I can see how you'd end up booing a guy like Hamilton, because when he's locked in he looks like he'll never stop being great, and then he can drop off precipitously for literally months at a time. I mean, he had a swing of over .500 in his OPS from his best month to his worst month this season.

Not saying it's right, but I can understand how that gets exasperating.

I could think of about two dozen teams who'd love to have him, including mine.

He said again Friday that prayer will guide his choice.

Perhaps, like Reggie White, he's going to the Green Bay Packers.

We won't boo you at Citi Field, Josh. Well, probably.

Obviously prayer should guide all choices. It's silly that it wouldn't. Also he'd make any baseball team in the world better by being on it.

This is why players should go for the best contract--the love of the fans is fickle.

He said again Friday that prayer will guide his choice.

Maybe Hamilton has read this book?

We won't boo you at Citi Field, Josh. Well, probably.

I would like to see the holy war that would ensue between the Tebowites and the Hamiltonians. Smite them, smite them all!

slightly off-topic but there's no way Upton ends up back in Tampa either. I think he and his teammates knew it. Near the end of their final game, other players like Longoria took turns going up to Upton and embracing him.

I've said this elsewhere, but just in case anyone thought I was wavering, I want no part of Hamilton on the Yankees--which is admittedly unlikely--and I think whoever signs him is going to be profoundly disappointed. I suspect he's going to get paid for his 2010 season, which was brilliant, but isn't coming back. He's getting $100 million from someone, and it's going to be a horrible deal.

Smite them, smite them all!

I'm reading a book in which the townsfolk of Swindon are working on an anti-smite shield. I believe that is what Hamilton tried to accomplish with his tatoos.

There's not a chance in hell Hamilton returns to Texas.

I've said this elsewhere, but just in case anyone thought I was wavering, I want no part of Hamilton on the Yankees--which is admittedly unlikely--and I think whoever signs him is going to be profoundly disappointed. I suspect he's going to get paid for his 2010 season, which was brilliant, but isn't coming back. He's getting $100 million from someone, and it's going to be a horrible deal.

Agreed. I don't want the Mets coming near Hamilton, either. He's probably a bad contract waiting to happen... but I do think he's still a 100M player right now. It's just that there's an unusually high chance of him flaming out.

Honestly, Hamilton really is the biggest question mark I've ever seen on FA. I'd be only slightly less surprised if he hits his prime from 32-37 and wins 1 or 2 more MVP's in that span. My total WAG is that Hamilton either goes to the Cards on something like 5/115 and posts an average season of 310/40/125 over the life of the k OR he goes to the Marlins and we get Darryl Strawberry east.

...I could totally talk myself into Josh Hamilton.

... How bad did it get? “Bad,” Hamilton said. He didn’t go into detail, but it was apparent the words stung. He insisted he would shake them off, because that’s what the Bible tells him to do. Hamilton cites scripture frequently. But this verse — Matthew 10:14 — sounded like a sorrowful goodbye.

so long as we're quoting scripture, does this mean what i think it means:

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

...matthew 16:19

There's not a chance in hell Hamilton returns to Texas.

Does Texas have no interest in retaining him?

Last night, the opinion in Arlington was Isaiah 30.22: "thou shalt cast him away as a menstruous cloth, thou shalt say unto him, get thee hence."

Which I hasten to say I don't share. It's the old what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude, forgetting that the Rangers would have been nowhere near the Wild Card if Hamilton hadn't hit the way he did earlier in the season. Let alone the last five seasons. Yeah, the bum, what has he ever achieved in this town :)

And that said, I wouldn't sign him. Bill James had a metaphor once, IIRC WRT Joaquin Andujar: it often happens that some club gets the juicy center of a guy's career, and other teams get the rinds. (Watermelon metaphor, I hope we can use that.) The Rangers got the center; it's time to find the center of somebody else's career now. Otherwise they're building a collection of rinds.

I'd give Hamilton the contract I suspect Nick Swisher is going to get. Because what Hamilton really is--a very good, but not great, hitting corner outfield, is what everyone thinks Swisher is. But Hamilton is going to get paid like what he's really not, which is a great hitting center fielder.

Just checked Hamilton's stats on B-R. Two things came to mind:
1. What does the gold background behind his 2010 BA signify? I've never seen that before on B-R.
2. Holy hell, he struck out a lot more this year than the rest of his career. That's definitely a giant red flag.

1. What does the gold background behind his 2010 BA signify? I've never seen that before on B-R

I noticed that too. I'm wonder if gold background indicates a batting title (along with the highest average) whereas just bold--as I assume it will be on Melky's page--means highest average but no batting title.

What does the gold background behind his 2010 BA signify?

