Josh Hamilton

I listened to the entire press conference and came away impressed with Hamilton’s honesty and willingness to take accountability, and also a nagging feeling that he needs to take the next step and go away from baseball for a bit and focus on nothing but his sobriety.

I wrote about this earlier today (read here) before the press conference as well, touching on a number of different angles of the story. After listening to Hamilton, I feel even stronger about the words I closed that post with:

The report about Hamilton’s relapse, if true, reminds us of the humanity that made him such a compelling figure in the first place.

To err is human; to err so egregiously, to allegedly relapse with so much on the line, is also human, as anyone who can empathize with the plight of the addict knows.

As a baseball fan, I sure hope what happened Monday doesn’t interfere with my ability to watch Josh Hamilton play baseball.

But as a human, I don’t care really about the baseball. I just want to see this husband, father, and beloved inspiration to so many who need it, lift himself up and away from the abyss through the sheer force of his will and faith – which is ultimately what it takes.

Get well Josh Hamilton. But get help, again.

Even if this is a recently isolated incident, nip it in the bud. Take nothing for granted. Respect the destructive power you know your demos have.

No one needs to or should stop rooting for Josh Hamilton; but none of us should enable him either, even from far.

Hamilton certainly seems to understand the gravity of the situation, and he spoke numerous times about having hurt his wife and alluded to some potential issues there. Who knows. Only the Hamiltons know, and only they know how those kind of extenuating circumstances might affect a more drastic move by Hamilton to step away from it all and get serious help again.

Whatever the reality, I just hope Josh can minimize the relapses in the future. And I give him major kudos for speaking up today and continuing to be accountable publicly for his recovery effort.

Quick note: The initial draft of this post that was published was done so under the assumption that Hamilton drinking Monday night was fact, as it was reported here by the Dallas Morning News. A report this morning (see bottom of article) casts at least some doubt on the veracity of the claims that Hamilton was drinking. I’ve updated the post in certain areas to reflect this ambiguity, though the tone and ultimate message remains the same regardless.

You have probably heard by now that Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was spotted at a Dallas bar on Monday night, reportedly drinking alcohol.

I thought about it a lot last night and this morning, so here are a few scattered thoughts on the biggest non-Super Bowl story of the day.

Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton’s Disappointing (Alleged) Relapse

So far, few details about the night have been made public, and I hope it stays that way (though it won’t). The news is that Josh Hamilton, a superstar athlete approaching a contract year, as well as a drug and alcohol addict, was allegedly again using one of the substances to which he has admitted to being powerlessly addicted.

My move to Dallas four years coincided with Hamilton’s move to the Metroplex, so I have been able to watch his resurgence from junkie to MVP up close. It has been thrilling, inspiring, and an altogether incredible story about the triumph of the human spirit in Hamilton, as well as and especially those close to him who have helped him get his life back on track.

And that’s part of what made the 2009 Deadspin story about Hamilton drunk at a bar, and last night’s story about Hamilton allegedly drinking at Sherlock’s, so disappointing.

This story that we’ve all come to root for, and appreciate, and perhaps even take for granted, now has another black mark on it. This tale of recovery is not complete, as some perhaps thought or at least wished it was.

But that’s the thing: it never is for an addict.

And in terms of disappointing angles to this story, the way that we feel about it as observers, as consumers of sports content, is irrelevant.

The true disappointment is that Hamilton, a man with a wife (who has stood by him indefatigably by all accounts) and three daughters, and so much seemingly to stay clean for, could not.

Katie and Josh Hamilton, via their joint Twitter account @kandjhamilton

What Does The Future Hold For Josh Hamilton?

I don’t want to get into any undue speculation, so I won’t. I’ll just say what I think is a reasonable assumption for anyone to make based on the reported facts: this latest alleged relapse story, if true, hints at a much larger ongoing problem than many of us may have realized.

Anyone who has been afflicted by addiction or had family members afflicted by addiction, as I have, understands the unyielding presence of this evil demon. You never really “beat” it. You never really “conquer” it. You can simply subdue it one day at a time.

Hamilton has been able to do this, ostensibly, for a major part of the last half decade, but not without falling victim to the inevitable relapses that so many addicts cannot avoid.

