How did we lose Josh Hamilton again??

[wade]

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.

 

Actually, I still don't understand that. I have a hard time not giving a crap about someone because they "put themselves in that situation". Addicts are not people that consciously say "wooo, I'm gonna do me some drugs or alcohol and party it up and waste all my good fortune that has come my way."

 

They are sick, and it's nice to see ANYONE who has had problems with addiction break it. I don't care how much talent they wasted, how easy they had it growing up, any of it. The world would be a better place if fewer people were afflicted with the sickness that is addiction.

 

Just because I can knock back some beers and not have a problem doesn't mean I'm going to think someone who becomes an alcoholic is just a weaker individual than I am, unworthy of my support.

[Magnetic Curses]

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.

 

Actually, I still don't understand that. I have a hard time not giving a crap about someone because they "put themselves in that situation". Addicts are not people that consciously say "wooo, I'm gonna do me some drugs or alcohol and party it up and waste all my good fortune that has come my way."

 

They are sick, and it's nice to see ANYONE who has had problems with addiction break it. I don't care how much talent they wasted, how easy they had it growing up, any of it. The world would be a better place if fewer people were afflicted with the sickness that is addiction.

 

Just because I can knock back some beers and not have a problem doesn't mean I'm going to think someone who becomes an alcoholic is just a weaker individual than I am, unworthy of my support.

 

excellent post, wade. couldn't have worded it better myself.

[Productive Outs]

some of you guys need to take a sociology class or something. you can't put ALL of the blame on the individual for his wrongdoings or mistakes.

 

to navigator: i don't see how you can't support cases such as Hamilton's. yes, he obviously made crucial mistakes. however, to say that we should be praising guys who "do it the right way" is a bit much, i think. Hamilton has overcame more in his short career than many baseball players will overcome in their lifetimes. why wouldn't i casually root for someone like Hamilton? i'll root for him just like i root for any other recovering addict -- i don't see why they should be pushed aside for the "good guys".

[jersey cubs fan]

some of you guys need to take a sociology class or something. you can't put ALL of the blame on the individual for his wrongdoings or mistakes.

 

yes you can

[Soriano12]

some of you guys need to take a sociology class or something. you can't put ALL of the blame on the individual for his wrongdoings or mistakes.

 

:roll:

Really?

[BigbadB]

A 20 year old kid in the 21st century isn't ready to be a husband and a father. These are just two more added pressures to what is a very difficult time in someone's life. I watched a sports special on Josh Hamilton and it was very well done.

 

Josh's parents traveled with him to every one of his minor league games until they got into a horrible car accident. It was at that time that he was alone for the first time in his life and made poor choices. He's paid for those choices. Addiction will never go away. He has to fight off the urges for the rest of his life. If he overcomes that, he will have overcome what most addicts never overcome. Many go right back to the source of what ruined their lives. Because they are addicted.

 

I don't expect anyone to change their opinion of the guy, but I don't expect anyone to look down on me for hoping he overcomes addiction, keeps his family together and becomes a superstar major league baseball player. The guy is a top notch athlete that we all deserve to see play in the major leagues.

 

What would really be unfortunate is if he never turned his life around and no teams took a chance on him and we never got to see him play.

 

The Cubs certainly could have taken a chance on him, but I certainly understand why they wouldn't. First off, it would require looking into the future to know he would already have 5 home runs in his first 30 at bats. No one would have imagined he could do that, not even Cincinnati. What Cincinnati did have was room on their roster for a guy they felt they could stash away at the back of the bench for an entire season. If he got back on the "stuff", they could send him back to Tampa, where he probably would have been released to never be seen or heard from again. If he couldn't hit major league pitching, they could have offered him back to Tampa. If Tampa didn't want him back, then Cincinnati would have been free to send him down to the minors for more conditioning.

 

I'd be shocked if he continued the success he's had so far. For a guy to have played as little as he has for such a long period of time while overcoming such a difficult addiction and repairing his relationships and continuing the success he's had so far would be an incredible accomplishment.

[NCCubFan]

I actually saw Hamilton in person a few years ago, although I didn't know it was him at the time. I was getting my hair cut, and he got his cut in the same shop (he's from near Raleigh, NC, just as I am). The stylist mentioned it was him right after he left. She wasn't very complimentary of him. I think this was when he was recovering from injury, shortly before or during the early stages of his drug addiction.

[illiniguy]

A 20 year old kid in the 21st century isn't ready to be a husband and a father. These are just two more added pressures to what is a very difficult time in someone's life. I watched a sports special on Josh Hamilton and it was very well done.

