Josh Hamilton (Baseball)

Josh Hamilton, the Biggest Dodged Bullet in Dallas Sports History, Says He's "Off Upstairs"

By the time Josh Hamilton packed his bags and set off for the West Coast and a $125 million paycheck, no one was particularly sad to see him go. His epic late-season collapse, neatly encapsulated by that botched fly ball, as well as his energy-drink binges and general histrionics, had been enough to ... More >>

To Boo or Not to Boo: How to Welcome Josh Hamilton Back to Arlington

This afternoon, Josh Hamilton and his luxuriant, flake-free hair will take the field in Arlington for the first time since dashing the Rangers' playoff hopes by badly muffing routine fly ball then bolting for Anaheim. And no one really needs to be reminded of last season's summer-long slump, his abs ... More >>

Divorcing Josh Hamilton Was Exactly What the Rangers Needed to Do

Shortly after Rangers general manager Jon Daniels swapped erratic right-hander Edinson Volquez and reliever Danny Herrera for Josh Hamilton five years ago, I placed seemingly unrealistic expectations on the troubled outfielder. "He has the potential to be the best center fielder in Rangers' history ... More >>

Josh Hamilton is Headed to the Angels, So Local Sports Writers Will Need to Find Someone Else's Character to Question

Josh Hamilton has been the cornerstone of the Rangers for the past four years, leading them to the first to World Series berths in franchise history. He wormed his way into our hearts with his stellar play and heartwarming triumph over adversity, then immediately tried to worm his way back out with ... More >>

Why Nolan Ryan Kinda Wishes Josh Hamilton Still Chewed Tobacco

At their end-of-season press conference yesterday, Rangers brass mostly deflected questions about Josh Hamilton's terrible performance down the stretch. Team president Nolan Ryan opened up a bit more yesterday to Galloway & Company on ESPN Dallas, at least about Hamilton's on-field performance. Rya ... More >>

Ron Washington Goes Off Rangers' Script, Admits Running Team "Into the Ground"

The Rangers just wrapped up their 2012 post-mortem press conference. It was by and large quite boring, probably by design. You can imagine the team's PR gurus urging the team brass to keep it vague, uninteresting, answer-free. For the most part they succeeded. GM Jon Daniels and president Nolan Ry ... More >>

Rangers-Orioles at the Ballpark: Still Plenty of Seats from which to Boo Josh Hamilton

Rangers fans seem like a relatively forgiving bunch, but yesterday's series of events -- the dropped fly above, followed by Josh Hamilton appearing bemused and totally bored by his clumsy, possibly game-killing error -- seems to have sent the fan base into a proper rage. And they'll be able to expre ... More >>

Josh Hamilton's New Demon: Energy Drinks

For the first time in five games, Josh Hamilton will be in the Rangers lineup tonight for the first of four against the A's, who conveniently lurk four games behind in the West with 10 games to go. Hamilton has been sidelined with blurred vision and balance issues, reportedly caused by a sinus infec ... More >>

You've Watched Him Play Baseball. Now, Wear Josh Hamilton's Line of Christian T-Shirts

We love Josh Hamilton. For one, he's a damn good baseball player who's helped propel the Texas Rangers to its first two World Series. Plus, his backstory's the stuff of Hollywood films. But we don't love Hamilton as much as Hamilton loves Jesus and, to underscore that point, he's releasing the Josh ... More >>

A Texas Rangers Midseason Report: It's Time to Go All In

With the baseball season at the symbolic halfway point, we asked former Unfair Parker Sam Merten to root around in his beard and see if he could come up with anything to say. He obliged ... and obliged ... and ... Sports are unpredictable. That's why we watch. And there's no greater evidence than t ... More >>

For $5, Josh Hamilton's Record-Tying Bat Will Pose for Your Photo at the Ballpark Tonight

The brief but magisterial career of Josh Hamilton's magic baseball bat came to a tragic end when the slugger cracked it during his final plate appearance against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.Hamilton used the bat to pound four home runs into the stands of Camden Yards in Baltimore during a recor ... More >>

Josh Hamilton to Address Whatever Happened on Monday at Press Conference Today

​Several Friends of Unfair Park have asked: Why nothing about Josh Hamilton's alleged "relapse"? Well, because for now, we don't know much, just that the recovering (and re-recovering) addict may have had something alcoholic (not sure what or how much) at Sherlock's (no shit) on Monday and that Ia ... More >>

Rangers GM on Hamilton's Addiction: "This Is Not a Baseball Story." This is Real Life.

