Josh Hamilton has a point about the 'Baseball town' thing

ARLINGTON, Texas - Hate to say this, but Josh Hamilton was not so wrong.

That's not true - I don't hate to say this because I never thought Hamilton was incorrect when he said Arlington was not a "baseball town".

It's a football town with a great baseball team and plenty of good baseball fans. There just aren't enough of them.

These two pictures were taken in the second inning of the highly anticipated game between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers on Thursday night at Rangers Ballpark. More to the point, it featured two first-place teams and the two best starting pitchers in the American League, Yu Darvish and Justin Verlander.

If you can't sell this out, or fill it up, you can't be a Baseball Town.

It can't be "Fireworks Night" every game.

You can't blame the weather - it was mild with a slight breeze and limited humidity. School night? OK, that one always works. Maybe it should have been Free Beer Night.

You can't blame the Rangers. The team is good, the park is wonderful, the guys are pros.

The last time the Rangers hosted a regular season game featuring a pitching matchup this big was April 30, 1989 when Nolan Ryan faced Boston's Roger Clemens. 

That was Ryan's first year with the Rangers, and the game matched the hyped. Ryan pitched eight innings and allowed three hits, one run and whiffed 11. Clemens pitched eight innings, allowed six hits and two runs and struckout six but took the loss.

Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run home run off Clemens in the bottom of the eighth for a 2-1 win in front of an announced crowd of 40,429 at Arlington Stadium.

On Thursday night, the announced crowd was 39,778.

Neither Verlander nor Yu were dominant. Verlander was awful, allowing eight runs on six hits in 2.2 innings. This is how bad Verlander was - he gave up a three-run home run to catcher Geovany Soto, who was hitting about .167 at the time of his at bat.

Yu was better, pitching into the seventh for another win.

Still a great night at the Ballpark, even in a non-baseball town.

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Adrian Beltre knows the Josh Hamilton/Mike Napoli feeling

ARLINGTON, Texas - In the span of about one month a pair of former beloved Texas Rangers have returned to town with completely opposite circumstances.

Josh Hamilton returned as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, Rangers fans let him have it. Who cares what he ever did for the team? 

When Mike Napoli returns tonight as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Rangers fans will cheer him. Who cares if his production was nowhere what Josh did?

These two are a case study of how to leave your former team, city, and the weight of expectations generated by money. 

Josh had never really done this before, and as a result he completely screwed it up. Yes, he had been traded by the Reds to the Rangers but that was before he blew up. As to be expected, he is bombing so far with the Angels after he signed a five-year, $125 million deal. Hamilton is batting .216 with 2 homers and 19 RBI.

Napoli had been dealt before, and had an idea what to do. He sent out a nice Twitter message to the Rangers fans on his way to Boston. He is batting .283 with 15 doubles, 6 home runs and 15 RBI in Boston.

This happens all the time in free agency and player movement. The guy who goes to the new team with the massive contract struggles in the first year. 

"It happened to me in Seattle," Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre told me. 

In 2004, Beltre batted .334 with 48 home runs with 121 RBI for the L.A. Dodgers.

He signed with the Mariners that offseason for five years at $64 million. In his first year in Seattle, he hit .255 with 19 home runs and 87 RBI.

"I was trying to prove I was worth that contract all the time," Beltre said.

In his next three seasons he posted solid power numbers, averaging around 22 home runs and 80 RBI. His last season in Seattle he was limited to just 111 games and  hit 8 home runs.

He signed with Boston for the '10 season, where he batted .321 with 49 doubles, 28 home runs and 102 RBI.

"I had been through it before and I knew what to expect," Beltre said. "It's never easy."

He came to the Rangers in 2011 for a six-year, $96 million deal. He has averaged over .300, 33 doubles, 34 home runs and 103 RBI in his first two full years.

He knew how to do it.

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Video: Galloway & Big Mac debate Josh Hamilton's thoughts

 

 

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It's better that Josh Hamilton not play in a "true, true baseball town"

You may miss former Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton's ability to hit monster home runs, but I will miss this man's candor. The edit button on his mouth didn't work all the time.

Now with the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles, that same edit button still doesn't. God bless him for that.

Take for instance his interview with Gina Miller (@ThatSportsGirl) of CBS 11 that aired Sunday night. In Gina's behind-the-scenes to the interview she noted that Hamilton is keeping his family in north Texas. He wanted to buy house in Newport Beach, Calif. but didn't because the price of real estate is too expensive.

It's depressing to think a man who recently signed a five-year, $125 million contract can't afford a home near where he works.

He did notice that the Texas Rangers' fans quickly got spoiled by the team's consecutive World Series appearances. 

“Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town. They’re supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly," he told Gina Miller. 

He also added: "It's not a true baseball town."