You have probably heard that Hamilton recently lost his accountability partner Johnny Narron, who took a hitting coach job with the Brewers. His father-in-law reportedly was going to step in, but then backed out. What does that mean? What is the impact of these two recent, related stories? I have no idea. Again, all I can say is what I think is a reasonable assumption given the reports, if true, and the backstory: it hints at a larger ongoing problem than many may have wanted to believe.

On a side note: kudos to Hamilton’s teammate Ian Kinsler for rushing to Sherlock’s to persuade Hamilton to go home. Actually, scratch teammate. Kudos to Hamilton’s friend Kinsler for doing so. I don’t know how successful he was – again, details from the night are sketchy, as I hope they stay – but at least he went when called upon for a friend in need who apparently reached out to him. (Update: Some reports now indicate that Kinsler’s role may have been misreported in the original accounts of this story. See here.)

Who knows what is next for Josh Hamilton.

If this is true and an isolated incident, at least recently speaking, then perhaps it’s just an every-other-year relapse wakeup call to Hamilton that reminds him he is powerless against his demons in the long-run.

If this is true and not an isolated incident, as some completely unsubstantiated but nonetheless present grumblings of other incidents suggest, then maybe Hamilton does, in fact, have a much flimsier grasp on his recovery than everyone, including he, thought. And if that’s the case, talk of contracts and baseball need to pushed as far into the background as possible.

If the worst case scenario about this incident proves true, and I really hope it’s not, then Hamilton needs to focus on nothing but his recovery and health.

Forget the Rangers. Forget baseball. Forget fans. Forget all of that. Katie, Sierra, Michaela Grace, and Stella Faith need their husband and father to look his demons in the eye again and hit them head on again, with humility and unwavering focus.

Then hopefully a byproduct of that down the road is a return to great baseball.

Should Hamilton’s Relapse Have Been Reported?

As for the debate over whether this should have been reported, I’m torn.

If the reports are accurate, and I were in Hamilton’s inner circle or the Rangers, I’d have wanted it to stay private, of course. But once news organizations get wind of it, I think it’s fair game for them to report it (assuming they got the facts right).

Hamilton’s recovery has been such a big part of the Hamilton Narrative, and fighting relapses is part of almost every addict’s narrative. So if the good stories are going to be reported, aren’t the less good ones fair game?

Furthermore, Hamilton’s contract status (he’s a free agent after this season), has been a major topic down here in Dallas. Every time it comes up, so too do the questions about Hamilton’s physical and mental health, and whether the Rangers or any team should feel comfortable giving him anything more than a short-term deal. What happened Monday night, if true, ends that speculation.

If he was in fact drinking on Monday night, Hamilton will never get a long-term deal, if he ever would have anyway. His max contract from here on out will be two years, if that. What happened at Sherlock’s is the reason. That makes it news. That makes it worth reporting.

I will say that I think the media has struck the right chord with this story: reporting the facts as known but imbuing every article I’ve read with a sense of empathy for his problem and an underlying hope that Hamilton can get back on the path of recovery.

Concluding Thoughts

I’ve loved watching the Josh Hamilton story. Seeing him subdue his demons long enough to let his prodigious baseball talents shine through has been amazing to watch.

It is the humanity of Josh Hamilton that has made him such a three-dimensional sports figure that everyone can grasp onto, relate with in some way, and root for out of both the goodness of our hearts and the selfishness of insatiable desire for compelling sport entertainment. Josh Hamilton is nothing if not compelling.

The report about Hamilton’s relapse, if true, reminds us of the humanity that made him such a compelling figure in the first place.

To err is human; to err so egregiously, to allegedly relapse with so much on the line, is also human, as anyone who can empathize with the plight of the addict knows.

As a baseball fan, I sure hope what happened Monday doesn’t interfere with my ability to watch Josh Hamilton play baseball.

But as a human, I don’t care really about the baseball. I just want to see this husband, father, and beloved inspiration to so many who need it, lift himself up and away from the abyss through the sheer force of his will and faith – which is ultimately what it takes.

Get well Josh Hamilton. But get help, again.

Even if this is a recently isolated incident, nip it in the bud. Take nothing for granted. Respect the destructive power you know your demos have.

No one needs to or should stop rooting for Josh Hamilton; but none of us should enable him either, even from far.

