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Good one, really original.

Why'd the Red get rid of Hamilton..I thought he looked like a up-in-comer last year

Can't we all just get along!

They got him for nothing and need pitching badly, so they traded him. There is lots of talk that he can't stay healthy, possibly due to all the abuse his body has taken over the years with his addictions. Lots of people were angry about it, he's a feel good story. I wasn't, I want pitching and nobody is too good to trade to get it.

What the Reds really needed was starting pitching, and they had an abundence of outfielders (Griffey, Dunn, Hopper, Freel, Hamilton, and Bruce is almost in the mix). It was the idea of trading high and buying low. Volquez was the higest rated pitching prospect for the Rangers and they hope he can turn out to be a quality starter.

But Hamilton being dealt still really bothers me. I mean the guy was outstanding for his first season back. If he'd stayed healthy he would have won rookie of the year IMO. Add to the fact that Dunn is in the last year of his contract and Griffey only has so many years left to play; Hamilton looked like he could have been a major contributer for years to come. I'd much rather have dealt Hopper or Freel.

But there is also the down side, maybe something we didn't see. He was hurt an aweful lot last season, maybe they dont think he can stay consistently healthy. And while I highly doubt that it would be the case he is a recovering drug addict, and one more slip-up would virtually ruin his career.

But still, I'll miss Hamilton. And if Volquez doesn't turn out, it will only be another brilliant trade by the Reds management. (Sean Casey for Dave Williams; Lopez and Kearns for Bray, Mejewski: Real winners)

Hamilton welcome addition to Rangers
Five-tool center fielder credits faith for renewed success
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

Josh Hamilton looks to improve on last year's breakout season. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Josh Hamilton gets ready to pass another signpost in the incredible journey that his life has taken the past 10 years. The Rangers are expecting this next stage to be something special.

The legend is already starting to build in the desert about a player who combines the curly hair, perpetual grin and rogue-boyish looks of a grown-up Huckleberry Finn with the jaw-dropping physical attributes of Paul Bunyan.

Yes, he has looked that impressive, especially in batting practice. Just ask those who have been watching closely for the past few weeks.

"Where should I start?" marveled All-Star shortstop Michael Young. "I mean, [his] abilities are off the chart. In my lifetime I have played with just one guy who was at that level, and that was Alex Rodriguez. That's saying a lot.

"But he does everything well on the field. I take that back: He does everything on the field at a high level. I take that back too: He does everything on the field at the highest level."

The attributes checklist is what baseball people call the "five tools." Hall of Fame manager Leo Durocher defined the term when speaking about another Hall of Famer, Willie Mays.

The tools are run, throw, field, hit and hit with power. They are the five standards by which all position players are measured, and few have been able to measure up in all five. The Rangers think they have a player who can do just that.

Pitching has definitely been a concern for the Rangers over many years and that remains a focus in Spring Training. But the most exciting thing about the 2008 Rangers could be their 26-year-old left-handed-hitting center fielder who grades out above-average or better in all of Durocher's categories.

Even while Rangers players gather around the batting cage and watch Hamilton drive baseballs into oblivion, they know a front-line, immensely talented center fielder racing into Rangers Ballpark's vast gaps could be a huge boost for the pitching staff.

"One of the things that we talked about as a staff this winter was looking for players who could play both ways in the game -- offensively and defensively -- and do it well," general manager Jon Daniels said. "Josh fits that mold. Obviously he's got power; everybody who has watched him take batting practice can see that. But it's all not just raw power. His instincts for the game are good. He has a real understanding of playing the game."



The growing feeling in the desert is Hamilton could be on the verge of the kind of player the Devil Rays had envisioned when they made him the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft. That was before Hamilton's perilous plunge beyond personal purgatory, first with injuries and then the death-like grip of an insidious drug addiction that had him on the brink of complete self-destruction.

There was a point where most people felt comfortable saying they would never expect to see Hamilton on a baseball field again. They were wrong. Giving all credit to his family, his support system, and renewed and unswerving faith in God, Hamilton is back in center field where he belongs, and not the gutters of life.

"It's like He's standing beside me, plugged into me," Hamilton said. "I'm not one of those guys who talks about God because it sounds good. It's because He changed my life. One thing I keep in mind first thing in the morning is no matter what I do, the Man upstairs already knows what will happen.

"All I can do is play to the best of my ability and have fun. If I strike out or make an error, I will know in my heart that I at least did my best. That's the way I looked at it last year whether I went 4-for-4 or 0-for-4."

Last year marked Hamilton's reawakening as a baseball player. Demons were beaten back and Hamilton, after multiple suspensions, was able to work his way back into the good graces of Major League Baseball. He was awarded another chance -- quite possibly his last -- and the Reds gave it to him last season after taking him from the Devil Rays (via the Cubs) in the Rule 5 draft.


Hamilton made the most of it, hitting .292 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI's. With a .368 on-base percentage and a .554 slugging percentage, Hamilton finished with a .922 OPS that was 23rd best in the Major Leagues among players with at least 275 at-bats. Not bad for a guy who had basically missed 3 1/2 years because of all his travails.