An hour and a half after Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton met the media to address the fact that, yes, he did have a few drinks earlier this week, team general manager Jon Daniels hopped on the phone with local media. Hamilton took no questions; Daniels had no choice. And almost immediately, a ... More >>

Shannon Stone, Firefighter and Father and Rangers Fan: An American Life Recalled

​Yesterday, over breakfast, I lingered over the brief piece that appears on Page 44 of The New York Times Magazine: "A Day at the Ballpark." My 8-year-old son, a baseball fan and aspiring catcher, saw the headline and the illustration -- a photo of a well-worn baseball -- and asked what the piece ... More >>

Exploring Texas Rangers' Options as Wheelin' and Dealin' Begins at Hilton Anatole

Photo by Sam MertenThe scene yesterday afternoon in the lobby of the Hilton Anatole.​Likely bracing for the departure of free-agent hurler C.J. Wilson, the Texas Rangers have already inked former Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $14.5 million contract and announced Neftali Feli ... More >>

Guts, Not Gaffes Give Texas an Opportunity for the Kill Shot: Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 6 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersMike Napoli celebrates his game-winning double in the eighth inning of Game 5.​The intellect of one of the best managers and greatest players in baseball history short-circuited at the worst possible times for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series, but Monday night ... More >>

Stealing the Mojo: Rangers-Cardinals World Series Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersIan Kinsler completes the best defensive play I've seen in my 25 years watching the Fall Classic -- a diving stop by Elvis Andrus and flip to Kinsler with his glove to end the fifth inning of Game 2. Just spectacular athleticism displayed by Andrus.​If you've read my piece about S ... More >>

Refusing to Let Championship Dreams Wash Away: Texas Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 2 Preview and Open Thread

Texas Rangers​Sometimes the worst managerial moves are the ones that weren't made, but the focus tends to be on the ones that were. The vast majority of media and fans across the country agree that Tony La Russa out-managed Ron Washington in Game 1 of the World Series last night, which is har ... More >>

Shark-Infested Waters: Texas Rangers-Detroit Tigers ALCS Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

via​Wow. What an amazing start to the American League Championship Series for Your Texas Rangers. Two close games. Two incredible wins. Now Detroit has to win four of the next five games to get back to the World Series for the first time since they fell to St. Louis in 2006. Ain't gonna hap ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Floored by His $500,000 Homer

  Rangers pound out another 12 hits. Rangers score another nine runs. Rangers win again. Lead in the AL West remains three games. Magic number shrinks to 11. Rangers are 21 games over .500 for the first time since 1999. Not that good great baseball is boring, but the West is all but won. Need ... More >>

A Fan's Legacy

It's Never Too Early For Playoff Baseball

Josh Hamilton just before he drove in Ian Kinsler to win last night's ballgame​Took the boy to the ballpark last night, where, Chuck Morgan told us, we were joined by a little more than 25,000 others -- not bad for a 193-degree start-timer against the lowly Mariners, but not great either. Not now, ... More >>

Whitt's End: 7.22.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Dear NFL owners, you're a slimy lot. Signed, Everyone. Basically on Thursday the owners ratified a proposal, not an agreement. They made a deal with themselves. Then -- with darting eyes th ... More >>

Going, Going ... Yawn. How to Fix Baseball's Broken All-Star Gala.

