Backing down from Josh Hamilton

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Maybe those three girls are owed something

In 2008, I wrote that the Texas Rangers should extend Josh Hamilton. This was in the middle of his remarkable campaign of 190 hits, 130 RBI and 32 home runs.

Yes, he was still playing for pennies (relatively speaking) and wouldn't hit arbitration until 2010. It's not that I thought Hamilton would just leave. I didn't want a six-year deal or anything Why not just essentially buy out the rest of his years before free agency and possibly get a discount the final two years and provide him with a bit of good faith that the Rangers would have his back?

I don't think that is completely out of the realm of reason.

Hamilton will play his this season as a Texas Ranger. It could be his last. I might not care.

He met with the media today and started the proceedings by reading a scripture from the Bible. Then he had some very real, very eye-opening statements, most notably this:

"I love Texas. I love my fans. I love fans of the Rangers. I love the organization. I love my teammates. I love everything about it. But I'm not going to sit here and say that I owe the Rangers. I don't feel like I owe the Rangers."

Most potential free agents would be right. Prince Fielder didn't how the Milwaukee Brewers anything. Fielder ain't Hamilton.

Fielder didn't get tossed around the Rule 5 draft. He wasn't essentially given up on by his second team in exchange for one other good prospect (in this case, Edinson Volquez). The Texas Rangers put down a foundation to coddle and comfort Hamilton. They just didn't hope and pray that Hamilton didn't go on a crack-cocaine, they set it up to where Hamilton would need to jump through hoops of fire to relapse.

When he went on a binge in Spring Training several years ago, it was addressed with support and confirmation. When he was at least partly responsible for a man dying at the Ballpark last season, the Rangers gave nothing but support. As Hamilton battled injuries, the team and fans always anticipated his return as we praised his play on the field.

And when he relapsed again a month ago, the Rangers addressed their support clearly.

But Hamilton doesn't think he owes the Rangers a thing. He owes the Rangers a lot.

I'm no idiot. I never expected the Rangers get a "hometown" discount, which happens so rarely that it hardly deserves a term, with Hamilton. He probably has one long-term contract in his career. This is it. This contract will get him into his mid- to late-30s and it will make him and his children and his children's children beyond rich.

Without a doubt, Hamilton's done some of the most phenomenal things on the ball field that I have ever seen. His athleticism is unparalleled. I've never been sold on him long term. After these comments today, after he fell off the wagon again, make me care less all the more.

I'm not fully prepared to judge Hamilton on religious level here, but his comments today, even after reading the Bible, seem about as disingenuous and un-Christlike as you can possibly get. Play the media if you will in order to hold the Rangers' feet to the fire, but don't preach. Don't drag out of the Bible and throw Jesus' name into every other sentence.

I wish Josh the best and apparently know one considers this more of a business than him. Then he will understand our amount of relief when he leaves in the off-season.

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