How did we lose Josh Hamilton again??

[Soriano12]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

Did he not follow step 9 and apologize to you for something?

 

Nope...just don't feel bad for a coke head that wasted a ton of his talents while others would dream for such ability and chance to play in baseball.

 

I also find it funny that if Hamilton was black, he would be labled as just some "thug", rather than some poor soul fighting his addiction. (FWIW I am white).

 

So people didn't pull for Doc Gooden to come back from all his problems and give him second chances because he's black?

 

I dream of the ability too, but I find it hard to be unsympathetic just because I haven't had the misfortune of dealing with some serious problems myself.

 

I recall Gooden taking alot more heat in the media.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I recall Gooden taking alot more heat in the media.

 

Hamilton's story would be written differently had he shown big league successes first. I guarantee most baseball fans didn't know who Hamilton was, even going into opening day this season. They don't follow the amateur draft, they don't follow the minors. It has nothing to do with black or white, it has everything to do with where they were in their lives.

[apete6]

quote]

 

I recall Gooden taking "a lot more coke up his nose after success".[/quote]

 

Fixed

[David]

Gooden was already a big star and had proven himself to be a phenomenal major league pitcher when he was battling his problems.

 

EDIT - Guess I'm a few minutes too late.

[wade]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

Did he not follow step 9 and apologize to you for something?

 

Nope...just don't feel bad for a coke head that wasted a ton of his talents while others would dream for such ability and chance to play in baseball.

 

I also find it funny that if Hamilton was black, he would be labled as just some "thug", rather than some poor soul fighting his addiction. (FWIW I am white).

 

So people didn't pull for Doc Gooden to come back from all his problems and give him second chances because he's black?

 

I dream of the ability too, but I find it hard to be unsympathetic just because I haven't had the misfortune of dealing with some serious problems myself.

 

I recall Gooden taking alot more heat in the media.

 

He took heat, but he also had about eleventeen combacks and failures. And, although I think it's a shame that he wasted his talent, I still wouldn't mind hearing that he was straight.

[98navigator]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

[thread hijack] I agree. I'm not going to expend energy rooting for someone who has failed without the assistance of others! I don't understand why people who have abused drugs, done time, or--pick the infraction--, deserve our support. He's to blame for his problems and he has to earn some credibility. Lost in the shuffle of this "feel good story" are the guys who succeed without succumbing to pressure or those who don't get a second chance. The guy is lucky to be in this position.[/thread hijack]

 

Yes he his, and I'm sure he knows that. If he stays straight and lives up to his potential, it's still a good story. Battling an addiction is about as difficult as anything anyone can ever do. He should not be forever condemned for making stupid mistakes with drugs at a young age.

 

Why is this a good story? I can see someone battling back from a devastating injury, cancer, or after an unprovoked attack that took them away from the game, but this? No, using crack was his fault.

 

BTW, I'm not advocating condemnation. If he proves he is clean there's nothing to talk about but he hasn't earned universal respect, praise, or support. There are plenty of young people who don't throw away years of their life because of drug abuse. Also, let's not characterize this as youthful transgressions, this guy was married with children. Instead of adequately supporting his family he was terrorizing them--so much so that his wife kicked him out of the house!!!

 

I don't hear enough praise for those who do the right thing the first time around. They don't get the limelight. Now Hamilton is viewed as a symbol of strength and perseverance? Not in my world.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I've been hearing good things about Josh Hamilton. Did the Cubs take a look at this kid before trading him to the Reds, and who did we get back in the trade?

-- Pat C., Chicago

 

In case you don't know the background, the Cubs drafted Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft, then traded him to the Reds. The Cubs had no intention of picking anyone in the Rule 5 draft last December. Keep in mind that if a team picks someone, it must keep that player on the Major League roster the entire season or return him to the original team. The Cubs had other intentions and roster limitations.

 

Because the Cubs had a high pick, the Reds approached them and offered cash in exchange for that pick. The Cubs did not know who they were choosing until someone from the Reds slipped them a piece of paper with Hamilton's name on it seconds before their selection.