Update: For what it’s worth, the following link was just passed along by Brian Cuban on Facebook. The title is “Josh Hamilton, Inside Scoop From 8 People” by Mike Dyce. I cannot at all vouch for the source, because I am not familiar with Mike Dyce, but I do tend to trust Cuban’s thoughts on matters such as these, so if it’s good enough for him to pass along, I will too.

If I were to write a World Series preview from a Cardinals perspective, it would be full of bias and spite, so I’ll instead focus my efforts on my new (temporary) favorite team, the Texas Rangers, as I preview the 2011 World Series, which starts tomorrow night (TV schedule and pitching probables here).

Image source: ESPN.com

I found myself shopping for a Nelson Cruz t-shirt on Sunday night after the Cardinals eliminated Milwaukee, because he is my one tie to the Brewers’ organization. He had a small cup of coffee with the Brewers in 2005 after spending two seasons at AA and AAA, before being traded in the deal that brought Carlos Lee and Francisco Cordero to Milwaukee. I’d like to say I saw this potential for Cruz back then. I didn’t, but I have pictured Cruz back in a Brewers jersey on more than one occasion.

I’ve seen the Cardinals play at least 20 times this season, and I think they are quite good. I thought they would win the division, and they have postseason experience. But from what I’ve seen from the Rangers, they are very similar to the Cardinals and better in a few key areas.

Starting Pitching

The starting pitching staffs are relatively similar, with each team having one ace and then a number of supporting pitchers. CJ Wilson had better regular season statistics (2.94 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP) than Chris Carpenter (3.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP), but in the playoffs it’s hard to pick Wilson (8.04 ERA in three starts) or against Carpenter. He wasn’t great against Milwaukee, but his start in Game 5 against the Phillies was one of the best pitching performances in recent postseason history.

Image source: Huffington Post

The rest of the rotations for both teams are by no means dominant, and each game should come down to which offense is better in those matchups. Outside of Pujols at first base, I think I’d take the Rangers player at just about every other position.

Outfield

Starting in the outfield, I would pick Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz and whatever third outfielder you want to put out there against just about any other outfield in baseball. Having Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and Jon Jay certainly isn’t a bad thing, but it’s hard to argue against what Cruz did in the ALCS.

Infield

Around the horn in the infield, the closest matchup is at third base. Pujols holds the edge at first over Michael Young, the Rangers are better up the middle with Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus, but Adrian Beltre versus David Freese is close. Beltre has been the better player for a longer period of time, but Freese crushed the ball on his way to NLCS MVP honors. In this case, I’ll take the veteran Beltre, who shouldn’t be fazed by the bright World Series lights.

I’m not totally sure what is going to come of the catcher/designated hitter positions during the Series, but for argument’s sake, I’ll simply say that I’d rather have Mike Napoli in the lineup than Yadier Molina. Molina can come through with a big hit and he’s better defensively, but I like Napoli’s big bat in Texas’s lineup.

Bullpen

Texas also probably holds the edge as far as bullpen performance in the playoffs, and it will come down largely to matchup play. Neither Lance Lynn of the Cardinals nor Scott Feldman of the Rangers have given up a run in at least eight innings of work for their respective teams, and both teams’ closers are 4-of-4 in save opportunities. The edge here goes to the Rangers because of Alexi Ogando’s ability to pitch in long relief if necessary.

Prediction

I think the Rangers hold too many edges in the World Series, and they will win with competent enough starting pitching backed by a whole lot of offense and a solid pen. I think Josh Hamilton has a big series and fully completes his comeback, winning World Series MVP along the way.

World Series Prediction: Rangers in five.

**********

Now it’s your turn.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

After Hamilton was injured earlier this season diving headfirst into home, the ongoing debate about Hamilton’s style of play raged to new levels. One side dug in with their beliefs that time/score/situation should dictate how hard Hamilton plays while others believe that you just have to let Hamilton be Hamilton even he puts himself at greater risk of being injured by always going to balls-to-the-wall.

I have heard Hamilton in interviews say that he knows how important his bat is in the Rangers’ lineup and that he needs to use more discretion with when he dives for fly balls or slides headfirst. Yesterday, however, Hamilton was having none of it after people questioned his decision to slide headfirst three times in one inning on Tuesday night.

From Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

“…If I stop doing that, I won’t be true to myself as a baseball player or true to my teammates or true to the fans who watch me play the game. I just don’t get why you keep harping on it. Just expect it out of me. If I get hurt, we’ll continue to do this thing. It’s ridiculous. I frickin’ play the game. I can’t worry about that. I never think about it.”

