Josh Hamilton can be worth headache
If you let him, Hamilton will make you forget the Texas Rangers' lineup looks and performs considerably different when he's hitting third than when he's out of the lineup for whatever reason.
Yes, Hamilton's occasional drama can be maddening, because it's always something.
Last week, he missed the last five games and five innings of one of the season's most important road trips with a mysterious ailment that began as a sinus infection and wound up being something diagnosed as ocular keratitis (a condition that dries the cornea and is often the result of too much caffeine) after a litany of tests and meetings with doctors.
Hallelujah.
Now, the Rangers' center fielder can relax. Hamilton has his eye drops and his peace of mind just in time for the start of the playoffs.
Anyone who's followed his career in Texas -- no matter how briefly -- knows how important that is to Hamilton.
Read the full column here.
Jean-Jacques Taylor
ESPNDallas.com
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Richard Durrett
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.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast Jim Bowden joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss Ron Washington's decision to send Yu Darvish to the mound for the eighth inning Thursday night and how he would handle a situation like that if he were still a GM.
Play Podcast Randy Galloway, Matt Mosley and Glenn "Stretch" Smith discuss the latest Rangers news, including the Yu Darvish-Justin Verlander matchup.
Play Podcast Nelson Cruz joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Rangers' series in Oakland, his ups and downs at the plate and if the PED talks before the season were a distraction.
Play Podcast Rangers manager Ron Washington joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett live from Oakland for his weekly visit.
Play Podcast Nolan Ryan joins Galloway & Company to discuss his role with the Rangers. Ryan says that he has not been in contact with the Astros about a possible opening and he doesn't think that he would be interested anyway.
Play Podcast Jim Bowden joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett for his weekly visit and wastes no time sounding off on MLB umpire Angel Hernandez.
Play Podcast Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland joins GAC from Milwaukee to discuss what it was like facing former teammate Scott Feldman, Texas' upcoming series and more.
Play Podcast Ron Washington joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett live from Milwaukee for his weekly visit and discusses Nick Tepesch, the Rangers' rotation, interleague play and more.
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DET | 23-17 | 13-7 | 10-10 | W1 | |
| TEX | 27-15 | 12-5 | 15-10 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DET | 23-17 | 13-7 | 10-10 | W1 | |
| TEX | 27-15 | 12-5 | 15-10 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAK | 21-22 | 11-10 | 10-12 | W1 | |
| TEX | 27-15 | 12-5 | 15-10 | L1 |
TEAM LEADERS
| WINS LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Yu Darvish
|
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| BA | I. Kinsler | .302 | ||||||||||
| HR | N. Cruz | 11 | ||||||||||
| RBI | N. Cruz | 33 | ||||||||||
| R | A. Beltre | 26 | ||||||||||
| OPS | M. Moreland | .901 | ||||||||||
| ERA | D. Holland | 2.93 | ||||||||||
| SO | Y. Darvish | 86 | ||||||||||
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