I guess Albert Pujols and Mike Trout aren't enough for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
A huge deal hitting the baseball world as Josh Hamilton has agreed to become an Angel. The contract is 5 years worth $125 million and one AA chip from Hamilton. In 2012 Josh batted .285 with 43 Home Runs and 128 RBI's although it was that average that dipped as the season continued.
A big signing certainly as the spending of the LA teams continues to go through the roof. For a second off season in a row, the Angels sign a big time slugger to their team. Certainly the first one worked out so well.
The move to get Hamilton, however, doesn't necessarily make them a World Series contender. Batting is great for the regular season (except last year for the Angels) but it was pitching where they need the most improvement. They were ranked 8th in the AL with a 4.02 ERA last year in pitching while they 3rd in runs in the AL. The offense is already there, even with Torii Hunter leaving the team. Keeping Zach Greinke would've been a bigger deal for the Angels.
Sure, LAA got Tommy Hanson from the Braves who had a bad year in 2012 and he might work out but there is no way that I am making them a World Series favorite based on their hitting alone. History is not on their side.
P.S. As for the Rangers, irrelevance might be their fate in 2013.
Showing posts with label Josh Hamilton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh Hamilton. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Is Josh Hamilton Leaving the Rangers?
It does look like it.
Josh Hamilton and the Rangers have seemingly been the best fit for both sides. The franchise got to two different World Series appearances with him as one of the dominant players in each one and Hamilton got a second chance in the Bigs and personal stability for battling his inner demons. As of late, it seems that the two sides have drifted apart. The Rangers failed to get to the Division Series round of the postseason and Josh Hamilton seemed to have fallen off the wagon a bit before the season began.
Looking at these instances and the age of Hamilton himself, the question arises on whether or not he will back with the Rangers. All indications right now say that he will not be back. The Rangers have established that their max contract for Josh Hamilton is 3 years which doesn't seem long enough to keep him. Hamilton seemingly wants 7 years. Unless he feels like the Rangers are a special enough team to stay on because of his personal issues, Hamilton will likely not compromise with the Rangers and try to get that 7 year deal elsewhere. There are quite a few teams that will want that power lefty.
I would guess that Hamilton is going to leave the Rangers. It's something that Texas can recover from but it will be a bit tricky and they also have to make sure they settle their other off-season issues.
Josh Hamilton and the Rangers have seemingly been the best fit for both sides. The franchise got to two different World Series appearances with him as one of the dominant players in each one and Hamilton got a second chance in the Bigs and personal stability for battling his inner demons. As of late, it seems that the two sides have drifted apart. The Rangers failed to get to the Division Series round of the postseason and Josh Hamilton seemed to have fallen off the wagon a bit before the season began.
Looking at these instances and the age of Hamilton himself, the question arises on whether or not he will back with the Rangers. All indications right now say that he will not be back. The Rangers have established that their max contract for Josh Hamilton is 3 years which doesn't seem long enough to keep him. Hamilton seemingly wants 7 years. Unless he feels like the Rangers are a special enough team to stay on because of his personal issues, Hamilton will likely not compromise with the Rangers and try to get that 7 year deal elsewhere. There are quite a few teams that will want that power lefty.
I would guess that Hamilton is going to leave the Rangers. It's something that Texas can recover from but it will be a bit tricky and they also have to make sure they settle their other off-season issues.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Orioles To Face Yanks After Beating Rangers
The Rangers had the misfortune of getting caught by the A's and then passed by them on the final day of the regular season. Yesterday, they paid the ultimate price for letting that happen.
The Orioles and the Rangers played the AL game of the One Game Wild Card Playoff round and the way both of these teams were headed, you could tell which way this one was going. It was neck and neck for a while as both teams scored a run in the first inning. It wasn't until the 6th when the tie was broken up. Adam Jones hit a sac fly in the 6th inning and then Nate McLouth scored a RBI single in the 7th. The Orioles would then tack on two more in the 9th inning for good measure. The Rangers tried to rally by getting the bases loaded in the 9th but David Murphy flied out to left to end the game and the season for the Rangers. Orioles win 5-1 and move on to face their AL East rivals, the Yankees, in the ALDS.
The Rangers will not be repeating as AL Champs for a third straight year. The expectations were high for Texas as they have been to the World Series two times in a row and failed to win it both times. This early exit from the playoffs due to A's catching up and being unable to rally against Baltimore leaves the Rangers front office and the fan base asking what went wrong. What's worse is that now there is a chance they lose Josh Hamilton to free agency (AKA the Yankees) along with some other key players. The Rangers might take a hit as a team this offseason and could come back worse in 2013.