I’ll give you my quick thoughts on this, and then I want to hear yours.

First off, I just want to say that as someone who has been a fan of Hamilton’s ever since his comeback began in Cincinnati, I respect the heck out of him. We often criticize star athletes for coasting or not giving the game their all. To be able to have a debate like this is refreshing.

With that said, I think the two poles in this debate are wrong, and that this is a case where a happy medium needs to be struck.

Certain guys are wired a certain way, and changing that wiring is not always possible. If we have learned anything about Josh Hamilton, it is that he does everything – and I do mean everything, on and off the field – all out. It’s the only speed he knows, and it’s part of what makes him one of the most unique baseball talents I’ve since in close to 30 years on this earth. To think he can or should change in any significant way is damn near ludicrous.

However, I do not think that the Rangers discussing it with him or the media questioning him about it is a bad thing.

Ultimately, the smartest thing Hamilton could do, and what is in the best long-term interests of the team, is for Hamilton to use discretion in regards to plays that put his body at risk. As good as Hamilton is in the field and on the base paths, his value to the Rangers is at its greatest when he is in 1) in the batter’s box and 2) in the on deck circle. Anything that removes him from those two places for an extended period of time should be avoided at all costs.

Is a fly ball with one out in the 2nd inning of a scoreless June game worth slamming into the wall over? No, it’s not. Is a single run early in an April game worth diving headfirst into home over? No, it’s not.

Maybe Josh Hamilton can never be convinced that he shouldn’t go all-out on both of these plays anyway. And that’s fine. Any Rangers fan would rather Hamilton be the way he is than have the opposite mindset. But maybe, just maybe, the Rangers staff and the media constantly harping on Hamilton to be a little bit smarter with his body will sink 5-10%. And if Hamilton can exercise just a little bit more discretion in low leverage situations, perhaps he avoids a nagging injury or a DL stint that would otherwise hinder the Rangers lineup.

In conclusion: if I have to pick a side, I say let Hamilton all-out, the only way he knows how; but, any little of discretion that can be sprinkled in is only going to be helpful in the big picture.

What do you think?

Now, let me share with you a fan sign that, while clever, isn’t exactly in good taste or the spirit of sportsmanship or, for that matter, the spirit of humanity.

If the baseball gods are counting up karma points, the Giants have to be docked at least a few for their fans deciding this would be a good idea.

Image source: Big League Stew

Here’s hoping Hamilton sticks it to the Giants with a few timely hits during this series, or that some intrepid Rangers fan sees the sign and erases the “s” in “drinks”. Because watching the drink- and drug-free Josh Hamilton play baseball is like watching The Natural play out before our very eyes, a great movie that is so much better in reality.

So I guess kudos for being clever Giants fans, but count among those who hope you end up having to eat – err, drink – your words.

And since I live in Dallas, I have to admit that I have adopted the eminently likable Texas Rangers as the team I’m pulling for to win it all.

Cliff Lee strapped the Rangers onto his shoulders against the Rays and won two of the three games that ultimately propelled Texas into the ALCS to face the Yankees, for what should be a competitive, entertaining series.

I’m sure that AJ will preview both the ALCS and NLCS for us soon. This morning, I would simply like to offer up two pictures that perfectly sum up the 2010 Texas Rangers and how baseball fever is capturing this perpetually football-obsessed town.

First, there is this picture from the Rangers’ clubhouse celebration last night. It features the entire Texas roster dousing Josh Hamilton with Ginger Ale in one of the greatest, most obvious displays of team unity I’ve ever seen in a postgame celebration.

Image credit: AP Photo/Chris O’Meara via ESPN.com

As you undoubtedly know, Hamilton is a recovering drug addict. That the team had Ginger Ale ready so he could partake in the celebration, and that his teammates were conscientious enough to make including him such a unified act should tell you all you need to know about the chemistry this team has.

Who knows if winning breeds chemistry or if chemistry breeds winning or if it’s somewhere in the middle, but it’s clear that this team had strong chemistry from the beginning with how they handled Ron Washington’s cocaine admission.

