MLB Insider: Hamilton takes another swing at his demons

The ovation was long and loud, just like the first time Josh Hamilton played in a major league game in 2007.

Yet this was Thursday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, where Hamilton played his first home game since being traded to Texas from the Angels about a month ago.

The common thread between what happened Thursday and what happened in 2007 is that Hamilton is emerging from drug and alcohol addiction.

It was a great story eight years ago, when he was 26, had a whole career in front of him and could do things to a baseball that few players could.

Now he's 34 and this time has to prove he has something left.

Oh, there's another thing he'll have to prove. That he can once again defeat the demons.

"There's only one way to find out," he told the Texas media.

Hamilton's battle with addiction goes back to 2001 when he was in the Tampa Bay Rays organization but didn't play for nearly three years as his addiction got the best of him.

He resurfaced with the Reds in 2007, and his jaw-dropping talent was evident. He was traded to the Rangers the next season, where he became a five-time All-Star and 2010 batting champion. The Twins' Justin Morneau won the 2008 Home Run Derby, but everyone remembers the 28 home runs Hamilton hit in the first round of the event.

Hamilton has had several relapses. At least two with the Rangers and then an admission during this offseason that he slipped back into using cocaine and alcohol. Instead of looking for ways to support him, the Angels looked for ways to dump him — because their five-year, $125 million investment in him didn't pay off.

It was stunning to see the Angels express disappointment when Hamilton wasn't suspended by Major League Baseball. Hamilton self-reported the relapse, which probably helped his cause. But it was obvious he needed a change of scenery.

The Rangers are familiar with him, have supported him through his addiction battle — and at this point probably need to sell a few more tickets. It gives Hamilton a chance to finish his career on the field instead of on a suspended list.

The challenge will be proving he can put up numbers. He once hit 43 home runs in a season. In recent years, teams have learned not to throw him a strike because he swings at everything and gets himself out. And his age is working against him. He homered twice Friday and is 5-for-18 (.278) with five RBI in five games going into Saturday's games.

The Twins will face Hamilton and the Rangers on June 12, when the teams face each other in Arlington for the start of a three-game series.

It will be quite a challenge for Hamilton, like it has been his entire career. He has to beat the Twins while trying to beat addiction.

"Nobody is expecting me to come back and be that old me," Hamilton said. "But I'm expecting that out of myself."

Central Intelligence

Cleveland got off to an awful start, but the recovery is underway. The Indians were 14-11 this month heading into the weekend, and the starting rotation is showing signs of being a strength again. "We've got our swag back," first baseman Nick Swisher said.

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The Tigers have remained competitive without former MVP Justin Verlander in the rotation.

He's been out because of a triceps strain but threw a 70-pitch simulated game Wednesday and is headed out on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

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Alex Rios has been out for 38 games since a J.R. Graham pitch broke his left hand April 13.

Kansas City could use him, because its offense has been sputtering of late, one reason the Twins grabbed a share of first place in the division from them.

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Chicago is in a run of firing coaches. Marc Trestman was canned by the Bears. The Bulls fired Tom Thibodeau on Thursday. Now there's speculation that Robin Ventura could be on the hot seat because the White Sox are perceived as underachievers after upgrading the roster during the offseason.

Three observations …

• Oakland is in last place in the AL West, and Coco Crisp is out for more than a month. Just blow it up, Billy Beane.

• Torii Hunter is fighting off father time at 39, and Michael Cuddyer isn't doing too shabby with the Mets at age 36.

• Really concerned about David Ortiz after watching his swing for three days against the Twins.

… and two predictions

• Giancarlo Stanton will catch Bryce Harper and win the NL home run title.

• The Twins will go 16-12 in June.