It is better for Josh Hamilton that he not play in a true baseball town. If Josh thought the criticism directed his way for his play late last season was harsh, go to Boston. Or go to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Not Anaheim. The Angels may be a successful franchise, but neither that fan base nor that media market is going to roast him if his production slides because he can't see through his right eyelid. As much as I personally like Josh, some of the drama that he generated is going to play better in certain markets.

The smartest move Josh made was to go to a place where not only can he win, but that he has protection in the lineup and plays in a market that does not have the scrutiny of a Yankees, Mets or a Cubs. He's going to receive praise and criticism wherever he plays because he's Josh Hamilton, but the intensity will not be as intense in a place like Anaheim.

Josh is right in that FW/d is not a true baseball town. This area feels a Week 3 Dallas Cowboys loss almost with the same intensity as that Rangers' loss in Game 6 against th Cardinals.

In a way, that worked to his benefit here and it should in Anaheim.

Click here for to play the interview.

 

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Texas Tech at TCU tops best games of 2012 in FW/d

The one thing we can never get enough of is lists. A list of our favorite songs. The best Nicholas Sparks novels. The top 10 Rocky movies.

The end of the year brings the trite, mail-it-end look back at the year that was. Because The Big Mac Blog loves cliches as much as the next, here is a look at the best games of the year. I tried to spread the wealth ...

1. Texas Tech 56, TCU 53 (3 ot); Oct. 20, 2012.
Hands down the most entertaining game of the Big 12 season. 
In TCU's first year of the Big 12, the Frogs led Tech by five in the fourth quarter before the Red Raiders rallied to take a 10-point lead with 4:06 remaining.
TCU managed to tie the game with 18 seconds lef that set up one of the more entertaining series of overtimes you could watch.

2. Cowboys 27, Steelers 24 (ot); Dec. 16, 2012.
Tony Romo played one of the best games of his career as the Cowboys rallied to win a game they trailed by seven points in the fourth quarter.
Romo passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns, one to the busted-fingered Dez Bryant.
The Steelers weren't as good as advertised but this was a highly entertaining game and offered the Cowboys at their best. 

3. Texas Rangers 11, LA Angels 10, (10 innings); Aug. 1, 2012
The Angels led 7-1 after four innings. The Rangers scored four in the fifth, and runs in the eighth and the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The Angels scored three times in the top of the 10th, but the Rangers scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, the final two on an Elvis Andrus single.

4. Texas Rangers 10, Baltimore Orioles 3; May 9, 2012
Josh Hamilton hit four home runs. 

5. DeSoto 49, Southlake Carroll 45; Dec. 8, 2012.
In the 5A quarterfinals, DeSoto trailed by 18 points in the first half before taking the lead. Carroll QB Kenny Hill was stopped on consecutive running plays from the 1-yard line, the final as time expired.  

6. TCU 20, Texas 13; Nov. 22, 2012.
Easily the biggest win of the year for TCU as the Frogs won on Thanksgiving night in Austin. The Frogs forced four turnovers, including the game-clinching pick by Sam Carter with less than two minutes remaining.

7. Oklahoma 63, Texas 21; Oct. 13, 2012.
The game was boring as hell but there was so much comedy and amazement to watch Bob Stoops' Sooners put yet another nasty beatdown on Mack Brown's Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl. It truly was watching a train wreck.

8. Dallas Mavericks 101, San Antonio Spurs 100 (ot); Jan. 29, 2012
This was before the Mavericks completely crashed in the playoffs and was Jason Terry at his best. He hit a 15-foot game-tying shot to tie the game with 1 second remaining and send the game into OT. Terry finished with 34 points.

9. Dallas Stars 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (ot); Feb. 26, 2012
Before the Stars fell apart to miss the playoffs yet again, they rallied for this impressive win against a good Canucks team. The Stars were down 2-1 with less than one minute remaining before Mike Ribeiro scored to tie the game. In overtime, Loui Eriksson scored the game winner.

10. Cowboys 24, NY Giants 17; Sept. 5, 2012
In the NFL season opener, the Cowboys defeated the defending Super Bowl champions in what would be arguably their most complete win of the season.
Romo threw for 307 yards with three touchdowns; Kevin Ogletree caught eight passes for 114 yards with two TDs; DeMarco Murray rushed for 131 yards.

 

 

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Was it God or the $125 mil' that told Josh Hamilton to sign with the Angels?

I like Josh Hamilton, and I always respected his candor when last season he made no bones about his desire and intent to sign with the highest bidder when he became a free agent.

He offered any tired cliches about anything other than intending to go to the place that offered him the best deal, i.e. money. He never pretended free agency was going to be anything other than a cash grab. 