That's just an afterimage from looking at a flashing purple banner ad. Blink a few times and it will go away.

I noticed that too. I'm wonder if gold background indicates a batting title (along with the highest average) whereas just bold--as I assume it will be on Melky's page--means highest average but no batting title.

Yeah, after poking around a bit more that seems to be what it is.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to have minor-league years to grow.

Heh.

Josh Hamilton is the most insufferable interview in baseball. I am not a spiritual person, but usually do not begrudge someone who is. My brother is and I understand how it enriches his life. But he doesn't remind you of this every time he opens his mouth. Hamilton is the walking cliche of what, in part, grates me about the extremists. He's an empty vessel who will defer to a higher power to "make" every decision for him, whether it's where to go to make his next millions of dollars or what combo meal at Taco Bell he should get.

I'd give Hamilton the contract I suspect Nick Swisher is going to get. Because what Hamilton really is--a very good, but not great, hitting corner outfield, is what everyone thinks Swisher is.

Fun with selective endpoints:

2011, 2012
fWAR
Hamilton: 4.1, 4.4
Swisher: 3.8, 4.0

Josh Hamilton is the most insufferable interview in baseball.

I feel the opposite way. I usually roll my eyes and make obnoxious noises under my breath when athletes are particularly outspoken in their Christianity. But since I know that Josh Hamilton wen through addictions to alcohol, drugs, and even tattoos, I think it's healthy for him to have settled on an addiction that at least doesn't hurt him. So Hamilton's practically the only one who, when he answers a question with scripture, makes me say, "Good for you, Josh! Stay the course!"

I'd love for the Red Sox to sign him.

He's also in the Dave Henderson / Alfonso Soriano club of would-be could-be world series heroes.

Come to think of it, I also approve of the way Hamilton actually quotes the Bible in interviews instead of just saying "All glory to God" all the time like a lot of athletes. It makes me think he's actually read it, which makes the whole thing feel more sincere. I guess I get annoyed by the constant, shallow religiosity but approve of it when it seems like it goes deeper than that?

Josh Hamilton not have future in Texas. Josh Hamilton future lie elsewhere.

Josh Hamilton not have future in Texas. Josh Hamilton future lie elsewhere.

These are not the droids you're looking for.

But since I know that Josh Hamilton wen through addictions to alcohol, drugs, and even tattoos, I think it's healthy for him to have settled on an addiction that at least doesn't hurt him. So Hamilton's practically the only one who, when he answers a question with scripture, makes me say, "Good for you, Josh! Stay the course!"

This. Religion helps him in his life, and impacts yours not at all. Win-win.

He's an empty vessel who will defer to a higher power to "make" every decision for him, whether it's where to go to make his next millions of dollars or what combo meal at Taco Bell he should get.

Wouldn't god tell him to eat at Chik-Fil-A?

If we assume that Hamilton is leaving Texas, (and I think that is far from clear) who would be the most likely teams to go after him?

I think anyone saying "I'd love my team to have him" may not think that when their team signs him to a 6 year $100million contract. Yes, he's a good player. He's also going to be very expensive, for what are likely post-prime years. And I don't root for him to relapse, but he's done it twice.

The Rangers have been slowly making Hamilton out to be a bad guy much of the year. I would be shocked if they brought him back.

I'm reading a book in which the townsfolk of Swindon are working on an anti-smite shield.

First Tuesday Next reference I've ever seen on BTF!

If we assume that Hamilton is leaving Texas, (and I think that is far from clear) who would be the most likely teams to go after him?

The Dodgers gobble upp nine-figure contracts like jelly beans, but they already have $350M worth of players in the outfield.

The Dodgers gobble upp nine-figure contracts like jelly beans, but they already have $350M worth of players in the outfield

How much longer are the Angels paying Vernon Wells? Seems like Artie wants to spend until he's back in the playoffs.

Let's see...jeeze, another $42 million to Vernon through 2014. Yikes. On the other hand, they were paying Hunter $18 million the last few years, they could give Hamilton that money.

I think anyone saying "I'd love my team to have him" may not think that when their team signs him to a 6 year $100million contract.

I think a lot of fans will breathe a sigh a relief if their team signs him for 6/$100M instead of 8/$160M.

Wouldn't god tell him to eat at Chik-Fil-A?

WWJE?

I noticed that too. I'm wonder if gold background indicates a batting title (along with the highest average) whereas just bold--as I assume it will be on Melky's page--means highest average but no batting title.

Yeah, after poking around a bit more that seems to be what it is.

Melky's 2012 BA is not bolded.

Given all this off the field stuff in combination with a lot of big markets not needing a guy like Hamilton, I wonder if there is a perfect storm which would allow a mid market team like Seattle to get him on a reasonable contract?

who would be the most likely teams to go after him?

