Josh Hamilton has received a lot of support in his battles with the Los Angeles Angels, but one of his comments at his introductory news conference with the Rangers endangered some of that support.
USA TODAY Sports reported that Hamilton used the news conference to take a parting shot at the Angels, a lot of which made sense - until he talked about the Angels accountability when they signed him in 2012.
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Hamilton pointed out that Angels owner Arte Moreno should've known the potential trouble that was ahead when they signed Hamilton.
"He knew what the deal was when he signed me. Hands down," Hamilton said. "He knew what he was getting, what the risks were. Under the (joint drug agreement), it is what it is."
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Larry Brown Sports suggested that Hamilton would've been better served to look in the mirror over the failed relationship.
"Something just doesn't seem right about that (statement) coming from Hamilton," Larry Brown Sports commented. "We know addiction is a disease, but one would expect Hamilton to hold himself accountable on some level."
An argument could be made that several other points Hamilton made about the Angels had logic to it. In discussing Moreno's remarks about the troubled slugger's lack of accountability, Hamilton took offense.
"I have no clue what he is talking about," Hamilton said. "I showed up every day. Played hard every day I was there. Going into this season, I hadn't been the player they wanted me to be.
"But I worked my butt off to be that player this year for the Angels. They just didn't want it to happen to me for some reason. It doesn't hurt my feelings, doesn't make me mad. But I'm prepared."
Former Angels teammate C.J. Wilson said the team would've been far more sympathetic of Hamilton's issues if his statistics were comparable to those he put up in Texas.
Hamilton made it clear how much happier he is to be back in Texas. But only if the Rangers realize the risks.
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