Professional sports careers are short, and the opportunity to make this type of money - five years, $125 million - can't be taken lightly. You get what you can while you can. Plus, he goes to a competitive team in an area that has a good quality of life, which he will be able to afford.

No one should doubt Hamilton's sincere commitment to his faith, but it felt just so insincere when he conveyed that it was God who gave him the OK on the Angels.

"When you pray about something and God gives you peace about a decision, more than likely that's His will for you," Hamilton said. "When you don't have peace about it, it's not. I prayed a lot about it and understand I had such a great time in Texas. ... A lot of time God likes to take us out of our comfort zone so, one, you can grow spiritually, and two, we can affect people in different places."

I like the last sentence, a lot.

I also have no problem with the truth, either. It's pro sports, and these days there is simply no shame in saying what Josh said all along - it was about the best deal.

For so long Josh said it was going to be about the best contract offer, and now after signing it's about God's will?

God wants you to be a good dude and live a decent life, and He does not care if he hits home runs for the Angels, Rangers or Phillies.

 

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The Texas Rangers really never did want Josh Hamilton back

FORT WORTH, Texas - When the Texas Rangers 2012 holiday media luncheon at a hotel in dowtown Fort Worth began on Thursday afternoon, the questions for GM Jon Daniels and team president Nolan Ryan focused on where the team was in regards to free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton.

By the time the luncheon was done, roughly 70 minutes later, Josh Hamilton was a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Orange County. He agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal. Josh Hamilton may not work for NASA any time soon, but he was smart enough to sign this contract.

"I did want Josh back," Daniels said. "We hesitated in going long term. There is no sugar coating it. We lost some talented players from last year's club. We now have to go back and look at other options."

Although I don't blame either side in this move, selfishly I am bummed he left - he is a lot of fun to watch. 

An offseason the Rangers supposedly were going to win now has them finally dumping Michael Young, who apparently was the devil, losing out on Zack Greinke in a bidding war with the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles, whiffing on an attempted deal to land Arizona OF Justin Upton, and now seeing Hamilton leave as a free agent to a division rival.

The Rangers may have said they wanted Josh, but don't buy it. If the Rangers really wanted Josh back, as they said, they would have signed him.

What they wanted was Josh Hamilton on their own terms, which is their right. It was also Josh's right to say, "No thanks."

The fact he never gave the Rangers the chance to match the Angels' offer tells you that Josh really did not want to come back, either.

It's better for both to move on. The Rangers maximized their relationship with Josh, who in turn used his time in Texas to become a national baseball star. Josh should always be celebrated for what he did with the Rangers. There are no consecutive World Series appearances without his production.

The Rangers were tired of worrying about Josh, and the strain it created on the club.

As much as his talent and production were worth the worries, at some point you say, "We can find somebody else to hit home runs."

Josh was equally wise to bolt. He owed it to himself to maximize this opportunity. He can go somewhere else and get a fresh start, and perhaps not be a burden to his club in any way. And it's not as if he signed with the Marlins - the Angels are competitive and are going to be around it for years. The lineup with Hamilton, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols is stupid loaded.

What do the Rangers do now?

"I am sure Vegas may not like our chances right now," Daniels told me. "It's going to be the sum of the parts and I still like this team."

 

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Why adding Zack Greinke makes sense for the Texas Rangers

The best news for your Texas Rangers coming out of Nashville at MLB's annual winter meetings is that the club is focused on the rotation.

(Also, Per Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram, the club remains hopeful it's going to keep Josh Hamilton.)

The team also appears to be among the two finalists to land Los Angeles Angels right-handed starter Zack Greinke. The other team is the L.A. Dodgers. According to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci, it's a two-team race for Greinke.

The way the winter meetings usually go, this means Greinke will sign with the Rockies.

It's really hard not to like a potential rotation of:
Yu Darvish
Zack Greinke
Matt Harrison
Derek Holland
Alexi Ogando/Neftali Feliz/Colby Lewis 

Fat contracts for pitchers are a serious dice roll, but there are reasons to think Greinke will be "worth" the $160 million he is expected to sign for.

Greinke is 29, and he does not get hurt. He doesn't look like a pitcher who will get hurt. His delivery is simple, he is in good shape, and he looks like a guy who will eat innings for the duration of his contract.

As free agent pitchers go, don't expect a career year every season. Just hope they are consistent and remain healthy for the duration of the contract. Greinke looks like one of those Atlanta Braves pitchers of years past who pitched effectively forever.

Greinke has averaged about 30 starts per season for the past five years. He is 91-78 with a 3.77 ERA in his nine year MLB career.

I would rather see the Rangers add Greinke than keep Hamilton.

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Video: Galloway & Big Mac try to be hopeful about the Texas Rangers

 

 

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Video: Galloway & Big Mac debate the Rangers & a certain 4-letter word

 

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