days.

He logs his property in between pro contracts.

[Edited on March 5, 2007 at 4:24 PM. Reason : LOL]

3/5/2007 4:21:56 PM

Quote :

"I don't think there's anybody in the country not rooting for him.""

except you know ... every adult male in the nation who's angry and jealous they weren't given the ability josh was born with and pissed down the toilet :x

3/5/2007 4:46:01 PM

went yard off that fucker in legion ball baby

3/5/2007 4:48:28 PM

the link is peter gammons talking about josh hamilton. says he thinks they'll move junior griffey to right and hammer will be the opening day starter in center.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvBiekwrtvw

3/13/2007 1:50:05 PM

He's a shoe-in for the roster and has a shot at starting. Way to go Josh.

3/13/2007 2:04:26 PM

wow, I never thought I'd see that fucker in the majors. Good job dude

3/13/2007 2:19:29 PM

Hitting .457 currently. 46 at bats, 21 hits. pretty damn solid.

on ESPN monday vs the red sox

3/23/2007 12:44:49 PM

Only a matter of time before that crack pipe comes crawling back.

3/23/2007 12:56:27 PM

Lets hope not.

He was a good guy in HS. I hope he turned his life around.

3/23/2007 1:07:14 PM

i believe his demon was heroin

3/23/2007 1:10:57 PM

wasnt he pretty into coke as well

and probably everything else

3/23/2007 2:33:26 PM

im sure he was pretty into whatever he could spend money on . the main point being hopefully he doesn't fuck up


i still agree with rally tho

3/23/2007 2:37:08 PM

Well, at least he didn't wind up as a TKE.

That's one of the few things that are worse than being a crack/cokehead/druggie.

3/23/2007 2:37:22 PM

^clever

3/23/2007 2:46:25 PM

he dated a girl over here at my APT complex. she still is in love with him like whoah yet he doesnt even speak to her anymore.... but good job buddy.

3/24/2007 3:51:06 AM

mootduff is my hero

3/24/2007 4:05:29 AM

what ever happened to that girl he got pregnant that went to peace college.

My girlfriend during freshman year was really good friends with her, and I just remember that there was tons of drama with those two.

3/24/2007 6:51:09 AM

good for him.

3/24/2007 8:12:06 AM

^^ my ex girlfriend was her roommate at Wolf Creek for over a year

there was a lot of baby mama drama

3/24/2007 8:58:31 AM

did that girl go to apex high school? i think i know her too

[Edited on March 24, 2007 at 9:38 AM. Reason : or else it was some other broad he knocked up]

3/24/2007 9:37:49 AM

yeah, from what i recall she was from Apex

3/24/2007 9:55:49 AM

they are married now

3/24/2007 10:00:45 AM