Josh Hamilton

[PrimeTime]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/albert_chen/05/27/hamilton0602/index.html?eref=T1

 

Real good in-depth look at his battle with drugs and alcohol and his way back...26 tattoos :shock: Also, he throws a 96 MPH fastball... If we had him in CF, I'd say " Helllllo, World Series"

[Little Slide Rooter]

while I am well aware that hes the Rangers best player and making next to nothing, if we offered them a big enough package, we could probably land him. Unfortunately, other teams with better prospects probably know that too.

 

Pie

Theriot or Cedeno

Murton(theyd probably want Patterson instead)

2 of Marshall/Hill/Veal/Gallagher/Samardzia/Ceda

 

Sure, it would be giving up a lot, but it depends how badly we want this to be the year.

[Clem Fandango]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

[rawaction]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

 

Yeah, they did give ARod the biggest contract ever. They paid big money for Chan Ho Park, Kevin Millwood, and Vicente Padilla also. There's a lot of money in Texas.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

 

Its not a question of affording him, is a question of a team in a constant rebuilding process, would they rather have one star player surrounded by mediocrity, or would the rather exchange him for a stable of prospects.

 

I feel this discussion comes up at least once a week.

[rawaction]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

 

Its not a question of affording him, is a question of a team in a constant rebuilding process, would they rather have one star player surrounded by mediocrity, or would the rather exchange him for a stable of prospects.

 

I feel this discussion comes up at least once a week.

 

They can build a good team around him. They have some young talent with Salty, Kinsler, Murphy and a couple of pitchers. They should be able to get a handful of decent prospects for Laird, Bradley, Blalock and Padilla/Millwood.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

 

Its not a question of affording him, is a question of a team in a constant rebuilding process, would they rather have one star player surrounded by mediocrity, or would the rather exchange him for a stable of prospects.

 

I feel this discussion comes up at least once a week.

 

They can build a good team around him. They have some young talent with Salty, Kinsler, Murphy and a couple of pitchers. They should be able to get a handful of decent prospects for Laird, Bradley, Blalock and Padilla/Millwood.

 

While I've never been a Bradly fan, I am beggining to accept the fact that hes a huge improvement over anything we have at center. Im sure we could swing a deal for him if it came down to it. Im not saying were in dire need and need to make a trade now, but if July rolls around, and Jim Edmonds is still struggling to cross the mendoza line and Reed Johnson hasnt figured out that righties are in fact hitable, Texas might be a good team to turn to.

[Clem Fandango]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

 

Its not a question of affording him, is a question of a team in a constant rebuilding process, would they rather have one star player surrounded by mediocrity, or would the rather exchange him for a stable of prospects.

 

I feel this discussion comes up at least once a week.

 

They can build a good team around him. They have some young talent with Salty, Kinsler, Murphy and a couple of pitchers. They should be able to get a handful of decent prospects for Laird, Bradley, Blalock and Padilla/Millwood.

 

What LLF said, but you're also correct.

 

The more I think about it, the more I think he'll be locked up. With the ever growing popularity of early contracts, I can see Texas giving Hamilton a big contract at the end of the year that buys out his first few years of free agency at a fraction of what he'd likely be making. But if he didn't sign a contract like that, I think if he did hit the market, he'd go for a small country, assuming he continues to be a .300-30-120-20 type player throughout the years, and I would think that Texas would much rather trade him before he hits that market and get big value on his return, rather than pump out fort knox to keep him there, all of this assuming he wouldn't sign one of those early contracts.

[shnsajax]

Hamilton is an outstanding player, indeed, but I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit. I think he would be wise to stay in Texas for now, and Texas would be wise to keep him until he's owed the big bucks, because when that time comes, not only will Texas not be able to afford him, he's gonna jet for greener pastures and make a killing on the FA market if his numbers continue this way. Staying in Texas would be beneficial to both of them. The team keeps a great player, and a great player stays in a hitters park and puts up monster numbers leading up to his walk year.

 

Why won't they be able to afford him? They may not want to pay what he'll get, but they would definitely have the ability to afford him.

 

Its not a question of affording him, is a question of a team in a constant rebuilding process, would they rather have one star player surrounded by mediocrity, or would the rather exchange him for a stable of prospects.

 

I feel this discussion comes up at least once a week.

