So I don't really follow baseball much, and I hadn't seen anything on TWW lately about Josh Hamilton and I decided to look him up (I went to Athens with him).

For those of you who don't play fantasy baseball, he's putting together quite a season. I didn't even realize that he had been traded to the Rangers.

League leading 51 RBIs, 11 HR and batting .321 through 46 games. Pretty damn good stats. If he keeps up this pace, he ought to be an all-star.

From a recent article about Hamilton and Lance Berkman:

Quote :

"Both are surrounded by great hitters. The Rangers have Michael Young and Milton Bradley hitting around Hamilton, while Berkman is surrounded by Miguel Tejada and Carlos Lee. But there is no doubt that Hamilton and Berkman are currently the No. 1 weapons for two powerful offenses, a couple of torrid bats positioning themselves well for a trip to the All-Star Game in July. "We knew Berkman was the hottest hitter in the Major Leagues, and we saw that [Friday] night," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We threw a couple of pitches on the ground, and he still got the head of the bat on them." Those hits were just singles. Imagine how the Astros felt when Hamilton went 5-for-5 with a walk in six plate appearances on Friday night. He had a single in his first at-bat, followed by two monster home runs, an infield hit and then a triple. The walk in the sixth plate appearance kept him from going for the cycle. Astros starter Shawn Chacon, who faced Hamilton in his first three at-bats, simply couldn't figure out a way to get Hamilton out. "[Hamilton] hit everything," Chacon said. "[His] first base hit was a fastball away; the second one was a changeup down and away, which I thought was a decent pitch. [The] next one was a fastball, which I thought, again, was a decent pitch." That didn't stop Hamilton. "[It was] pretty impressive," Berkman said. "That guy is hitting some pitches I probably wouldn't even swing at, and if I did, I'd be out. He's hitting them off the second deck for three-run homers and stuff. Tremendous bat speed, great-looking athlete. We saw some of that last year when he was with Cincinnati." Both of Hamilton's homers were monster shots. The first one cleared the Rangers bullpen in right-center, and the second hit off the front of the upper deck in right-center. That one was measured at 451 feet. ... Hamilton's overall numbers aren't quite up there with Berkman. For example, he has a more earthly .599 slugging percentage. There is one category in which he has been exceptional. With a .333 batting average with runners in scoring position, Hamilton led all Major Leaguers with 49 RBIs entering Saturday. "I've just felt this way all year when guys are out there," Hamilton said. "Once you start getting RBIs, you start getting confidence, and now I feel when there is a guy at second or third, I can get the job done. The more I do it, the more successful I feel." Juan Gonzalez was the same way when he was at the peak of his career during the late 1990s, a guy who simply lived for driving in runs and putting up impressive totals. He set a Rangers club record with 157 RBIs in 1998, including 50 in the first 43 games. Hamilton has 49 in 43 games, one off that pace. Young called Hamilton "right near the top" of the great offensive players who have filled the Rangers lineup over the past couple of decades. "The great players in this league not only have talent, but they have longevity," Young said. "They play for a long time. The great thing about Josh is, not only does he have incredible talent, but he has a hunger to be a great player." Hamilton may have the edge on Berkman in terms of strength and speed. Berkman is five years older and has had knee surgery. But Berkman is a four-time All-Star with five seasons of at least 100 RBIs. He is a proven commodity who has taken his team to a World Series. "They are both great hitters," said former Reds manager Jerry Narron, who was Hamilton's big league manager and an opposing manager in the same division as Berkman. "Berkman just has much more experience. I think with Josh, he's still learning; he's still scratching the surface. I think with Berkman this year, when you've got Miguel Tejeda and Carlos Lee around you, that means a great deal. But there is no doubt Berkman is an outstanding hitter." Both Berkman and Hamilton are, and the two sluggers are at center stage in the Lone Star Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. "

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080517&content_id=2719602&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Amazing that after all that drug abuse and several years out of baseball, he still has the ability to play at an all-star level. I wonder if his body will hold up for a full season. Last year it seemed like he had trouble staying healthy.