​Not appearing tonight at baseball's All-Star Game: Derek Jeter, Jose Reyes, Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia, David Price and Albert Pujols.Injuries can't be helped, but the mid-summer classic needs to be fixed. From last night's boring home run derby to tonight's exhibition, ... More >>

Triumph Over Tragedy: Rangers Roll Into All-Star Break

​Thursday: The lowest point in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Sunday: The high point of Texas' baseball season. Was sitting at a blackjack table in Las Vegas when I looked up and saw Nolan Ryan in front of a microphone on TV. As the closed caption scrolled "Josh is very di ... More >>

The Tragic Accident at the Ballpark Last Night

At 10:02 last night, an email from the Texas Rangers arrived in the in-box bearing the subject heading "Statement From Texas Rangers CEO and President Nolan Ryan." This is what it said: The adult male who during tonight's game fell approximately 20 feet from section 5 in the left field lower reserve ... More >>

Is Josh Hamilton a 2011 All-Star?

​Silver Boot secured? Check. First place in the AL West? Check. Representation in next month's MLB All-Star Game? Che ... Not so fast. While Ian Kinsler's first two-homer game in almost two years lifted the Rangers over the Astros, 3-2, and gave them an intrastate five-peat, Texas&n ... More >>

Did Josh Hamilton Have Alligator Arms? Yes. Will He Be in the Lineup Again Tonight? YES!

​After Tuesday night's 7-3 victory over the hapless Houston Astros, we can fit the Rangers for another Silver Boot. Texas got homers from Josh Hamilton, Mitch Moreland and Ian Kinsler and C.J. Wilson cruised against baseball's worst team. A favorable ump call helped the Rangers in ... More >>

Texas Rangers and Josh Hamilton Are Fighting the Summer Blues

​Alexi Ogando has suddenly produced three consecutive outings of five innings or less. Fourth outfielder David Murphy just went 1 of 9 to drop his average to .233. And the Rangers have lost 12 of their last 19 -- including 3-3 on a homestand against the Astros and Mets -- in clinging to&n ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Hits Home Run on Letterman, Featuring a Cameo by Samuel L. Jackson

Oh, right -- the Texas Rangers, now but half a game up on Seattle in the American League West after losing five straight and eight of their last 10, three of those to the New York Yankees, including yesterday's gut-punching 3-2 loss in 12. The local sports spotlight is all theirs now, and almost as ... More >>

Whitt's End: 6.17.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Jason Terry's voice is still hoarse from all the partying and cigars, but yet we're already peeking at 2012. Problem: The Mavs aren't a team built for the future, but rather the here-'n-now ... More >>

Roddy Beaubois, Caron Butler Get Into Mavs Starting Lineup For Letterman's Top 10

Some of the staff's already downtown for the parade -- along with the thousands already on hand both at Victory Park and behind the barricades stretching back to the Dallas Convention Center starting point. And, this just in from Dallas City Hall:Accommodations will be made for people who are handic ... More >>

Meanwhile, Your Texas Rangers are Suddenly Back Where They Started

​Been a little concerned obsessed with the Mavs. But I did catch some Rangers' baseball Saturday afternoon. Saw enough of Derek Holland to say "Wow!" And apparently he isn't alone. After swooning without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers tumbled from their 9-1 start into mediocrity. Don't look now, ... More >>

Josh Hamilton and His Head-First Sliding: Super or Stupid?

​Didn't see this with my own eyes, but apparently around 1 a.m. this morning the Ranger who just spent six weeks on the disabled list with a broken arm suffered in a head-first slide ... slid three times head-first in one memorable, moronic trip around the bases in Texas' weather-ra ... More >>

Well, That Didn't Take Long: Welcome Back, Josh and Nelson

​Yesterday I surmised that the Rangers' offense would suddenly improve with the returns of sluggers Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. But not me -- nor even Texas -- thought it would happen that fast. Or that far. Fresh off the disabled list, Hamilton homered in his first at-bat and Cruz ad ... More >>

For the First Time in a Long Time, We'll Recognize the Texas Rangers

Together again​A day short of six weeks after breaking his arm, Josh Hamilton is back. So is Nelson Cruz. And with them, will the Rangers welcome the return of their offense? After a weekend in Philly in which they were outscored only 5-4 over 27 innings of, let's face it, boring base ... More >>

With Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee Looming, the Rangers are Somehow Surviving

​Adrian Beltre got the big hit. Ian Kinsler made the defensive play. And, in a first, Mark Lowe salvaged what Neftali Feliz ruined. The Rangers beat the Royals in extras last night and -- pending a weekend visit through Cliff Lee and the formidable Phillies' pitching staff -- might avoid ... More >>

Hamilton and Cruz in Frisco Tonight? Might Be a Good Time To Take in a RoughRiders Game.