As for the Orioles, they don't have to think about the offseason right now as their minds are fixed on the postseason, more specifically the Yankees. While it's not the 2nd team I was hoping for coming out of the AL East, it's anyone but the Yankees. GO O'S!!!
The Orioles and the Rangers played the AL game of the One Game Wild Card Playoff round and the way both of these teams were headed, you could tell which way this one was going. It was neck and neck for a while as both teams scored a run in the first inning. It wasn't until the 6th when the tie was broken up. Adam Jones hit a sac fly in the 6th inning and then Nate McLouth scored a RBI single in the 7th. The Orioles would then tack on two more in the 9th inning for good measure. The Rangers tried to rally by getting the bases loaded in the 9th but David Murphy flied out to left to end the game and the season for the Rangers. Orioles win 5-1 and move on to face their AL East rivals, the Yankees, in the ALDS.
The Rangers will not be repeating as AL Champs for a third straight year. The expectations were high for Texas as they have been to the World Series two times in a row and failed to win it both times. This early exit from the playoffs due to A's catching up and being unable to rally against Baltimore leaves the Rangers front office and the fan base asking what went wrong. What's worse is that now there is a chance they lose Josh Hamilton to free agency (AKA the Yankees) along with some other key players. The Rangers might take a hit as a team this offseason and could come back worse in 2013.
As for the Orioles, they don't have to think about the offseason right now as their minds are fixed on the postseason, more specifically the Yankees. While it's not the 2nd team I was hoping for coming out of the AL East, it's anyone but the Yankees. GO O'S!!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A'S WON THE AL WEST?!?! HOW?!?!?!
To say that the A's were going to win the AL West at the beginning of the year after they made a bunch of wacky transactions would've been a maddening statement by anyone. I'm crazy, why didn't I say it?
It was the last day of the regular season in baseball and the Texas Rangers were fighting for their division they had thought they locked away months ago. The Oakland Athletics caught up to them last night despite being 5 games out with 9 days to go. Today was the game to decide the AL West for good and the Oakland fans came out rowdy as ever. It was a rough start for the A's as they fell behind 5-1 through 3 innings. A big 4th inning that included an A's rally and a dropped ball by Josh Hamilton gave the A's the lead 7-5. Oakland would take on a few runs and hold the Rangers at bay for the rest of the game and win 12-5. The Oakland A's have done the improbable and taken the AL West on the last day of the regular season.
The Rangers sat on top of the division for 178 days. They needed 179. The A's shock the baseball world as they were 13 games behind Texas on June 30th. To make this kind of turnaround was shocking and exciting. They needed to sweep the Rangers in Oakland to take the West and they did just that. They now join their neighboring San Francisco Giants as a division champion.
The A's will face the Tigers in the ALDS, which was the team that eliminated them in the ALCS in 2006. That was also the year of the last postseason appearance. Meanwhile, the Rangers will have to face the Baltimore Orioles in a one game playoff on Friday.
Congrats to the A's on their division title. Some how the "Mad" Billy Beane has orchestrated another surprise.
P.S. I wouldn't want to face Oakland right now.
It was the last day of the regular season in baseball and the Texas Rangers were fighting for their division they had thought they locked away months ago. The Oakland Athletics caught up to them last night despite being 5 games out with 9 days to go. Today was the game to decide the AL West for good and the Oakland fans came out rowdy as ever. It was a rough start for the A's as they fell behind 5-1 through 3 innings. A big 4th inning that included an A's rally and a dropped ball by Josh Hamilton gave the A's the lead 7-5. Oakland would take on a few runs and hold the Rangers at bay for the rest of the game and win 12-5. The Oakland A's have done the improbable and taken the AL West on the last day of the regular season.
The Rangers sat on top of the division for 178 days. They needed 179. The A's shock the baseball world as they were 13 games behind Texas on June 30th. To make this kind of turnaround was shocking and exciting. They needed to sweep the Rangers in Oakland to take the West and they did just that. They now join their neighboring San Francisco Giants as a division champion.
The A's will face the Tigers in the ALDS, which was the team that eliminated them in the ALCS in 2006. That was also the year of the last postseason appearance. Meanwhile, the Rangers will have to face the Baltimore Orioles in a one game playoff on Friday.
Congrats to the A's on their division title. Some how the "Mad" Billy Beane has orchestrated another surprise.
P.S. I wouldn't want to face Oakland right now.
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