Josh Hamilton Had Recent Alcohol Relapse

[EmpireWF]

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/02/source-rangers-josh-hamilton-h.html

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, recovering from alcohol and drug addictions, had a relapse this week in his quest to remain sober.

According to individuals familiar with the episode, Hamilton drank alcohol on Monday night in an area bar. The circumstances that led to Hamilton's use of alcohol could not be determined.

In a statement, the Rangers said they were ``aware of a situation, but we don't have further comment at this time.''

This was Hamilton's second alcohol-related relapse in just over three years. In January, 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz.

A day after that episode, Hamilton informed his family, the Rangers and Major League Baseball of what he had done. He passed a drug test that day and later participated in a MLB-mandated counseling program.

Hamilton, the American League Most Valuable Player in 2010, can become a free agent after this season and has said he will stop negotiations on an extension when he reports to spring training. It was not known how this incident will affect the Rangers' desire to work out a long-term extension with Hamilton.

Hamilton, 31, was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. He missed the entire 2004-05 seasons, returning late in '06 with a minor-league club.

During the American League division series with the Rays last fall, Hamilton personally apologized to several members of the Rays' organization for his behavior.

``They put a lot of time and effort into me,'' said Hamilton, taken by the Rays with the first overall pick in the 1999 draft.

Hamilton has said he has been sober since October, 2005, at the request of his grandmother, Mary Holt. He is tested for drug use three times a week.
After the episode in Tempe, Hamilton said he had a deeper appreciation of the dangers of alcohol.

``I got away from the one thing that kept me on the straight and narrow and that was my relationship with the Lord,'' Hamilton said. ``That should always come first. Hopefully some good will come out of this.

``It just crossed my mind that night, 'Can I have a drink?' Obviously I can't and this reinforces that. Since that night, I have not had another thought like that. I know it's something I shouldn't do because it leads to other things.''

Since breaking into the majors in 2007 with Cincinnati, Hamilton has had former amateur coach Johnny Narron as an ``accountability partner.'' Narron followed Hamilton to the Rangers and filled a dual role as assistant batting coach.

Narron left the club after last season to become Milwaukee's hitting coach. The Rangers were going to use Hamilton's father-in-law, Michael Dean Chadwick, in the role, but he decided against it because of family matters.

Hamilton endured a difficult stretch last summer. On July 7, during a game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, he flipped a foul ball toward the left-field bleacher seats. A spectator, firefighter Shannon Stone of Brownwood, Texas, lost his balance reaching for the baseball and tumbled to his death as his son, Cooper, watched. Hamilton has developed a relationship with the Stone family.

 

[Boucher]

Killing someone will do that to you

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Killing someone will do that to you

I'm sorry who did he kill?

 

[Champ]

I'm sorry who did he kill?

Leonard Little's family.

 

[NAHSTE]

I'm sorry who did he kill?

I think he's referring to the fan who fell to his death while trying to catch a ball Hamilton had tossed into the stands.

Anyway, fairly or unfairly Hamilton just cost himself some money. His past addictions quite a large question mark when it comes to investing in him in long term.

 

[Leftwich]

We can blame this on Ron Washington.

 

[sraczk2011]

Time for more prayer!

 

[ryne candy]

If he hits HR and gets them back for the 3rd year and wins it this time....they will buy him all the Alki he wants.

 

[Derrville]

Man poor Josh. Hes probably took/still is taking the death of that fan hard. He said he could hear the little boy crying for his daddy and I dont know about you but that would scar me for life add on the two world series losses and you have a pretty shitty 13 months.

 

[Mogriffjr]

I guess a silver lining is he admitted he done so...part of recovering is admitting your faults.

Hopefully it was just a bad night and he continues to accept the lord in his life and guide him past his transgressions...

 

[NAHSTE]

I don't think he's going to want to play in New York after this. Or Boston, even. Just a hunch but generally neither is a good city to be a recovering addict in. He probably stays with the Rangers.

 

[EmpireWF]

I don't think he's going to want to play in New York after this. Or Boston, even. Just a hunch but generally neither is a good city to be a recovering addict in. He probably stays with the Rangers.

You'd imagine he'd stay where his comfort zone is.

But not thinking about that, what makes Texas so much "safer" than NY or Boston?

 

[dave]

Oh God, I am having the same relapse right now.

Oh ... wait. I was never a quitter.

 

[NAHSTE]

You'd imagine he'd stay where his comfort zone is.

But not thinking about that, what makes Texas so much "safer" than NY or Boston?

It's easier to get away from people if you want to avoid temptation. More open space. His wife has to be with him at all times or he relapses so I'd imagine that set up is easier for her in a small town. (Not that Dallas is small, but suburbs 30-45 minutes away are.)

 

[EmpireWF]

Sure, but there are plenty of burbs upstate or around Mass that fit the bill.

Assuming he's healthy and doesn't have any enormously destructive relapses, he'll get a massive pay day from someone. I'll assume a non-Rangers team has as much a shot as Texas does to sign him.

 

[FirstTimer]

Hopefully he can get back on the wagon and stay there.

As someone who has watched close family memebers struggle with substance abuse it's no joke.

 

[Goober]

add on the two world series losses and you have a pretty shitty 13 months.

Must be the worst thing in the world.

 

[NAHSTE]

Apparently at some point Ian Kinsler showed up and tried to get Hamilton to leave. At least he has a strong support system.

I won't speculate any further but this is a very delicate situation going forward. If he were "only" an alcoholic in his past, that might be one thing, but he is also recovering from heavy drug addiction. Even being around alcohol can lead to a slippery slope.

 

[Derrville]

Must be the worst thing in the world.

Maybe not to some skinny batman geek like you but for someone whose been through hell and back with his life in and out of baseball, yeah... Id say giving it your all and coming up short twice would be pretty shitty.

 

[NAHSTE]

Maybe not to some skinny batman geek like you but for someone whose been through hell and back with his life in and out of baseball, yeah... Id say giving it your all and coming up short twice would be pretty shitty.

Compared to being indirectly responsible for the death of a father? Perspective, find some.