Hamilton will not be suspended: per DiGiovanna

[tdawg87]

I've already answered them. He is owed way too much money and is a former MVP.  He is not going to be cut. He did not test positive.  This is a non issue.  Best to pretend none of this ever happened.  MLB has guaranteed contracts.

 

Yeah I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the comments by the FO prove that this is definitely not a "non issue".

[tdawg87]

Hamilton won't be suspended...but Ervin Santana will

 

Tim Brown ‏@TBrownYahoo 2m2 minutes ago

MLB: Minnesota's Ervin Santana suspended 80 games after testing positive for steroid Stanozolol.

 

lulz

[Angel_Fan_4_Life]

AngelsSurfer:

"Look at the way he's "rehabbing" his injury - he's not with the team.  He's got no timeline.  He doesn't seem to be progressing.  Now compare that to other Angels, like Skaggs, who isn't going to playing MLB until 2016 and still came to Spring Training, does public events and want to be with the team."

 

Surfer, you are spot on!  Not only Skaggs, but look how hard Richards has worked since having MAJOR knee surgery in Tempe, AZ, and not rehabbing at a "friend's ranch."  Richards has surpassed all expectations of recovery so far---why, because he truly cares and wants to contribute to this team.

 

And no timeline for Hamilton's return from minor shoulder surgery---ridiculous.

[Amazing Larry]

Hamilton won't be suspended...but Ervin Santana will

Tim Brown ‏@TBrownYahoo 2m2 minutes ago

MLB: Minnesota's Ervin Santana suspended 80 games after testing positive for steroid Stanozolol.

Sometimes you just have to STFU and get suspended.

[beatlesrule]

Yeah I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the comments by the FO prove that this is definitely not a "non issue".

 

It's a non issue in the sense that they still owe him the money.  He is going to get paid regardless of what they say for or against him.  If he hits cleanup, 5th, 6th, 7th or is not on the 25 man roster, he gets paid. Even if all the players hate him and give him the silent treatment, aside from hiring the mob or gangsters to threaten him, the FO is fighting a losing battle.  Just pray the guy does the right thing and retires.

[beatlesrule]

This. It's more than just a line of coke. Someone else brought up that if Mike Trout did this, the reaction would be different. And they're 100% right. And that's perhaps because Mike Trout's attitude, drive, and dedication to his teammates and team are the polar opposite of what we see from Josh. Not just because of his batting average.

 

Look at the way he's "rehabbing" his injury - he's not with the team. He's got no timeline. He doesn't seem to be progressing. Now compare that to other Angels, like Skaggs, who isn't going to be playing MLB untuil 2016 and still came to Spring Training, does public events and wants to be with the team.

 

The difference is that those guys don't have guaranteed contracts.  They are going to do what they need to to make sure they don't jeopardize any future relationship with the Angels Org.  Hamilton is already guaranteed money so he doesn't need to care.

[AngelsLakersFan]

lulz

 

No it was 'zolol'

[AngelsLakersFan]

AngelsSurfer:

"Look at the way he's "rehabbing" his injury - he's not with the team.  He's got no timeline.  He doesn't seem to be progressing.  Now compare that to other Angels, like Skaggs, who isn't going to playing MLB until 2016 and still came to Spring Training, does public events and want to be with the team."

 

Surfer, you are spot on!  Not only Skaggs, but look how hard Richards has worked since having MAJOR knee surgery in Tempe, AZ, and not rehabbing at a "friend's ranch."  Richards has surpassed all expectations of recovery so far---why, because he truly cares and wants to contribute to this team.

 

And no timeline for Hamilton's return from minor shoulder surgery---ridiculous.

 

That was put off for 4 months...

[AngelsSurfer]

The difference is that those guys don't have guaranteed contracts.  They are going to do what they need to to make sure they don't jeopardize any future relationship with the Angels Org.  Hamilton is already guaranteed money so he doesn't need to care.

Mike Trout is the MVP, he has far more clout and marketing presence than Hamilton ever has had, and any team would fall over themselves to get him right now. Guaranteed contract or not, if he wanted to behave like a total enfant terrible he would probably be given the slack to do so - and yet, he doesn't.

Edited April 3, 2015 by AngelsSurfer

[beatlesrule]

Mike Trout is the MVP, he has far more clout and marketing presence than Hamilton ever has had, and any team would fall over themselves to get him right now. Guaranteed contract or not, if he wanted to behave like a total enfant terrible he would probably be given the slack to do so - and yet, he doesn't.

 

Mike trout is like 10 years younger and doesn't have the "disease" that haunts Hamilton everywhere he goes.  Mike Trout loves baseball.  Hamilton is only playing baseball because his contract says he has to.

[Second Base]

An article I just wrote attempting to explain it.  I think there's a lot going on here we aren't sure about. 

 

http://bloguin.com/theoutsidecorner/2015-articles/dont-know-whole-josh-hamilton-story.html

[Ohtaniland]

Josh has great attorney's. He's probably drinking a cold one and laighing right now knowing that there's no rush or timeline to get back. $24M of Arte's money down the drain for 2015.

