Josh Hamilton, the big free agent pickup of the Los Angeles Angels, took some shots at the fans of the Texas Rangers, whose outfield Hamilton has roamed since 2008. Hamilton said the Dallas-Fort Worth is not a true baseball town, according to ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth.
"There are true baseball fans in Texas, but it's not a true baseball town," Hamilton is quoted saying in the story. "They're supportive but they also get spoiled at the same time pretty quickly." He also said that Dallas has always been "a football town."
Hamilton signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angles, one of the Rangers' top competitors in the American League West. Last season, Hamilton hit .285 with 43 home runs and 128 RBI in his final season in Texas, but an error in the final game of the season helped complete a collapse of seven losses in the team's last nine games, five of which came against the eventual American League West champion Oakland Athletics. Following the loss, the Rangers lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the Wildcard one-game playoff. Hamilton was booed at home after his mishap.
Hamilton will return to Texas on April 5th, and told ESPN Dallas "It will be mixed feelings from the crowd," Hamilton said. "People who really get it will cheer and the people who don't will boo. Either way, I'll do what I got to do to help my team win." Hamilton swatted 142 home runs in his five seasons in Texas.
In Los Angeles, Hamilton will share the outfield with American League rookie of the year Mike Trout, and likely offer protection for Albert Pujols in what promises to be one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Hamilton has only played in 150 games or more once in his career, and spent the 2003-2005 seasons on MLB's restricted list due to his battles with alcohol and drug addiction.
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