 

link

That doesn't change the fact that the Cubs could've bagged the whole deal the second before getting that slip of paper, the second after getting that slip of paper, or the second after selecting Hamilton.

 

True, but you better have quite a reason to do so-normally, there's not enough of one to make the other GM's in the league upset by breaking an agreement.

I agree. Hendry's too much of a standup guy to go back on his deal.

 

I was just pointing out that nothing was official with the Reds until after Hamilton was Cubs property, and technically, they could've kept him (or offered him back to TB, or not taken him in the first place, etc.).

 

RichHill characterized the situation as being completely out of the Cubs' hands before the pick was even made. That's not true.

 

The Cubs weren't planning to take anyone in the Rule 5. I highly doubt they wasted time scouting potential Rule 5 picks, Josh H. included. You don't just all of a sudden decide to take a player we didn't have room for much less haven't scouted, nevermind the agreement.

[Yestheydo]

If Hamilton had been chosen and kept by the Cubs, and was doing everything he's doing right now for the Cubs, this city would be going absolutely nuts for him, guaranteed.

 

He has four homers in, like, 24 at-bats. His discipline and plate coverage are phenomenal. He's like a lefty Derrek Lee right now. And he's going to get better.

 

I agree he doesn't deserve to be treated as some sort of hero; he's the luckiest crackhead in the world. I'm just saying: if he were a Cub, it would make the Matt Murton lovefest look like a polite greeting.

 

I'm picking the Reds to win the division. Even though everyone here knows what a fool they have for a GM.

[C.C.]

If Hamilton had been chosen and kept by the Cubs, and was doing everything he's doing right now for the Cubs, this city would be going absolutely nuts for him, guaranteed.

 

He has four homers in, like, 24 at-bats. His discipline and plate coverage are phenomenal. He's like a lefty Derrek Lee right now. And he's going to get better.

 

I agree he doesn't deserve to be treated as some sort of hero; he's the luckiest crackhead in the world. I'm just saying: if he were a Cub, it would make the Matt Murton lovefest look like a polite greeting.

 

I'm picking the Reds to win the division. Even though everyone here knows what a fool they have for a GM.

 

If he was a Cub it would only be a matter of time before he went back on Crack.

[98navigator]

If Hamilton had been chosen and kept by the Cubs, and was doing everything he's doing right now for the Cubs, this city would be going absolutely nuts for him, guaranteed.

 

He has four homers in, like, 24 at-bats. His discipline and plate coverage are phenomenal. He's like a lefty Derrek Lee right now. And he's going to get better.

 

I agree he doesn't deserve to be treated as some sort of hero; he's the luckiest crackhead in the world. I'm just saying: if he were a Cub, it would make the Matt Murton lovefest look like a polite greeting.

 

I'm picking the Reds to win the division. Even though everyone here knows what a fool they have for a GM.

 

His baseball production is separate from my comments about supporting him. If he were a Cub I'd root for him to help the team but I still wouldn't like him; There are current and former Cubs I don't like.

 

As far as his season is concerned, let's wait and see. Eventually, pitchers will make an adjustment on him. How will he respond?

[wade]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

[thread hijack] I agree. I'm not going to expend energy rooting for someone who has failed without the assistance of others! I don't understand why people who have abused drugs, done time, or--pick the infraction--, deserve our support. He's to blame for his problems and he has to earn some credibility. Lost in the shuffle of this "feel good story" are the guys who succeed without succumbing to pressure or those who don't get a second chance. The guy is lucky to be in this position.[/thread hijack]

 

Yes he his, and I'm sure he knows that. If he stays straight and lives up to his potential, it's still a good story. Battling an addiction is about as difficult as anything anyone can ever do. He should not be forever condemned for making stupid mistakes with drugs at a young age.

 

Why is this a good story? I can see someone battling back from a devastating injury, cancer, or after an unprovoked attack that took them away from the game, but this? No, using crack was his fault.

