Rangers star Josh Hamilton: ‘My loyalty is here’

By the AP (via Yahoo)

When it comes to the Texas Rangers, star Josh Hamilton wants to make this clear: “My loyalty is here.”

A couple days after his comments led some to wonder about his future, the former AL MVP clarified his remarks Sunday before the first full-squad workout for two-time American League champions. Hamilton is eligible for free agency after this season.

“If it does go to free agency, the first place I’m coming is here,” Hamilton said. “If I owe anything, it is that.”

His agent and Rangers recently put off talks on a new deal after Hamilton had a relapse with alcohol. The outfielder has been troubled by drugs and alcohol throughout his professional career.

On Friday, Hamilton said: “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.”

You can read the rest of the article here: Rangers star Josh Hamilton: ‘My loyalty is here’

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Forgiving Josh Hamilton

By ChickenFriedBaseball.com

Josh Hamilton is an alcoholic. That is neither an insult, nor a joke. It’s just an unfortunate fact.

According to a Dallas Morning News report, Hamilton was publicly seen drinking alcohol on Monday night at Sherlock’s in Dallas. This was his second reported relapse in three years since joining the Rangers.

After hearing the news, I could only manage a fleeting concern for the Rangers before the sadness of the situation set in. I personally don’t believe there is such a thing as a “recovering” alcoholic, and I don’t blame Hamilton for losing a battle or two in his lifelong war. I think alcoholism is a disease from which nobody ever fully recovers.

You can read the rest of the article here at Chicken Fried Baseball

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Some Quick Thoughts On The Josh Hamilton ... Uh ... Thing

By Joey Matschulat of Baseball Times in Arlington:

Before I bother going any further, let me go ahead and pound something home that I sense needs to be reiterated right about now: this isn't the end of the world. Josh Hamilton is still going to be a member of the Texas Rangers in 2012. He's not getting released, or suspended (presumably), or traded (possible, but extremely unlikely). And, in due time, this will largely fade away into the ether, just as the 2009 incident eventually did. The Rangers are still going to be a very good team next year, and Hamilton will very likely play a key role in that, and the sun is going to keep rising in the east and setting in the west. Life's going to keep going on, and things are going to be okay.

And now with that out of the way, I can resume trying to figure out just what in the hell actually happened at Sherlock's on Monday night (not Tuesday night, as was previously reported), and whether anything that happened is actually going to mean anything going forward. This is the part where some people are going to mutter underneath their breath that this is all a private matter between Hamilton, his family, the Rangers, and Major League Baseball, and that none of this is really my business. I get all of that, and I do offer my best wishes to all parties affected by Hamilton's relapse, but I also think it's important for us to gather as much accurate information about what transpired as possible so that we might bring a better, more informed opinion to the table tomorrow.

You can read the rest of the article here at Baseball Times in Arlington

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