Rangers' Josh Hamilton off to a productive start

Baseball Digest, August, 2008 by Evan Grant

ONE OF THE FEW RANGERS TO PLAY IN 56 OF THE TEAM'S FIRST 57 GAMES THROUGH JUNE 1 is one Ranger who entered the season supposedly needing significant monitoring of various ailments.

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So far, so good for Josh Hamilton.

"I think I learned a lot about preparation from last year," said Hamilton, who twice went on the disabled list during his rookie season with Cincinnati after cramming to prepare following three and a half years out of the game with drug abuse problems. "I learned how to pace myself."

Hamilton played only 90 games last season and has had past knee and back problems. He has occasionally been bothered by leg length discrepancy, a condition where one leg temporarily gets shorter than the other, but has learned to notice pain associated with the condition and more quickly address it.

In addition, manager Ron Washington has given the center fielder 10 starts in right field and four others as the DH and one game as a pinch-hitter to lessen the stress on his body. Washington said he'd like to give Hamilton a day off, but Hamilton, through June 1 was hitting .326 with a major league best 61 RBI and was the team's top offensive threat.

"I've tried to give him a day off, but he didn't want it," Washington said. "His days off have been the days he was the DH and pinch-hitter. As we get deeper into the season, as soon as I get an opportunity to, I will do it. I know we've got to watch him."--Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News