5/21/2008 10:45:14 AM

Sports Talk

5/21/2008 10:53:49 AM

fuck me

This has never happened to me before

move plz

5/21/2008 11:12:44 AM

What's amazing is that he got so many chances and just recently stopped fucking up

with that much talent, it's a waste

i dont care if he's doing well, he's pretty worthless in my eyes for squandering for so long what so many millions of people could only dream of having.

5/21/2008 11:24:39 AM

good job hammy

5/21/2008 11:32:07 AM

^^predictable t-dubber holier-than-thou response.



[Edited on May 21, 2008 at 11:33 AM. Reason : 2]

5/21/2008 11:32:52 AM

he made the same mistakes most people have made, he was just in the spotlight and should have realized it before it beat him down to a junkie

so many people white collar CEO's and big wigs from companies do blow, but they aren't on ESPN every night either

it's amazing the kid is talented enough to be away from the game that long and come right back and dominate

5/21/2008 11:36:10 AM

To be fair, he was a full-blown junkie for a while. I mean, he flunked out of, like, 8 rehab centers, and he was doing quite a bit more than just blow.

That said, it's inspiring to see how he's turned his life around, and is living up to the potential people saw in him when the N&O called him the greatest baseball prospect to ever come out of NC.

5/21/2008 11:40:03 AM

Quote :

"he made the same mistakes most people have made"

That isn't even close to true. Yes, plenty of very successful people have done blow and continue to do it... but I'm pretty sure most people don't let it completely take over their life to the point they completely trash their career and alientate their entire family...

And I agree with you about the talent. It is amazing that he is dominating the way he is. Tells me he could have been one of the best ever. He's an A-Rod type talent...

[Edited on May 21, 2008 at 11:41 AM. Reason : x]

5/21/2008 11:40:06 AM

I didn't say everyone becomes a strung out junkie!

he made stupid mistakes and kept throwing fuel on a fire until it caught up with him

he's not a bad kid, he was just really sheltered and then he went full throttle and it almost ruined him... he's pretty grateful (and lucky) he had another shot, most of us wouldn't be blessed with that

^ he was compared to A-Rod out of HS, I'm just glad to see him get his life back on track so well, he's got kids, a wife and a family, you never want to see the kids suffer because of a parent being stupid

[Edited on May 21, 2008 at 11:46 AM. Reason : ..]

5/21/2008 11:45:02 AM

He was just on first take on espn2.. its his birthday today i guess.

I don't really like his story, I mean yeah it's great that he overcame all that when he was down so low, but I don't think it's really a "good story." Like, oh, look at this guy who was given $3.6 mil to play baseball and could be one of the all-time greats, then ruin his life, and still make it. I don't think it's a good message for kids or anything, that you can fuck up horribly many times and still be great.

Anyways, he's still one of my favorite players, I've been hearing stories about him since I was like 9 playing at West Raleigh

5/21/2008 1:43:53 PM

Quote :

"he made the same mistakes most people have made, he was just in the spotlight and should have realized it before it beat him down to a junkie so many people white collar CEO's and big wigs from companies do blow, but they aren't on ESPN every night either"

The guy was a hardcore crack addict who would go on week long benders. Thats totally different than doing a little blow.

5/21/2008 2:29:29 PM

Runs Batted Ins

5/21/2008 2:34:42 PM

Quote :

"He was just on first take on espn2.. its his birthday today i guess. I don't really like his story, I mean yeah it's great that he overcame all that when he was down so low, but I don't think it's really a "good story." Like, oh, look at this guy who was given $3.6 mil to play baseball and could be one of the all-time greats, then ruin his life, and still make it. I don't think it's a good message for kids or anything, that you can fuck up horribly many times and still be great. Anyways, he's still one of my favorite players, I've been hearing stories about him since I was like 9 playing at West Raleigh"

I don't think anyone's gonna think to themselves, "Well Josh Hamilton screwed up his life a million times and still made it to the big leagues. Won't hurt if I become a drug addict!"

It's a great story and he's pretty much the only reason I watch baseball honestly.