 

Josh's parents traveled with him to every one of his minor league games until they got into a horrible car accident. It was at that time that he was alone for the first time in his life and made poor choices. He's paid for those choices. Addiction will never go away. He has to fight off the urges for the rest of his life. If he overcomes that, he will have overcome what most addicts never overcome. Many go right back to the source of what ruined their lives. Because they are addicted.

 

I don't expect anyone to change their opinion of the guy, but I don't expect anyone to look down on me for hoping he overcomes addiction, keeps his family together and becomes a superstar major league baseball player. The guy is a top notch athlete that we all deserve to see play in the major leagues.

 

What would really be unfortunate is if he never turned his life around and no teams took a chance on him and we never got to see him play.

 

The Cubs certainly could have taken a chance on him, but I certainly understand why they wouldn't. First off, it would require looking into the future to know he would already have 5 home runs in his first 30 at bats. No one would have imagined he could do that, not even Cincinnati. What Cincinnati did have was room on their roster for a guy they felt they could stash away at the back of the bench for an entire season. If he got back on the "stuff", they could send him back to Tampa, where he probably would have been released to never be seen or heard from again. If he couldn't hit major league pitching, they could have offered him back to Tampa. If Tampa didn't want him back, then Cincinnati would have been free to send him down to the minors for more conditioning.

 

I'd be shocked if he continued the success he's had so far. For a guy to have played as little as he has for such a long period of time while overcoming such a difficult addiction and repairing his relationships and continuing the success he's had so far would be an incredible accomplishment.

I think I read somewhere also that Narron had a pre-existing relationship with him. I wanna say his son played high school ball with him and that is why they felt like they could take the gamble. I hope he does well. I hate to see guys snort talent away. I also like to believe we, as people, can overcome anything.

[Yestheydo]

I think I read somewhere also that Narron had a pre-existing relationship with him. I wanna say his son played high school ball with him and that is why they felt like they could take the gamble.

I believe this is correct; Narron (or his brother Johnny) actually coached him too. After they picked up Hamilton, the Reds employed Johnny Narron as a coach; his unofficial job is to look after Josh. This is one of the reasons the Reds were uniquely suited to take a chance on him, and it's not farfetched to say that he may not have gotten this far had the Cubs or another team gotten him.

 

Regarding his family life, from what I heard, his father was a Marv Marinovich-type control freak and it was just a matter of time before he rebelled. The accident that caused his parents to go back home, leaving him injured, with lots of money to spend, and alone ("free") for the first time in his life at the age of 20, made it virtually guaranteed he was going to do something stupid. Yes, he's ultimately responsible. But it's not difficult to understand, either. And after all he's been through, I really think that playing a boy's game --even at the highest level-- is simply no big deal for someone of his natural ability. As a transplanted Chicagoan living near Cincinnati, I follow the Reds as well now, and I have to say, he looks like the real deal, and it's very exciting to see. At least two of his homers have come the other way, when he was initially fooled, and just flicked the bat with his wrists at the last moment. When pitchers adjust, I don't think he'll have a problem adjusting right back. The bigger questions are whether he'll stay healthy and clean.

 

I'm gonna stop gushing now, but after all the crap Krivsky took for that Nats trade, it's looking like this move could make up for it in spades.

[Jehrico]

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.

 

Actually, I still don't understand that. I have a hard time not giving a crap about someone because they "put themselves in that situation". Addicts are not people that consciously say "wooo, I'm gonna do me some drugs or alcohol and party it up and waste all my good fortune that has come my way."

 

They are sick, and it's nice to see ANYONE who has had problems with addiction break it. I don't care how much talent they wasted, how easy they had it growing up, any of it. The world would be a better place if fewer people were afflicted with the sickness that is addiction.

 

Just because I can knock back some beers and not have a problem doesn't mean I'm going to think someone who becomes an alcoholic is just a weaker individual than I am, unworthy of my support.

You can't root or pull for everyone. I prefer to root for guys who work hard their whole lives and stay on the right path, rather than guys who have to learn those things the hard way (or never do learn) but eventually get by not because of their hard work, but because of natural talents that they tried to squander away.

 

That's not the same as hating. I don't hate guys like that. But I'm not going to pull for them. If they do great, good for them. If they don't, there's only one person they can blame. Everyone knows drugs are bad. Some people think the rules don't apply to them and ignore the warnings. They don't start off as addicts. They may inherit the propensity to become addicated easily, but they aren't genetically addicts. They get that way after disregard for rules and laws. They get no special attention or sympathy from me just because they finally get their heads out of their rear end. The people who never stuck their heads up their rear end to begin with deserve the extra attention more, in my book.