 

BTW, I'm not advocating condemnation. If he proves he is clean there's nothing to talk about but he hasn't earned universal respect, praise, or support. There are plenty of young people who don't throw away years of their life because of drug abuse. Also, let's not characterize this as youthful transgressions, this guy was married with children. Instead of adequately supporting his family he was terrorizing them--so much so that his wife kicked him out of the house!!!

 

I don't hear enough praise for those who do the right thing the first time around. They don't get the limelight. Now Hamilton is viewed as a symbol of strength and perseverance? Not in my world.

 

You're not only advocating condemnation, but you are wholeheartedly engaging in it. :D

[98navigator]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

[thread hijack] I agree. I'm not going to expend energy rooting for someone who has failed without the assistance of others! I don't understand why people who have abused drugs, done time, or--pick the infraction--, deserve our support. He's to blame for his problems and he has to earn some credibility. Lost in the shuffle of this "feel good story" are the guys who succeed without succumbing to pressure or those who don't get a second chance. The guy is lucky to be in this position.[/thread hijack]

 

Yes he his, and I'm sure he knows that. If he stays straight and lives up to his potential, it's still a good story. Battling an addiction is about as difficult as anything anyone can ever do. He should not be forever condemned for making stupid mistakes with drugs at a young age.

 

Why is this a good story? I can see someone battling back from a devastating injury, cancer, or after an unprovoked attack that took them away from the game, but this? No, using crack was his fault.

 

BTW, I'm not advocating condemnation. If he proves he is clean there's nothing to talk about but he hasn't earned universal respect, praise, or support. There are plenty of young people who don't throw away years of their life because of drug abuse. Also, let's not characterize this as youthful transgressions, this guy was married with children. Instead of adequately supporting his family he was terrorizing them--so much so that his wife kicked him out of the house!!!

 

I don't hear enough praise for those who do the right thing the first time around. They don't get the limelight. Now Hamilton is viewed as a symbol of strength and perseverance? Not in my world.

 

You're not only advocating condemnation, but you are wholeheartedly engaging in it. :D

 

I strongly disagree with his previous behavior, but I think that people can change for the better. However, I don't believe in heaping praise on someone who is finally doing what's expected of everyone. The people who need support are his family and friends for the hurt and sacrifice they endured.

[CubinNY]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

[thread hijack] I agree. I'm not going to expend energy rooting for someone who has failed without the assistance of others! I don't understand why people who have abused drugs, done time, or--pick the infraction--, deserve our support. He's to blame for his problems and he has to earn some credibility. Lost in the shuffle of this "feel good story" are the guys who succeed without succumbing to pressure or those who don't get a second chance. The guy is lucky to be in this position.[/thread hijack]

 

Yes he his, and I'm sure he knows that. If he stays straight and lives up to his potential, it's still a good story. Battling an addiction is about as difficult as anything anyone can ever do. He should not be forever condemned for making stupid mistakes with drugs at a young age.

 

Why is this a good story? I can see someone battling back from a devastating injury, cancer, or after an unprovoked attack that took them away from the game, but this? No, using crack was his fault.

 

BTW, I'm not advocating condemnation. If he proves he is clean there's nothing to talk about but he hasn't earned universal respect, praise, or support. There are plenty of young people who don't throw away years of their life because of drug abuse. Also, let's not characterize this as youthful transgressions, this guy was married with children. Instead of adequately supporting his family he was terrorizing them--so much so that his wife kicked him out of the house!!!

 

I don't hear enough praise for those who do the right thing the first time around. They don't get the limelight. Now Hamilton is viewed as a symbol of strength and perseverance? Not in my world.

 

You're not only advocating condemnation, but you are wholeheartedly engaging in it. :D

 

I strongly disagree with his previous behavior, but I think that people can change for the better. However, I don't believe in heaping praise on someone who is finally doing what's expected of everyone. The people who need support are his family and friends for the hurt and sacrifice they endured.

Judging from his comments on RealSports I think he would agree with you 100%.