I think the Cubs need to make a big acquisition. But David Wright may be the guy.

WWJE?

That's easy.

Bill James had a metaphor once, IIRC WRT Joaquin Andujar: it often happens that some club gets the juicy center of a guy's career, and other teams get the rinds.

Darrell Porter.

6/100?

I think any team with an open OF spot should do that. 8/160? No.

Also, he talks about God in interviews. Interviews aren't conversations with people. In addition to what was said above about the likely sincerity, if I were a celeb, I'd come up with 5 or 6 benign things and simply repeat them.

If all Josh Hamilton can talk about with friends and family is God, then, yes, he's insufferable.

(Actually, you said insufferable interview - that may be a valid point).

Also, he talks about God in interviews. Interviews aren't conversations with people. In addition to what was said above about the likely sincerity, if I were a celeb, I'd come up with 5 or 6 benign things and simply repeat them.

If all Josh Hamilton can talk about with friends and family is God, then, yes, he's insufferable.

(Actually, you said insufferable interview - that may be a valid point).

I don't doubt his sincerity. And while I don't really care to hear any unsolicited religious banter, I can appreciate that he appears to be educated on the matter rather than the Generic "God Is Good" type of athlete described in an earlier post. It's just that unless it's pertinent to the topic of conversation (i.e. how he got clean), then I don't really want to hear incessant references to religion (e.g. when he said he prayed for those fans in the outfield who heckled him).

First Tuesday Next reference I've ever seen on BTF!

Not sure if this link will work, but I found three Jasper Fforde references on BBTF, the oldest going back to 2004.

#39 -- Something tells me he could order one and share it with the whole restaurant.

Two months ago, I'd have said Hamilton was very likely headed to the Dodgers. But the Carlos Crawford deal probably means he won't. Still, I wouldn't put it past Kasten to pony up the dough anyway and make Crawford a $20 mil/yr 4th outfielder.

I think anyone saying "I'd love my team to have him" may not think that when their team signs him to a 6 year $100million contract.

I'd be ecstatic to get him to sign at that price. Wherever he signs, I predict he'll get a bigger deal than that.

There's so much floating around that 6/$100 for Hamilton would be chicken feed. C'mon now, Carlos Lee signed for 6/$100 and that was 6 years ago. And what's this notion that he's not a good hitter? His OPS+ was 10th in the league last year and a quick Marcel projects him to repeat it. Over the last 3 years, he's 8th in MLB (min 1500 PA) by OPS+ and everybody ahead of him is a corner player. He's 12th in WAR (Cano leads by a smidgen over Cabrera). Of course that includes the big 2010 and he does drop to 20th in OPS+ (top 10 in the league) and all the way to 45th in WAR 2011-12 (partly playing time). But even 45th still puts him pretty comfortably in the top 60 most valuable going forward -- your 2nd best players.

There's no particularly obvious reason to prefer, for example, Matt Holliday over Hamilton going forward and the Cards still owe Holliday 4/$68 on a contract signed 3 years ago. I have a hard time seeing Hamilton getting less than 5/$100.

Where will he end up? The most logical place probably is Texas but it does sound like that's not going to happen. The Angels do make a lot of sense but I might just re-sign Hunter on a shorter contract. We seem to rule out the NY teams for temptation reasons and I'm not seeing him finding the Boston media a comfy idea (and he's a guy you want to keep away from Popeye's and beer). Detroit seems obvious if they can squeeze in one year before the VMart contract is up and the debate about which of Fielder, Cabrera and Hamilton moves to DH around 2015 will be fun. Baltimore makes sense.

In the NL, the Giants, Brewers and maybe Braves (if Prado moves to 3B) make sense; the Phils if they want to continue their silly ways. Theo seems to have made it clear the Cubs aren't planning to spend big.

And, yeah, you never know when a Toronto, Seattle, Rockies will want to make a splash. As with most players around this age, I'd be a lot more interested if I was an AL team so I can give him 40 days off a year at DH and move him there full-time when the defense starts to go.

I can see the concern here -- when all is said and done, he'll have had a career no better than Brian Giles or Moises Alou with an upside of Jack Clark. I'd obviously rather have him for 3-4 years than 5-6. But I think he'll give you 3-4 years of being the 2nd best player on a really good team or the best hitter on a "balanced" team.

one last chance at the redemption that never came. T

Uh...

Would Hamilton, Jones, Markakis be the best outfield in baseball?

Baltimore makes sense.

Has Simon decided to make another season of The Wire? With Jones in center, Hamilton would be just a corner boy.

It's Baltimore gentlemen. The Gods will not save you.