 

They can build a good team around him. They have some young talent with Salty, Kinsler, Murphy and a couple of pitchers. They should be able to get a handful of decent prospects for Laird, Bradley, Blalock and Padilla/Millwood.

 

Considering what they gave up to get and combine that with his numbers they have no reason not to keep him. If they don't keep him they better get something real good for him.

[Vanilla Ice]

I would offer our entire minor league system for him

 

keep 1 of hill/marshall

 

That lineup would do serious damage in the playoffs

[Little Slide Rooter]

We do all realise that as soon as became a Cubs hed be busted for heroin and throw out his back right?

[Pushfrog98]

I still can't believe we just GAVE him to the Reds.

 

 

 

 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out at least a little bit.

home:

385/417/736/1.154

 

road:

289/338/508/846

[Pushfrog98]

there's definitely a difference there, but the road stats (though i'm no expert by any means) seem to be alright.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out a metric ton

home:

385/417/736/1.154

 

road:

289/338/508/846

 

Fixed my own statement

[erik316wttn]

Good to see that he turned his life around. I'm rooting for him.

 

And he's putting up some SICK numbers this year. He could have 100 RBI by the break.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Good to see that he turned his life around. I'm rooting for him.

 

And he's putting up some SICK numbers this year. He could have 100 RBI by the break.

Yeah, I've read a lot on his story. It's amazing. I'm pulling for him too. Usually when you sink as far down as he did, you don't come back. I really hope he keeps it up and becomes a great player for years to come.

[nilodnayr]

I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out a metric ton

home:

385/417/736/1.154

 

road:

289/338/508/846

 

Fixed my own statement

 

Meh, you can't really draw a conclusion there. Its better to adjust stats by ballpark than to just throw them out. And triple slash stats are far from credible at this point in the year. If you want to play fun with home road splits, it hurts some of the cubs way more than Hamilton...

 

Fukudome 1048 home OPS vs 576 road OPS

DeRo 1064 home OPS vs 627 road OPS

Sori 1063 home OPS vs 701 road OPS

 

No wonder why we dominate at home and are below average on the road...

[Larry Horse]

I still can't believe we just GAVE him to the Reds.

 

 

 

 

 

Well you can't possibly bring in anyone who would block the great Felix Pie.

[Hosak8]

I'm sure playing in that ballpark is certainly helping his stats out a metric ton

home:

385/417/736/1.154

 

road:

289/338/508/846

 

Fixed my own statement

 

But you wouldn't take that line from Cubs CF'ers right now? Give me those road splits on this team any day of the week.

[Little Slide Rooter]

This still makes me sick to y stomach no matrter what Edmonds, Pie, or Johnson do.

 

December 7, 2006: Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Chicago Cubs.

 

December 7, 2006: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2006 rule 5 draft.

[CubColtPacer]

This still makes me sick to y stomach no matrter what Edmonds, Pie, or Johnson do.

 

December 7, 2006: Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Chicago Cubs.

 

December 7, 2006: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2006 rule 5 draft.

 

If it makes you feel any better (other then the argument that the Hamilton could have been kept over Pagan, which I keep seeing, is false considering that Pagan didn't make the team in Spring Training 07, but I digress):

 

The Reds had connections from Hamilton's past that made it much easier to stay clean in his early days with the team. It was the perfect situation for him, and there still is the distinct possibility that without that support system that he would have relapsed with the Cubs.

[Guest]

This still makes me sick to y stomach no matrter what Edmonds, Pie, or Johnson do.

 

December 7, 2006: Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Chicago Cubs.

 

December 7, 2006: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2006 rule 5 draft.

 

If it makes you feel any better (other then the argument that the Hamilton could have been kept over Pagan, which I keep seeing, is false considering that Pagan didn't make the team in Spring Training 07, but I digress):

 

The Reds had connections from Hamilton's past that made it much easier to stay clean in his early days with the team. It was the perfect situation for him, and there still is the distinct possibility that without that support system that he would have relapsed with the Cubs.

We had Lou and Wilken who were with Hamilton in TB. Not quite the same level of relationship, but it caused me to think we had some inside knowledge when that pick first happened.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hypothetical situation: This could go for any player, but we'll use Josh. Josh Hamilton is elected to the AS team as a starter. Sometime before the game, hes traded to the Cubs. What happens?