 

There is a lot ot like about the guy. We all cannot be blessed with stable home lives, wonderful parents, or a supportive environment in which to grow up. I'm not making excuses for the problems that people get themselves into, I'm trying to bring in some context.

[tkenm356]

I'm rooting for him. I have had a few friends who are former drug abusers who have overcome their addictions to lead good lives and I saw how difficult the transformation was. Do they know they were stupid and wasted parts of their lives doing drugs? Yeah, they do. They don't blame anyone but themselves for their behavior. The fact that they accept that and acknowledge their faults was enough for me to support them. Therefore, I will contnue to root for Josh Hamilton to have a great career (at least, whenever he doesn't play the Cubs), because he has done the same it would seem. If he pulls a Gooden/Strawberry and starts abusing again then it sucks, but oh well, life goes on.

 

Also, not sure if this was posted anywhere, but I saw this on the KFFL news feed from Yahoo!

 

Mark Sheldon, of Reds.MLB.com, reports Cincinnati Reds OF Ryan Freel is willing to give up his everyday spot in center field for rookie OF Josh Hamilton. "I think this kid is something special," Freel said. "With the addition of him on this team, I might be working a little more in the infield, which I don't have a problem with. I just know that kid helps us win."

 

I think that's awesome of Freel, personally.

[98navigator]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

 

[thread hijack] I agree. I'm not going to expend energy rooting for someone who has failed without the assistance of others! I don't understand why people who have abused drugs, done time, or--pick the infraction--, deserve our support. He's to blame for his problems and he has to earn some credibility. Lost in the shuffle of this "feel good story" are the guys who succeed without succumbing to pressure or those who don't get a second chance. The guy is lucky to be in this position.[/thread hijack]

 

Yes he his, and I'm sure he knows that. If he stays straight and lives up to his potential, it's still a good story. Battling an addiction is about as difficult as anything anyone can ever do. He should not be forever condemned for making stupid mistakes with drugs at a young age.

 

Why is this a good story? I can see someone battling back from a devastating injury, cancer, or after an unprovoked attack that took them away from the game, but this? No, using crack was his fault.

 

BTW, I'm not advocating condemnation. If he proves he is clean there's nothing to talk about but he hasn't earned universal respect, praise, or support. There are plenty of young people who don't throw away years of their life because of drug abuse. Also, let's not characterize this as youthful transgressions, this guy was married with children. Instead of adequately supporting his family he was terrorizing them--so much so that his wife kicked him out of the house!!!

 

I don't hear enough praise for those who do the right thing the first time around. They don't get the limelight. Now Hamilton is viewed as a symbol of strength and perseverance? Not in my world.

 

You're not only advocating condemnation, but you are wholeheartedly engaging in it. :D

 

I strongly disagree with his previous behavior, but I think that people can change for the better. However, I don't believe in heaping praise on someone who is finally doing what's expected of everyone. The people who need support are his family and friends for the hurt and sacrifice they endured.

Judging from his comments on RealSports I think he would agree with you 100%.

 

There is a lot ot like about the guy. We all cannot be blessed with stable home lives, wonderful parents, or a supportive environment in which to grow up. I'm not making excuses for the problems that people get themselves into, I'm trying to bring in some context.

 

I hope he does agree.

 

I'm sure he's trying to say the right things. It's also probably true that he's very likeable. Neither is valid with respect to his past behavior nor how he has been portrayed in the media--It disgusts me that his life story is being romanticized.

 

He isn't a victim, he is/was weak. No one forced him to use drugs. Also, you're implying that his family and environment are possibly to blame for his failures. I wholly disagree. Again, he was married and had small children at home during the height of his drug use. He also had a $3.9 million signing bonus that he smoked away.

 

I know people who grew up in impoverished situations, with far less than an ideal family life, who have never abused drugs or used their life as an excuse to do bad things. There are people with legitimate reasons to resort to addictive behavior, as a coping mechanism, who refuse to do so. Hamilton turned to drugs because he couldn't handle the pressure of playing sports at a high level... One of my best friends, that I have known since I was 12, grew up being abused in the foster care system. If there was ever a built in reason to screw up he has one--instead he has worked hard to be successful.