And speaking of the Rangers’ skipper, he has gone from being a nearly fired laughingstock to being beloved. Winning will do that, of course, but so does being earnest and hard-working, both of which Washington has proven himself to be. He exemplifies the likability of this Rangers team, from his triumph over adversity to his…endearing…manner of speaking.

That “Wash Talk” is summed up perfectly by this photo, which was taken this morning in Dallas by one of the producers of 1310 The Ticket:

Image source: Plixi via Twitter

Take a core of young talent, add established playoff veterans like Vladimir Guerrero and Cliff Lee, and then ride chemistry and strong fundamentals to the ALCS? Yes Wash, that indeed the way baseball go.

For those of you who do not live in Dallas, let me just stress how rare a sight the above photo is, especially during football season. But the combination of how exciting this Rangers team has been plus how crappy the Cowboys are has created the perfect confluence of events for baseball to take over the Metroplex. As a neutral observer, I have to say that it’s nice to see.

And for the record, if you’re not a Yankees and you aren’t rooting for the Rangers in the ALCS, you’re either a FOX exec or you have no heart.

Cliff Lee vs Roy Halladay in Philadelphia for Game 1 of the World Series? Yes, please.

]]> http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2010/10/these-two-pictures-sum-up-the-2010-texas-rangers/feed/ 2 http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2009/07/home-run-derby-preview-participants-betting-odds-past-hr-derby-champions-winners/ http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2009/07/home-run-derby-preview-participants-betting-odds-past-hr-derby-champions-winners/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:58:27 +0000 Jerod Morris http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/?p=2614 Growing up, the Home Run Derby was always my favorite part of baseball’s All Star weekend. I used to love it.  I remember my dad telling me about the Home Run Derby TV show that he used to watch with the old stars like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle; and there was just something inherently exciting about seeing baseball’s biggest and best stars step up to the plate with one thing on their mind: swinging for the fences.

And, of course, this was back in the late 80s and early 90s when my love for the long ball was still untainted by steroids.  It was the same innocent awe with which I watched Big Mac and Sammy’s 1994 1998 (thanks Scott) pursuit of Roger Maris.

Times have changed now, and the home run isn’t quite what it used to be.  And neither is the Home Run Derby.  Maybe it’s because of steroids, maybe it’s just because I’m older, or maybe it’s because my childhood heroes like The Big Hurt and The Kid are no longer sweet-swinging for the fences the night before the All Star Game anymore.  For whatever reason, the Home Run Derby is no longer must-watch TV for me now.  I’m still interested in it, but I don’t plan my night around watching it.

With all that being said, I had the opportunity to re-watch last year’s Home Run Derby this past weekend.  They replayed it on either ESPN or the MLB Network, I don’t remember which one, but I sat through the first hour of it just so I could watch Josh Hamilton put on the most amazing 10-out sequence in the history of the Derby.  I didn’t get to watch the entire thing last year, but after seeing highlights and hearing people gush about it non-stop (especially here in Dallas), I had to watch.

And my goodness, it was everything it was cracked up to be and more.  I could not find the actual TV broadcast on YouTube, but there is plenty of amateur video available from people who were in the stands that night.  One of them is below:

 

I have never seen a baseball player in that kind of zone before.  And as the fans realized how hot Hamilton was, they seemed to cheer louder and louder with each successive blast.  As the announcers said repeatedly, Hamilton may have only broken Bobby Abreu’s single-round record by four, but the difference in the sheer power on display was night and day.  

Josh Hamilton wasn’t just hitting home runs, he was murdering baseballs and attacking bleachers.  He appeared to be doing it so effortlessly too.  And even though this comparison has been made millions of times over the past 16 or so months, I could not help thinking about how much Hamilton’s incredible story reminded me of one of my all-time favorite movies: The Natural.

Amazingly, Hamilton was not actually crowned the champion last year.  Justin Morneau of the Twins won it all (as you can see from the chart below).  But Morneau winning was simply a technicality based on the rules.  The lasting memory of the 2008 Home Run Derby was Josh Hamilton’s record first round, for everything it was and everything it represented.  We love baseball because it can provide such magical and majestic moments; last year, Josh Hamilton certainly provided that.

But that was 2008.  