[AngelsSurfer]

AngelsSurfer:

"Look at the way he's "rehabbing" his injury - he's not with the team.  He's got no timeline.  He doesn't seem to be progressing.  Now compare that to other Angels, like Skaggs, who isn't going to playing MLB until 2016 and still came to Spring Training, does public events and want to be with the team."

 

Surfer, you are spot on!  Not only Skaggs, but look how hard Richards has worked since having MAJOR knee surgery in Tempe, AZ, and not rehabbing at a "friend's ranch."  Richards has surpassed all expectations of recovery so far---why, because he truly cares and wants to contribute to this team.

 

And no timeline for Hamilton's return from minor shoulder surgery---ridiculous.

Yep. Richards could have been upset about missing postseason - but he went to the games and stood or sat at the rail with his team. With Skaggs, Richards, and the others who have had minor or major injuries, the theme has seemed to be "go! go! go! I want to get back out there!" With Hamilton, it seems to be "meh. I'll hit off a tee for a bit."

 

This is a photo I took of Richards, Conger and Wilson sitting at the rail during the Post Season game @ Angels Stadium.

[HaloMagic]

Surfer, you are spot on! Not only Skaggs, but look how hard Richards has worked since having MAJOR knee surgery in Tempe, AZ, and not rehabbing at a "friend's ranch." Richards has surpassed all expectations of recovery so far---why, because he truly cares and wants to contribute to this team.

And no timeline for Hamilton's return from minor shoulder surgery---ridiculous.

Well Richards does have the benefit of having his surgery 6 months before Hamilton. So that would kinda effect the timeline thing.

[fan_since79]

That was put off for 4 months...

 

Surgery put off for four months

Drug and/or alcohol relapse

Not with the team, mysterious "rehab" at a ranch in Texas

No public comment or statement so far from Hamilton

$83 million still owed by the Angels

 

Oh, and the season begins in three days, in Seattle.

[Thomas]

Josh has great attorney's. He's probably drinking a cold one and laighing right now knowing that there's no rush or timeline to get back. $24M of Arte's money down the drain for 2015.

 

Was he defended by his attorneys or MLBPA attorneys?

[AngelsSurfer]

Mike trout is like 10 years younger and doesn't have the "disease" that haunts Hamilton everywhere he goes.  Mike Trout loves baseball.  Hamilton is only playing baseball because his contract says he has to.

All true, but there's really no need to keep putting the word disease in quotes. It's not a made up thing.

[Thomas]

Mike Trout Fact:

When his ingests methamphetamine he pisses out vitamin C 

[AngelsSurfer]

Well Richards does have the benefit of having his surgery 6 months before Hamilton. So that would kinda effect the timeline thing.

Literally the day Richards was wheeled into surgery they had a projected timeline for his recovery. After his surgery he showed up in full uniform with his knee brace to support his team. And every few months we read news stories about how he'd met this milestone or that milestone and was making progress.

Hamilton? He doesn't have surgery until just before ST, he supposedly has a fairly minor procedure and yet there's no timeline for his recovery, he hasn't come to ST or a single game and we haven't heard anything that suggests he is making an effort.

[Mark68]

Josh has great attorney's. He's probably drinking a cold one and laighing right now knowing that there's no rush or timeline to get back. $24M of Arte's money down the drain for 2015.

Is he drinking a cold one while doing a line?

[Tank]

Lesson learned....if you are going to use illegal drugs, make sure you nobly turn yourself in to the commissioner before you test positive on a drug test. They'll grant you more leniency by doing so

 

If he doesn't say a word he likely gets a lengthy suspension but since he admitted to it before he tested positive he skates free. Terrible news for the team. Was hoping he'd be staying far away from the team this year

 

according to the article, the commish and MLB wanted to suspend him. it was the arbitrator who ruled that they couldn't, not a direct decision of the commissioner.

[Tank]

late to the game here, and haven't read all the comments, but from the few i've seen there's a consensus on hoping hamilton gets himself healthy and that his playing time with the angels end sooner rather than later. i agree with both.

 

i'm surprised at the arbitrator's rulling. makes no sense.

[beatlesrule]

It only makes sense because he didn't violate any law in the drug program.  He never tested positive.  He admitted before taking a test that he used.  He therefore can't be punished because the wording states that a player must test positive in order to be suspended.  MLB is stupid for agreeing to such a blatant loophole.

[nando714]

God this guy is such a headache. Release him or grab some bench. No way he starts.

[Inside Pitch]

It only makes sense because he didn't violate any law in the drug program.  He never tested positive.  He admitted before taking a test that he used.  He therefore can't be punished because the wording states that a player must test positive in order to be suspended.  MLB is stupid for agreeing to such a blatant loophole.

 

I think the issue here may be that they believed the admission was enough -- it's possible that Hamilton may have turned around and used the lack of a test as a way to circumvent the rules and avoid a suspension after the fact.   The openly hostile responses from both MLB and the Angels seems a tad out of character....   The whole thing is very odd.

 

The old "trust but verify" line really seems to stand out in this situation...