Alden Gonzalez: Hamilton remains confident he will find his timing

[AngelsWin.com]

We're 57 games into the season, and Josh Hamilton is still trying to figure it out at the plate. It's never quite taken him this long.

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[Angelsjunky]

Hamilton sounds like a complete dumbass. Obviously, at age 32, he can't rely on his talent alone. He has no approach at the plate and, as when Vlad began to lose bat-speed, it gets ugly real quickly for players like that.

 

I think the best-case scenario at this point is that he hits around .260 with 25ish HR, but that BA doesn't come back. Maybe next year we'll be lucky and he'll hit .280 with 30 HR, but the days are gone when this player hits .300+.

[Tyler]

Frustrating for everybody.

[mtangelsfan]

I'm confident signing Hamilton was a gigantic mistake.

[Docwaukee]

maybe it's under a ginormous stack of cash. 

[Ohtaniland]

I'm confident that the Texas Rangers find this all amusing.

[EDinTUSTIN]

Even if he does find it and starts raking, the damage is already done. A bit late for that to happen. We can hope that he becomes sizzling hot and the team gets into a wild card spot, but I am not holding my breath.

[Brent Maguire]

Good to see he thinks his ability will carry him later in his career rather than trying to evolve like Torii did.

Obviously, this approach isn't working this year and pitchers are aware. Make an adjustment dude.

[Angel Oracle]

HE's A BUFFOON!

[fan_since79]

Pitchers have a "book" on opposing hitters, and the book on Hamilton is, "he gets himself out." 

 

Low, outside breaking stuff and he swings. Simple as that. Avoid anything over the plate unless it's up at the shoulders. He can't catch up to that. 

 

He gets himself out.

 

Until he decides to look at the garbage the pitchers are tossing at him and draws some walks, this will never change. 

 

It's a mental thing. Hamilton has to exert some willpower here, and STOP SWINGING AT CRAP.

[dimitrig]

.260? If only!

[Docwaukee]

Pitchers have a "book" on opposing hitters, and the book on Hamilton is, "he gets himself out." 

 

Low, outside breaking stuff and he swings. Simple as that. Avoid anything over the plate unless it's up at the shoulders. He can't catch up to that. 

 

He gets himself out.

 

Until he decides to look at the garbage the pitchers are tossing at him and draws some walks, this will never change. 

 

It's a mental thing. Hamilton has to exert some willpower here, and STOP SWINGING AT CRAP.

he's above all that.  he transcends the game.  at some point they will realize that he is Just Josh.  Pitchers will come from miles around to throw him fastballs down the middle of the plate.  Pitchers will come Fan.  Pitchers will come. 

[gurn67]

This is nothing about timing or physical problems. This is 100% choking! The guy has a .464 slugging pct with no one on base (good, maybe not for Josh, but for most guys). It drops to .386 with a man on first. .150 with RISP (career .529). The more pressure to drive in a run, the bigger the fail. Bat the guy way down in the order until he gets a few big hits with RISP and if he doesn't, let him bat 7th or 8th all year.

[CaliAngel]

I wonder if Josh Hamilton will ever dive for a ball?

[gurn67]

I wonder if Josh Hamilton will ever dive for a ball?

Maybe I'm wrong, but hasn't he made at least two diving catches this year?

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I saw him make a very nice sliding catch near the right field line in a game about a week ago.

[Angel Oracle]

By the way Brad Hamilton, nice responses to the media yesterday.

The media is simply fed up with your hitting, like we are!

Now SHUT UP and hit the d_mn baseball!

[fan_since79]

There's nothing wrong with his fielding or his arm. As others have pointed out, he's made some terrific plays this year and looks very good out there in right.

 

What's wrong with him is he wants to swing at every d*mn pitch thrown to him, regardless of its location. Pitchers are all too happy to gratify that desire by throwing garbage. He gets himself out. Simple as that.

 

If he doesn't stop it soon, we're looking at a .220 hitter, with tons of strikeouts and a few home runs here and there.

[mbn]

He'll still get some homers just because in a non pressure situation, some pitchers will still throw him stuff that touches the strike zone rather than risk walking him.    

 

In critical situations, he'll never see a strike (at least not on purpose)

 

I've been watching baseball since 1981, I've never seen anybody with such an obvious "book"

[fan_since79]

People need to hold up large signs in eye view of Hamilton when he's at the plate:

 

DON'T SWING, JOSH!!!

 

Really. It's a compulsion at this point with him, and very frustrating to watch. Pitchers are toying with him like a cat with a mouse. It's too easy.

 

Perhaps a hypnotist would help. 

 

[mbn]

I was going to suggest a psychiatrist