Tonight, eight players will do their best to provide an encore to Hamilton’s marvelous performance from last year.  Here are the 2009 Home Run Derby participants:

2009 Home Run Derby Participants

American League Home Run Derby Participants

• Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
• Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers
• Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers
• Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays

National League Home Run Derby Participants

• The Greatest Player Alive Today and Maybe Ever, St. Louis Cardinals
• Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres
• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
• Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

At first glance, one thing is pretty clear: this has to be the biggest disparity ever between the stature of the players competing for the AL and NL, respectively.  I have never been so underwhelmed at a Home Run Derby roster as I am looking at the AL.  In fact, there is not one guy in the AL that I’m looking forward to seeing.  All I hope is that Joe Mauer does incredibly well and then suffers a post-HR Derby dropoff like so many others have.  The same goes for Brandon Inge.  The best thing that could happen this weekend for the White Sox (who were screwed out of a couple additional All Star spots, damnit) would be Mauer and Inge screwing up their swings.  Come on guys…you can do it!

The NL, however, has the kind of stars that fans want to see in the Home Run Derby.  Albert Pujols will be competing in front of his home crowd, which is just great.  Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder are the kinds of behemoth mashers that harken us all back to the days and memories of guys like Babe Ruth.  

If the NL guys don’t hit double the amount of HRs that the AL guys hit, I’ll be surprised.

In fact, here are the 2009 Home Run Derby odds and betting lines, at least from one guy.  Most of the odds I’ve surveyed have been very similar:

• Home Run Derby Favorite – Albert Pujols: +200
• Ryan Howard: +250
• Prince Fielder: +350
• Adrian Gonzalez: +500
• Carlos Pena: +600
• Nelson Cruz: +800
• Joe Mauer: +850
• Brandon Inge: +1000

As you can see, not a whole lot of balance.  But no one cares who wins the Home Run Derby between the AL and NL; we all just want to see someone put on a magnificent show or see a couple of guys provide some drama by matching eachother HR for HR until the end.  And if it’s the great Pujols in front of his home fans, even better.  

Here are the particulars for tonight’s festivities:

2009 Home Run Derby Quick Preview

• 2009 Home Run Derby Date: Monday, July 13, 2009
• 2009 Home Run Derby Start Time: 7:00 ET
• 2009 Home Run Derby TV: ESPN
• Home Run Derby History: Home Run Derby

The final link above is the the Wikipedia page for the Home Run Derby, which provides the history of the event as well as a breakdown of every past derby.  Below, I have re-created the table of past Home Run Derby champions.  Tonight beginning at 7:00 ET, we’ll get to see which NL star will add his name to the list…because let’s be honest, if one of the guys from the AL wins it will be a monumental upset.  (Go Mauer and Inge!!! Help swing the balance of the AL Central with your Home Run Derby title and subsequent second half swoon!)

Home Run Derby Past Champions: All-Time List of Winners

Enjoy the derby tonight everyone.  I doubt we’ll see anything like what we saw from Josh Hamilton last year, but the trio of Pujols-Howard-Fielder should at least be good from some compelling long ball drama.

* – Josh Hamilton photo credit: Deadspin

After my misadventure trying to accurately characterize the level of disappointment I felt after hearing that IU had to self-report a minor recruiting violation in the basketball program, and then writing about the rift between Shuan Rogers and Eric Mangini, I feel the need to write something that is decidedly upbeat and positive.

So here they are, the five baseball players that I am rooting for in 2009 who are not playing their home games on the South Side of Chicago.

Joe Crede, 3B, Minnesota Twins

This one is easy.

Ever since Joe Crede was a White Sox farmhand and the heir apparent to Robin Ventura at third base, he has been one of my favorite White Sox players. He was always inconsistent at the plate, but did produce in the clutch — especially during the 2005 World Series run. And what he lacked in consistency at the plate he more than made up for by being one of the best, and most underrated, defensive third baseman of the 2000s.

Questions about Joe Crede’s back and the presence of young talents like Josh Fields and Dayan Viciedo compelled the White Sox to let Joe go, and he ended up in Minnesota. While I feel a natural rivalry with the Twins, I do not hate them like I hate the Indians, Tigers, and Cubs. Something about the way they play and Ozzie’s affinity for the “piranhas” has rubbed off on me. Joe Crede will fit in perfectly with the Twins, and I hope that he stays healthy and has a good season.

