Josh Hamilton looking better at the plate

August, 9, 2012
8/09/12
8:00
AM CT
It sure looks like Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is getting more comfortable at the plate. It's difficult to imagine he'll revert back to the player who was putting up ridiculous numbers in April and May. But the Rangers don't need that. What they need is a guy who can deliver some clutch hits when needed, show plate discipline and become the feared hitter he's been for most of his career. If the last 10 games are any indication, that Josh Hamilton could be coming back.

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Hamilton is hitting .326 with two homers and 12 RBIs in that span. He's got a .906 OPS. All of those numbers are vast improvements over what he did in June and July. And while they aren't what he did earlier in the season, Hamilton's at-bats are clearly better. He's seeing more pitches, driving the ball better and doing what the game asks on a more consistent basis.

"He's swinging the bat well, and the one thing he is doing very well is when there's RBIs out there, he's not missing very many of them," manager Ron Washington said after a 10-9 win over Boston on Wednesday afternoon.

The key for Hamilton is to build off this improved showing. He has four multi-hit performances in his last 10 games. Two of those games were four-RBI performances, showing Hamilton can still drive in runs in bunches. Hamilton had just one four-RBI game in June and July combined. Add it all up and it appears Hamilton's severe swoon is over.

"I saw him coming out of it maybe a week or so ago," Washington said. "You know, he's laying off the real bad pitches. Because Josh is a swinger, he's gonna swing at some pitches out of the zone, but he's doing a good job of controlling the strike zone and when he sees his pitch, he's really getting through it. Today he did that."
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.

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TEAM LEADERS

WINS LEADER
Yu Darvish
WINS ERA SO IP
7 2.64 127 95
OTHER LEADERS
BAA. Beltre .308
HRN. Cruz 18
RBIN. Cruz 48
RA. Beltre 40
OPSA. Beltre .869
ERAY. Darvish 2.64
SOY. Darvish 127

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