"If you told me he would put up the numbers that he did when we drafted him, I'd be thrilled," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.

Injuries kept his numbers from being even more impressive. Hamilton played in just 98 games, twice spending time on the disabled list for gastroenteritis and a sprained wrist. One problem was Hamilton worked too hard. Former Reds manager Jerry Narron said Hamilton would work himself into exhaustion before the game and then attempt to play nine innings a night over the course of 162-game season. It just didn't work, and Hamilton is trying to understand that.

"Last year was a learning experience," Hamilton said. "I felt I had to make up for three years and I'd come to the park every day taking 200 swings, maybe even more. Then came the wrist injury. Now I've learned to take quality swings rather than quantity. Taking 40 swings is just as good if you do it right."

The Rangers acquired him in the off-season for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera. The Rangers understand the overwhelming need for pitching but they also understand their offense has slipped of late. The outfield especially has been a problem. The Rangers haven't had an outfielder hit more than 25 home runs or drive in more than 79 runs in a season since 1999.

Gary Matthews Jr. is the only Rangers outfielder to make the All-Star team in this decade. He did so in 2006 when he hit .313 with 102 runs scored, 19 home runs and 79 RBI's while playing standout center field. Then he left as a free agent in the offseason.

Now comes Hamilton and Young said, "It's great to have a top-flight center fielder out there. We saw what Matthews did for us in 2006. He changed the game for us. He did it all for us.

"We expect the same things from Josh."

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


Sounds like he has allot of baggage and I think the Reds need pitching help more then some offense.

I'm really excited for baseball to come. I'll be rooting for the Reds and hopefully dominating in whatever you want to call the league I'm in.

I thought about this too. but, in 2 years Hopper and Bruce will be dominating the outfield. Then if Freel can still hack it, he can have the other spot, if not, theres no reason we cant develop another prospect to be a player when Dunn (who just re-signed i thought?) and Griffey hang it up, there will be a replacement.

I think we will look to move Scott Hatteberg by the trade deadline as soon as Votto shows his worth. Whats good about it, is Hatteberg is a decent hitting lefty that could boost a lineup devoid of lefties.

They re-signed Phillips, Encarnacion is on a one-year deal to show he's worth anything. A-gon is back from his injuries and family problems, so theres no reason to think he wont rebound. Dave Ross isnt a bad catcher...not real great, but serviceable enough, and if not Valentin is decent.

On the mound, i still maintain that Harang and my boy Bronson make up one of the best 1-2 combos in the league...but thats providing Bronson trusts his fastball. When he doesnt, he struggles like last year.

Bailey will improve, Belisle has shown himself to be a starting candidate to this point. I think Josh Fogg will just be holding the fort until Bobby Livingston recovers. well...him and Volquez.

I worry about the Pen again. Stanton and David "Stormy" Weathers are bad, Bray and Majewski are eh. Burton could be ok, and Jeremy Affeldt is useless. The pen could be the let down again, but if Weathers isnt a closer hes ok...So its good they got Cordero. and Coutlangus is back, and is young and could prove some worth maybe.

I see the Reds challenging for the division, because its been so weak the last few years.

for the record though. I DONT LIKE DUSTY BAKER at all. I told my buddy when he went to the Cubbies they were going downhill, and I hope he's learned and doesnt do that to the Reds. but I'm a little worried since they signed Hairston and Corey Patterson already to minor league deals.

Volquez is looking very good in spring training, he keeps this up and he could be third in the rotation. If he pans out it was an excellent trade for the Reds. I wish nothing but the best for Hamilton, he's come through a lot and I hope he keeps clean and has a great career.

You think the bullpen looks bad? It's looking much improved from last year. After reading your entire post, I'm not sure you follow the Reds very closely. Gonzalez has a fracture in his knee, by the way, so odds of him being there on opening day aren't very good. We'll see how he does. I also think Homer will start the year in Triple A, he doesn't look ready at this point.

Where are the Reds at as far as salary levels? I am not really familar with the new ownership, but do they seem like they are willing to go spend the cash necessary to rebuild the Reds? Have they locked their good young talent down long term?

KING

Quato has been playing well also. I have high hopes for this season. We might be able to make a bit of a run.

I'm looking forward to seeing a rotation of
Harang
Arroyo
Cueto
Volquez
Bailey

OH YEAH! I'm so ready.

Hey Tribe fans, tonight's game vs. Atlanta is available for free through mlb.tv. They are leading right now 3-2. Just an FYI for everybody.

Man Cueto looked really good tonight. Same with Arroyo.

With Harang and Arroyo locked in the top spots, that leaves Bailey, Belisle, Fogg, Affeldt, Cueto, and Volquez battling for the three remaining starting spots.

Bailey hasn't done so well, but the kid is only 21, I think he starts out in Louisville this year. Same for Volquez, he had 8 K's in four innings his last start but he could still use more seasoning. With the way Cueto has been pitching I think he makes the 5th starter or starts off in the bullpen. I believe Belisle and Fogg will be the #3-4 guys with the 5th going to Cueto or Affeldt with the loser moving to the pen.