 

I hope Hamilton is reformed for the sake of his family.

[davearm]

I was just pointing out that nothing was official with the Reds until after Hamilton was Cubs property, and technically, they could've kept him (or offered him back to TB, or not taken him in the first place, etc.).

 

RichHill characterized the situation as being completely out of the Cubs' hands before the pick was even made. That's not true.

 

The Cubs weren't planning to take anyone in the Rule 5. I highly doubt they wasted time scouting potential Rule 5 picks, Josh H. included. You don't just all of a sudden decide to take a player we didn't have room for much less haven't scouted, nevermind the agreement.

Obviously they never intended to keep Hamilton for themselves. Everyone can see that.

 

That doesn't change the fact that Hamilton was their property, and they could've kept him if they had wanted to.

 

You indicated the Cubs traded the pick. They didn't. They traded the player that they selected with the pick.

 

Think of it this way. The Bears can trade away a draft pick prior to the draft, and if they choose to, the NFL will officially recognize that the pick no longer is controlled by the Bears, and the Bears will have no influence whatsoever over who is ultimately selected with that pick.

 

The situation in baseball is 100% different, because MLB does not allow draft picks to be traded. Thus, the pick itself, and then the player taken with the pick, belonged to the Cubs throughout, right up until they officially dealt Hamilton to the Reds, as per their unofficial/unenforceable handshake agreement.

 

Perhaps it's a pointless distinction, but I had a problem with the way you were characterizing the situation as being totally out of the Cubs' hands entering the draft. Not in MLB's eyes, it wasn't.

[illiniguy]

I hope he keeps his life together. You gotta pull for people that battle an addiction.

 

I'm not pulling for him, thats for sure. What a waste.

Why the hell wouldn't you be pulling for him? I think we have all made mistakes before. Some of these people commenting in this thread are unbelievable. A lot of good people fall into drugs, it doesn't need to be celebrated, but they also shouldn't be judged by a fellow human being for it. After all of you get done playing god take the time to realize he was a 20 year old kid who made some mistakes.

[Yestheydo]

Update: 5 HRs in 29 ABs

[SouthSideRyan]

IIRC, Hamilton had a great family life and environment, his drug problem had nothing to do with the way he was raised.

 

People complaining about the Cubs not having Hamilton might just become my biggest pet peeve with other Cubs fans, and that's quite impressive when you have the Prior's a girl camps still out there.

[CubinNY]

IIRC, Hamilton had a great family life and environment, his drug problem had nothing to do with the way he was raised.

 

People complaining about the Cubs not having Hamilton might just become my biggest pet peeve with other Cubs fans, and that's quite impressive when you have the Prior's a girl camps still out there.

 

From what I saw on RealSports, his family life wasn't all that great as he had to turn to his baseball coach for support. Anyway, it's still a good story.

[abuck1220]

man, some good judging going on in this thread.

[Magnetic Curses]

josh hamilton was no more a chicago cub than scottie pippen was a seattle supersonic.

[Derwood]

He would have been a "waste" if he never played baseball. Athletes aren't perfect, and despite his amazing natural ability, he made some bad decisions. He cleaned himself up, got in shape (largely on his own), and was givne a second chance, which he's capitalizing on. Saying "good for him" is in no way downplaying or insulting those players who "did it right" (whatever that means)

[WolverineX40]

I don't hate/dislike/disdain the young man because of his past, but doesn't mean I care enough to "pull for him." Hamilton put himself in that situation, so I don't give a crap about "his story."

[illiniguy]

I don't hate/dislike/disdain the young man because of his past, but doesn't mean I care enough to "pull for him." Hamilton put himself in that situation, so I don't give a crap about "his story."

Ok now that I understand. But, the posters hating the guy because he had a drug problem. That is ridiculous.