Of course, I wouldn’t mind it if he struggles when the Twins play the White Sox, but I hope that he can begin a solid second act in his very solid career. I think all White Sox fans appreciate the many good years that Joe Crede gave us, and I would assume that the majority are wishing him well in his new digs.

Ken Griffey Jr., OF/DH, Seattle Mariners

The Kid’s White Sox career was brief and unspectacular, and is in no way part of the reason why I am rooting for him in 2009. I have always admired Ken Griffey for the all-around excellence of his skills during his amazing first decade in the Major Leagues. It is unfortunate that he was unable to stay healthy in Cincinnati and that he has become “just another guy” since leaving Seattle.

Yet, with each new allegation of steroids that comes to light about baseball’s superstars from the late 90s and early- to mid-00s, Ken Griffey Jr’s accomplishments become more and more impressive. There are very few guys for whom steroid allegations would surprise me anymore, but Griffey is definitely one of them.

Although his skills have eroded and he is not even 50% of the graceful and elegant defensive player he once was, he still has that same sweet (albeit slower) swing and is one of the true, pure legends of the last twenty years in baseball. Now he gets to go home where it all started and provide some nostalgic joy to Mariner fans who may not have much else to cheer for this season. I would love to see Griffey put together an unexpectedly productive season at the plate and every now and then flash the brilliance that made him one of the most exciting young players baseball has ever seen.

Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers

The real life Roy Hobbs.

I hear that so much living down here in Dallas that it is almost cliche now — but only because it is so exceedingly true.

Josh Hamilton’s story is truly one of redemption and the triumph of the human spirit. I realize that his problems and addictions were almost exclusively self-inflicted, but every now and again it is good and inspiring to see someone lift themselves up after hitting rock bottom, reminding us of just how powerful human will can be when truly put to the test.

Add the backstory to Hamilton’s ridiculous talent and you have one of most compelling figures in all of sports as far as I’m concerned. It goes without saying (although I’m about to say it) that everyone is hoping beyond hope that the redemption story of Josh Hamilton was written without any illegal performance-enhancers and that he can stay on the straight and narrow. If so, he has the ability to become one of baseball’s brightest stars heading into the new decade.

Dontrelle Wills, SP, Detroit Tigers

While living in Miami in 2004 and 2005 I got to witness Dontrelle Willis’ ascension to stardom during his early years with the Florida Marlins. When he first came up with the Fish, he reminded me of the pitching version of a poor man’s Ken Griffey Jr with his attitude and enthusiasm. Yet, Willis’ numbers have always been somewhat up and down — no doubt a byproduct of his unique delivery — and there was the DUI and then the rumors that he and Miguel Cabrera were not exactly the best clubhouse influences during their last year in Miami.

Still, when I think of Dontrelle Willis I think of a guy who is a ball of entertaining energy, who seemed to be maturing as a pitcher before he got to Detroit, and who is renowned for being involved in the community. He is also someone that young African-American baseball players in America can look up to, during a time when African-American representation in the Major Leagues continues to dwindle.

Most of all, I just love watching Dontrelle Willis pitch. Obviously if he makes the Tigers’ rotation he will be pitching for an AL Central enemy of the White Sox, so I hope his control eludes him when the Tigers and White Sox play; but I would like to see Dontrelle make a triumphant return to the Majors and get his career back on the right track.

Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

Simply put, he is the most consistently great hitter I have seen in my lifetime. Even better than The Big Hurt.

Look at his career stats — they are unreal from Day One. And so far Pujols has avoided any significant rumors of ever being on steroids. You certainly can’t point to any particular season or groups of seasons as showing a Bonds- or McGwire-type pop in production.

If anything, he would have to have been on steroids his entire career, that’s how great the numbers are that he puts up on annual basis.

Albert Pujols also appears to be the ultimate team player. He has led the Cardinals to an improbable World Series and I have never heard him complain despite a steady erosion over the last couple of years of the offensive production around him in the Cardinals lineup. He just goes out every day and proves that he is the best all-around hitter in the game.

I can tell you right now that if I get the #1 pick in any fantasy drafts this year I won’t even consider A-Fraud — I’ll go right for Pujols. I prefer to pack my fantasy teams with players I actually like rooting for, and few non-White Sox players fit that bill like Albert Pujols.

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So now that I’ve given you my list, it’s your town. Who are the players that are not on your favorite team that you will be rooting for in 2009? The comment section awaits.