I wouldn't have any problem with 5/100 for Hamilton, given my current knowledge of his situation and his talent. The relevant question is, do you go 7/150, which is probably closer to his likely salary.

I'd do 5/100 in a heartbeat and I wouldn't touch 7/150. 6/125 is where I start to waffle. I'm not going 7 years unless it's at a price where I feel like years 6&7 are bargains (e.g. 7/120 where I'm paying an effective 2/20 for his age 37&38; seasons).

Ok, I agree with you, then. But, remember that some of those good years are worth way more than $20m. I.E. if the Sox were guaranteed his 2012 production for 2013, they would pay north of $30 m for a 1-year deal. I was even more optimistic about his price this year, hoping they could get him for 110/5 or 125/6.

Sure, but I don't think he will be a star all 4 of the hypothetical years the Sox sign him for. One of his star years will come after that 4 year period in a bounce year.

I don't really think the drugs are the reason he will not end his career on a healthy note, I just think he is an injury prone player. He has averaged 122 games a year for his career (Drew averaged 119), he will always have a few minor, seemingly random, things happen to him that cause him to miss time.

I suppose the thread's moved on, but I wanted to say thanks for the info on the champagne thing, and my mistake for misrepresenting it. I was under the impression it was something Hamilton had asked for.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, I don't feel like reading all the replies in this thread to find out, but quitting tobacco isn't easy. I quit smoking four months ago after 15 years. I'd wanted to quit for about 13 of those 15 years I smoked. The thing that only tobacco, drug, and alcohol users know, that many people don't understand is that you can't just decide to quit and quit. Willpower to quit something like this ebbs and flows. It's like a rollercoaster. And just because you 'want to quit' doesn't make it an easy thing to do. You really need to be in the right frame of mind to quit. Those times are few and far between, and sometimes go a year or two between cycles. So it's not as easy as saying he could've waited for the offseason. If he felt he had the strength and willpower to quit when he did, then good for him.

I don't want the Red Sox to sign Josh Hamilton for any amount greater than what half a dozen other teams should be willing to spend. I guess that's a way of saying I don't want Josh Hamilton that badly, but it also doesn't seem to be that far off from what the Sox fans who want Hamilton are saying.

I want to add that it is curious that one of the strongest anti-PED advocates around here is saying that a player should have continued to use a dangerous drug to help his team. That seems inconsistent but I'm willing to be convinced that it's not.

What's "curious" about the fact that the site's biggest troll is trolling?

[154] For me, quitting was hard, until it became easy. Once something became more important to me than smoking, it just stopped.

[154] I was a 10 year smoker and did quit in the first serious try. Funny thing was that I was building to it and ready to pull the trigger when my Mom visited N.C. and brought me back 2 cartons. So my frugal German side couldn't let me waste them. You'd think that would kill the urge to quit (the rollercoaster thing) but somehow it made me more determined. I couldn't have chosen a better time as:
1. I had no social life. No girl friend, no potential gf even. It was a year + out of college, all my local friends were scattered and I was working 2nd shift. We couldn't get to the bar for more than 45 minutes before closing time and I didn't much like the guys on my shift anyway.
2. It was May and the weather was gorgeous. During the day, I would go for long walks when I felt the urge.
3. I lived on the 9th floor. When I felt the urge and a walk wasn't feasible, I'd walk up and down the steps. At first, I couldn't do more than 2-3 floors but was able to do the entire 9 in a week or so.

The downside was that those were the days when you could smoke everywhere but an oxygen tent. (1976) Heck I was a computer operator and could smoke while changing tapes. But I was usually busy enough physically that I didn't feel the urge too badly.

After a month, the urges slowed down and after a year, I was sure that I was cured. I've had an occasional cigar since but since one doesn't inhale, it wasn't the same as cigarette smoking.

I don't know when I would have stopped if I didn't have my perfect storm of opportunity. I'm sure at some time but it would have been very, very hard.

What's "curious" about the fact that the site's biggest troll is trolling?

The "curiosity" and "inconsistency" was quickly and neatly disposed of in 123.

Hamilton played in 148 games and hit .285/.354/.577 with a 139 OPS+. He had 43 HRs, 128 RBI, 103 runs, and 60 BB. Apart from 2010, which was likely his career year at age 29, his season was perfectly in line with the rest of his career. He may have slumped in the middle of the summer, but there was no reason to expect him to maintain an 1.100 OPS.

IOW, I see no evidence that the tobacco affected his performance. He did exactly what the Rangers should have expected him to do.