More Hamilton Analysis

[nate]

For those that can bear to read more...
 

Hamilton no longer hitting hard

[wopphil]

I am convinced he was a PED user.

[Angelsjunky]

Translation: Hamilton has a bad case of the sucks.

[DMVol]

I am convinced he was a PED user.

Nothing would surprise me when it comes to PED's at this point....but, if he wasn't using PED's, you have to remember that he is now at an age (32) when lots of baseball players and athletes start a decline....some start earlier than others....it wouldn't surprise me if he's just in a predictable 30 something decline....Hopefully he bounces back some next year but he's simply not going to be the player he was in his 20's....Roger Clemens was starting the usual decline of a 30 something athlete when his "workout reigmen" helped him to a rejuvinated career.....yeah right.....I don't think Vernon Wells was using (though, again, I wouldn't be surprised by anything)....I think he was just declining at around the same age as Hamilton....

Having said all that, you are probably right...he was probably using....

[Glen]

Without reading the article, I'm guessing it gives more reasons why he sucks.

[Angels]

Pujols and Hamilton don't have to take PEDs anymore since they signed their last contracts they will ever get. Especially in the case of Albert Pujols. Why risk your health when you're going to get paid no matter what and the contract you've signed will take you to the end of your career? Time to sit back and enjoy. Pujols will continue to have a new excuse every year for why he sucks. Next year, it will probably be an elbow issue. Then the knee in 2015. And so on.

 

Never sign players to long-term contracts that will take them to the end of their careers. It usually never works out well. Build around young players.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Angels

[Bruce Nye]

I am convinced he was a PED user.

 

 

 

Me too.

[Angel_Fan_4_Life]

Not hitting hard, um really?  An article needed to be written about something so painfully obvious.

 

Must be a slow day at the press office for sure.

[m0nkey]

Another article. Hamiltown makes an appearance

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9615491/what-happened-josh-hamilton

[xboom28x]

The last place Hamilton will make an appearance will be the waiver wire in 2015 when the new GM dumps his ass mid-season.

 

Unfortunately, this organization will go into 2014 with high hopes that Hackilton will return to pre 2012 form.

[tdawg87]

To be fair, he has been hitting much better the last 20 games. Many won't agree, but I don't think it is a physical thing, but a mental one.

Hopefully he can stay hot the rest of the year and start fresh in 2014.

[KingJustinian]

I think it's mostly mental too. He does rely a lot on natural ability which means he will eventually decline a lot as he ages, but it shouldn't be this drastic.

[Docwaukee]

how about the main reason he isn't hitting the ball as hard is because he leads the league in seeing breaking balls and off speed stuff.  The ball comes off the bat slower in those cases.  Also, the ball goes further in Arlington than Anaheim so that could account for the distance differences. 

 

The reason he's had more success the last couple of weeks is that he's laying off the low and slow stuff away.  Or at least he's doing a better job. 

 

It appears he's never had to do much adjusting before.  Or he's adjusted enough in the past to where pitchers didn't think they could get away with throwing him that same low and away change-up or breaker over and over and over. 

 

I do think it's mental but one of the long term effects of chronic drug use (and in particular things like amphetamines) is vision problems. 

[Angel Oracle]

Laser eye surgery time?

[Docwaukee]

Laser eye surgery time?

I am sure they have looked into this at depth.  My concern would be that it's not correctable. 

 

Although he has been much better as of late so maybe I am off base entirely. 

[wopphil]

He does have an .810 OPS over the last two+ months (since June 25), so maybe he is making adjustments.  I don't expect him to become a .900 OPS player ever again, but at least he won't be a total waste if he can put up numbers between .825-.850 (which of course is no given).

[rageous]

I hope Josh gets some fresh batch of PED for next year.

[fan_since79]

I was concerned in the Spring when he showed up 20 pounds lighter and said he had gone on a "juice diet". Why in the world would he want to do such a thing??

 

 

[bloodbrother]

At this point, if he can give them just 1 season with a .250 BA and .800+ OPS, it will be a success

 

Never have I seen a player with a worse approach at the plate than him....though Mark Trumbo tries

[Mark68]

To be fair, he has been hitting much better the last 20 games. Many won't agree, but I don't think it is a physical thing, but a mental one.

Hopefully he can stay hot the rest of the year and start fresh in 2014.

It probably is mostly mental, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is an underlying physical decline. In fact, I'd be surprised if that WASN'T happening, PEDs or no.

[Mark68]

I was concerned in the Spring when he showed up 20 pounds lighter and said he had gone on a "juice diet". Why in the world would he want to do such a thing??

Maybe he doesn't want to be a diabetic old fart like....me.

[70runner]

Against LHP, Hamilton is very close to an automatic out.  By himself he will keep dozens of lefties employed in MLB.  I believe his stats may be upticking (could they get much worse?) due to facing more righties.  Like the Albert Pujols he will be another year into his 30s.  Wishing & hoping either will suddenly find their stroke is fools gold I believe. 

[Angel Oracle]

I'm happy with an .800 OPS through 2015.

Then trade him and eat half of the remaining $60 million, and call it a day.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Angel Oracle

[VariousCrap]

Another article. Hamiltown makes an appearance

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9615491/what-happened-josh-hamilton

 

 

 

This article basically says he is a mental midget.

[Ohtaniland]

Another article. Hamiltown makes an appearance

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9615491/what-happened-josh-hamilton

The Hamiltown sign is obviously too distracting.