[Jehrico]

In regards to the original post, getting upset at loosing Hamilton is like getting upset that you didn't play the lottery the day they picked a few of your lucky numbers.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

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

 

Holding head down in shame as I rip my Pippen SuperSonics' jersey off.

:(

[soccer10k]

I have one question: It sounds like very few team would have actually had interest in this guy so why did the Reds need the Cubs to take him? Couldn't they have taken him themselves?

[NCCubFan]

They had to have been worried that someone else would take a chance. There'd be no other logical reason to do it this way.

 

Of course, we are talking about the Reds here, so logic doesn't necessarily apply. :D

[Rob]

They had to have been worried that someone else would take a chance. There'd be no other logical reason to do it this way.

 

Of course, we are talking about the Reds here, so logic doesn't necessarily apply. :D

 

I think Krivsky was just trying to build a relationship up with Hendry so that he could try to trade for some of our relievers later this year.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

They had to have been worried that someone else would take a chance. There'd be no other logical reason to do it this way.

 

Of course, we are talking about the Reds here, so logic doesn't necessarily apply. :D

 

I think Krivsky was just trying to build a relationship up with Hendry so that he could try to trade for some of our relievers later this year.

 

Maybe they thought Hamilton was a reliever?

[Productive Outs]

some of you guys need to take a sociology class or something. you can't put ALL of the blame on the individual for his wrongdoings or mistakes.

 

yes you can

 

no

[BigbadB]

They had to have been worried that someone else would take a chance. There'd be no other logical reason to do it this way.

 

Of course, we are talking about the Reds here, so logic doesn't necessarily apply. :D

 

I think Krivsky was just trying to build a relationship up with Hendry so that he could try to trade for some of our relievers later this year.

 

Maybe they thought Hamilton was a reliever?

 

We have a winner.

[mokenacub]

In regards to the original post, getting upset at loosing Hamilton is like getting upset that you didn't play the lottery the day they picked a few of your lucky numbers.

 

 

I'm not upset about it. I just wanted clarification. IMHO if we could have traded Jacque before the draft maybe things would have been different and Hamilton would be wearing Cubbie Blue.

[jersey cubs fan]

In regards to the original post, getting upset at loosing Hamilton is like getting upset that you didn't play the lottery the day they picked a few of your lucky numbers.

 

 

I'm not upset about it. I just wanted clarification. IMHO if we could have traded Jacque before the draft maybe things would have been different and Hamilton would be wearing Cubbie Blue.

 

Having a talented player with drug issues finally turn things around is in no way comparable to the lottery.

[Jehrico]

In regards to the original post, getting upset at loosing Hamilton is like getting upset that you didn't play the lottery the day they picked a few of your lucky numbers.

 

 

I'm not upset about it. I just wanted clarification. IMHO if we could have traded Jacque before the draft maybe things would have been different and Hamilton would be wearing Cubbie Blue.

 

Having a talented player with drug issues finally turn things around is in no way comparable to the lottery.

Taking a guy in the rule 5 who had failed several attempts at rehab and hadn't played any form of pro ball in years, and had never played above A ball and turning him into an instant major leaguer is akin to winning the lottery, regardless of how talented he is.

[Jehrico]

In regards to the original post, getting upset at loosing Hamilton is like getting upset that you didn't play the lottery the day they picked a few of your lucky numbers.

 

 

I'm not upset about it. I just wanted clarification. IMHO if we could have traded Jacque before the draft maybe things would have been different and Hamilton would be wearing Cubbie Blue.

Trading Jacque wouldn't have made a difference. Expecting Hamilton to start and be capable of succeeding at the major league level right away would have been as foolish as depending on Wood and Prior to both start 30+ games each this year. No one in all of MLB was going to take Hamilton in the draft with the expectation that he would be capable of starting to begin the year. The Reds were hoping to put him back into their system, but he did far better than anyone expected in ST, so they made him their 5th OFer.

[Soul]

In regards to the original post, getting upset at loosing Hamilton is like getting upset that you didn't play the lottery the day they picked a few of your lucky numbers.

 

 

I'm not upset about it. I just wanted clarification. IMHO if we could have traded Jacque before the draft maybe things would have been different and Hamilton would be wearing Cubbie Blue.

 

Having a talented player with drug issues finally turn things around is in no way comparable to the lottery.

Taking a guy in the rule 5 who had failed several attempts at rehab and hadn't played any form of pro ball in years, and had never played above A ball and turning him into an instant major leaguer is akin to winning the lottery, regardless of how talented he is.

 

Well, in that case it's a lottery where the final ping-pong ball hasn't popped into place yet. Rehab is a funny thing.......people think they've kicked the habit and then *boom*, right back in rehab.