​John Blake just sent word: Josh Hamilton will return to the world of the baseball living tonight in Frisco, when he begins a rehab stint with the RoughRiders as Steve Buechele's second-place squad takes on the Midland Rockhounds. Hamilton, benched with a non-displaced hairline fracture of his rig ... More >>

While the Bullpen Further Implodes and the Losses Mount, There is Good Texas Rangers News

​Watched Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler totally half-ass and boot a grounder Sunday afternoon in Oakland. On Monday Elvis Andrus made his seventh error of the season. Thought to myself, This team is getting lazy. Suddenly the laziness is compounded by the losing. Last night the beleaguer ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Breaks His Arm: My Top 10 Observer-ations

Uh-oh.​10. With Josh Hamilton it's always when, not if. And now you know why a lot of us were cringing and complaining when we saw him sliding on the rain-delay tarp in Baltimore last Friday night. He's one of the best players in baseball, but also one of the most injury-prone. 9. And do I ... More >>

Even Ron Washington is Making the Right Calls During Rangers' 9-1 Start

​The Rangers are 9-1, their best start in franchise history. They've outscored their opponents a ridiculous 60-26. They've beaten the aces of Boston (Jon Lester), Seattle (Felix Hernandez) and now Detroit (Justin Verlander). They're hitting homers, getting immaculate starting pitching and winn ... More >>

Which Of Your Texas Rangers Has The Coolest Intro Music?

​Last week, the Morning News' Rangers beat writer/columnist Evan Grant shared the music being used at the start of this baseball season by most of your Texas Rangers players -- either at-bat music or welcome-to-the-mound stuff, naturally.The best news that wasn't? Grant reported that catcher Mike ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

Texas Rangers Spring Training: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Pitchers and catchers report today. Means backyard pool parties and bikinis can't be far behind. 9. Whatever happens the first week of camp, it can't be more shocking than a year ago when manager Ron Washington announced that he had snorted cocaine the previous season. 8. Last year' ... More >>

Rangers' Stud Re-Signing With Texas: Not Michael Young, the Other One. Josh Hamilton.

​While the Texas Rangers seem dead-set on trading franchise icon Michael Young, fears about Josh Hamilton leaving were subdued today when the team announced a two-year contract through 2012 with the American League MVP. The deal - worth $24 million - allows both sides to avoid heading to arbi ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Says Dealing Michael Young Doesn't Make Sense; Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels Confirm He's Requested a Trade

Photos by Sam MertenJosh Hamilton says trading Michael Young would be "a big loss."​As workers cleaned up the aftermath of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium across the street from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the Texas Rangers equipment truck headed out this afternoon to the team's spring traini ... More >>

Great News: Josh Hamilton Out of Hospital

​After a weird, scary ordeal that started with him being admitted to the hospital with early pneumonia and then kept longer than anticipated despite "significant improvement," Texas Rangers' outfielder and American League MVP Josh Hamilton was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon. ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Showing Significant Improvement?

​Yes there's a question mark in that headline, because -- as always -- I'm a little confused. On Tuesday we got this press release from your Texas Rangers about star slugger and American League Most Valuable Player Josh Hamilton: Arlington, Texas--Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was d ... More >>

Uh-Oh, the American League MVP is in the Hospital

​You hear that Josh Hamilton has been hospitalized with pneumonia and what's the first thing you think? Yep, relapse. Can't help it. A guy with that kind of history of drug abuse who fell violently and infamously off the wagon two years ago and who still can't partake in a celebrato ... More >>

Werth It? Doing the Rangers' Math as Fat Contracts Swirl Around MLB Winter Meetings.

Photos by Sam MertenDamn. If Jayson Werth commands a seven-year, $126 million deal, how much is this guy worth?​Prior to the beginning of baseball's winter meetings yesterday at Walt Disney World Resort, a flurry of activity resulted in big-name players dealt and fat contracts inked. Predictab ... More >>