Hamilton's Struggles Reach Critical Level

As the year goes on it is starting to look more and more like it may well turn into a lost season for Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton.

Texas' 2-time All-Star is now 2 for his last 32 and is mired in what has been, for the most part, a season-long slump.

Hamilton has responded to the slump by watching more video and taking more batting practice but, for whatever reason, just cannot seem to regain neither the timing nor confidence he showed last season when he led the league in RBI.

"I think I've almost overanalyzed it all to a point," Hamilton said. "I was thinking too much and thinking I needed to get a hit because I hadn't gotten a hit in a while. When you do that, it just makes things worse. It's hard not to do, too, because it's only human. I just need to shut all the head games down by myself."

In last nights game with Detroit, manager Ron Washington dropped Hamilton from his customary 3rd spot in the order to 7th, trying to help take some of the self-inflicted pressure off Josh's shoulders. Hamilton wasn't able to respond, going 0-for-4 on the night.

"We're giving him a chance to gather himself," Washington said. "You'd be frustrated, too, if you had a vision of what you're capable of doing and you can't seem to put it together. We haven't given up on him, and we're not going to allow him to give up on himself."



Since returning from the DL on July 6th, Hamilton is hitting just .198 with one home run, two doubles and four RBI. For the season, he is hitting .223 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs.

Hamilton continues to work hard but seems unable to pinpoint the reasons behind the slump.

"If I knew what was wrong, I wouldn't be struggling," said Hamilton. "I think I went 0-for-22 in the minors one time, but then I proceeded to hit .468 in the playoffs."

The Rangers are hoping that with some time and patience a similar turnaround will take place.

"We need to give [Hamilton] a break," Washington said. "He's trying too hard. His timing isn't there and the only person that can fix that is him."

Easier said than done as, at least from his body language, Hamilton appears to have lost a good deal of confidence.

"He needs to be aggressive," Washington said. "Once he steps in that batter's box, he's all by himself."