5/21/2008 2:38:09 PM

athens drive representin

5/21/2008 5:01:37 PM

ha, i saw the thread title and thought to myself "i wonder how long it's going to take for someone to assert some kind of connection with him"

answer: half a sentence

5/21/2008 7:05:21 PM

most people that become that much of an addict end up dead or in jail, I'd say he's doing ok and it's not a bad story

plenty of people have ruined their lives and not come back from it and to be able to play at his level after that is amazing

and I know some people hate him, but he's not a bad guy

5/21/2008 9:01:36 PM

a few of us (even blowjobcaudill21) are going to see him in baltimore on july 4th.

maybe he'll remember us and we can meet someone like... gerald laird

5/22/2008 11:22:00 AM

I'm going to see Josh in Baltimore sometime too (can't remember the date, the wife scheduled it because she's a friend of his, her dad coached him in Legion summer ball). Should be good times, hopefully they win.

5/22/2008 11:36:46 AM

5/22/2008 11:40:45 AM

ho-hum. 3-5, HR, 2 RBI. Gives him .335, 12, 53

5/22/2008 5:10:05 PM

He just hit a game-winning HR in the 10th inning against the Twins.

He has 17 hits in his last 6 games

5/22/2008 5:11:35 PM

I wish the Braves had traded for him.

5/22/2008 5:12:02 PM

I bet the Cubs are wishing they had kept him in that rule 5 draft instead of sending him to Cincy too. I don't know if they actually got anything for him in return, of just a lot of money..

5/22/2008 5:14:56 PM

Quote :

"I don't think anyone's gonna think to themselves, "Well Josh Hamilton screwed up his life a million times and still made it to the big leagues. Won't hurt if I become a drug addict!""

bradley nowell reportedly used kurt cobain's success despite his heroin use to justify his own.

5/22/2008 5:16:14 PM

well it must have worked cause he was successful too!

5/22/2008 5:17:13 PM

I picked him as my starting CF from day 1 just so ya'll know.

5/22/2008 5:20:59 PM

steroids

5/22/2008 5:27:09 PM

LOL right because he was so skinny in high school

5/22/2008 5:31:10 PM

Leading the AL in all 3 triple crown categories. That's impressive.

5/22/2008 8:18:59 PM

I think he's second in HR and AVG

5/22/2008 8:21:05 PM

Naah after today he's first in avg and tied for first in home runs.

5/22/2008 8:23:14 PM

I wonder if any of his former dealers take credit for his success? Would be a good marketing ploy.

5/22/2008 8:30:01 PM

How about that. Let's go crackhead guy!

5/22/2008 8:30:29 PM

how often do you think he gets tested for illegal substances????

5/23/2008 5:13:56 AM

He gets tested three times a week if I remember right.

5/23/2008 7:26:36 AM

Quote :

"While in Bradenton, he became addicted to drugs, which he took at the local tattoo parlor where he got 26 tattoos. He also became addicted to having sex with men he met at the local McDonalds after a win when the team was treated to ice cream"

HAHAHAH wtf

5/25/2008 3:47:08 AM

LOL was that Pilgrimshoes that edited his wikipedia page?

8 straight multi-hit games. 2 more for the team record.

5/25/2008 5:34:57 AM

hes probably my fantasy bball mvp this season

well, him or Berkman

and I picked Hamilton up in the 14th round

5/25/2008 7:31:11 AM

he just hit a grand slam against the Rays

he's got 5 or 6 RBIs tonight

5/27/2008 9:54:02 PM

He's 6th in All Star game voting for AL OF's. Sandwiched in between Bobby Abreu and... Melky Cabrera

5/28/2008 12:05:32 AM

wtf they already started voting for that shit?

5/28/2008 12:08:54 AM

Yeah its gonna be the Red Sox versus the National League.....

Big Papi and his .235 average is the leading vote getter.

5/28/2008 12:22:29 AM

fan voting is such bullshit. They should scrap that shit and let the players or managers vote

5/28/2008 12:46:37 AM

He'll be on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week

5/28/2008 2:15:03 AM

^^didnt the same kinda thing happen to the nba not long ago? like shaq got more votes than yao even though yao was better?

5/28/2008 2:49:38 AM

^the same happens in the NBA and MLB every allstar game

5/28/2008 6:48:39 AM

Is the MLB all-star game all fan votes or is it like half fan votes and half people who know what they're doing votes?

5/28/2008 8:57:43 AM

Fans pick the starting position players. Managers and players pick backups and pitchers

5/28/2008 2:04:17 PM

5/28/2008 4:39:42 PM