Hamilton Tearing Apart AL Competition

If you haven't taken notice of what Josh Hamilton has been doing the past week then now would be a good time to do so. The Rangers have won four of their last six heading into the Sunday Night Baseball showdown against the LA Angels and Hamilton has been tearing the cover off the ball. Over the course of those last six games he has hit nine home runs with a four-homer game on May 8th the highlight. Hamilton is hitting .402 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs just 34 games into the season. As of now he is running away with the Triple Crown race, which has not been won since 1967 by Carl Yastrzemski. Hamilton's .402 average is thirty points higher than Derek Jeter's, who is in second place and he has eight more dingers than the next closest player. He also has 11 more RBIs than second place Miguel Cabrera. His Rangers are 22-12 and leading the American League and it appears this could finally be the year that he leads Texas to that elusive World Series title.

The Texas Rangers had the World Series almost wrapped up last season before David Freese and the St. Louis Cardinals performed one of the great Fall Classic miracles, stealing Game 6 and winning it all in Game 7. In the offseason the Angels and Detroit Tigers dominated the headlines by signing power hitters Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Yet it is Hamilton who has been called the best player in the American League by several analysts this season. Consider these numbers: Fielder and Pujols have combined for just six home runs this season. Hamilton has hit three times that amount. The two also combine for 27 RBIs compared to Hamilton's 41. Pujols is hitting just .195 while Fielder is below his normal average at .266. While the two new AL sluggers get accustomed to their new homes their teams continue to suffer. Detroit is .500 while the Angels are at the bottom of the AL West. Another stat worth mentioning is the fact that the entire San Diego Padres team has hit just 13 home runs.

We can expect Hamilton to come back down to Earth, but the fact of the matter is that he will most likely finish the year .330/50/150 if he stays healthy. Sure, there will be slumps, but Hamilton is hitting at such a torrid pace right now that his stats will still be above average. Healthy is the key word though as that has been a problem for Hamilton. He is one of, if not the most, talented players in the game of baseball when 100 percent. He can hit for average and power, run the bases, and play a stellar centerfield. He is well protected in the Rangers lineup with bats like Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, and Nelson Cruz surrounding him.

Still, the personal stats are nice and the trophies and accolades will add to his legacy, but the Rangers big prize would be a World Series trophy. The two-time defending AL champs have come up short the past two seasons and one must wonder how much longer they can keep this team together. They are a complete team with a potent lineup and a pitching rotation that's solid from top to bottom. The loss of C.J. Wilson was offset by the addition of Yu Darvish, who has been lights out thus far. Right now, the Rangers are clicking on all cylinders, and if it keeps up they will be World Series champions and their star should win the American League MVP and perhaps the Triple Crown. Stay tuned.

Injuries Highlighting NBA Playoffs

A year that definitely had its fair share of action has suddenly turned into a contest. Not a contest to see who hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy, but a contest to see who can be the last man standing…literally. Injuries have plagued quite a few, if not every team that is in the playoffs. Some players have been able to come back, while others have sadly exited the season for good and will most likely not be back next season either. There have been freak accidents, as there always are, but you also have to wonder if the condensed schedule doesn’t somehow contribute to all these casualties. Playing five games in one week (with every team having to fight through a stretch of three games in three nights) can definitely take a toll on anybody regardless of age or stamina. The playoffs were looking bright at the beginning, but here’s a look at the injuries that have slowly brought down the teams that have a goal to win it all.


Derrick Rose: Easily the biggest story of the playoffs so far. The 23 year-old phenom suffered a torn ACL in the first game against the Sixers and is expected to be out at least six to nine months. Rose’s left knee buckled awkwardly on a jump stop late in the fourth quarter, sending the point guard to the ground, grimacing in pain. Some say that the Bulls will lose in the first round without Rose, others say they’ll advance to the second round only to fall to either the Hawks or Celtics. If you ask me, the Bulls have every bit of a chance to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. They have proved time and time again that they can win without Derrick Rose and, with the depth they have, they have more than enough players that can step up. Don’t count the Bulls out yet.

Iman Shumpert: A kid that was only really a name because of his withdrawal from the dunk contest has suddenly become a big part of the Knicks late-season run. Yet all of that came crashing down when Shumpert crumpled to the floor with, you guessed it, a torn ACL. One of the best perimeter defenders in the league will not be making an appearance for the rest of the playoffs and will be confined to the seat next to the Knicks other injured point guard Jeremy Lin. The Knicks are in deep trouble being down 0-2 and will miss Shumpert’s ability to defend. Yet with the perk of heading back to the Garden for the next three games, hopes can be high for New York fans seeing as the Heat are not a very good team on the road. None the less, it does nothing but dampen the spirit in the locker room to see two promising young players who can do nothing but watch.

Caron Butler: He’s been around the league for quite some time, but has never been a big-time name. Yet the loss of Caron Butler is one that stings just as much as any other injury. With a broken hand, the Clippers lose a reliable shooting guard who contributed twelve points a game. And with the young talent they have, Butler was able to play a leadership role on the floor. He’s not the first Clipper to be sidelined since Chauncey Billups is battling an achilles injury, but with two of the most experienced players unavailable, it’s up to Chris Paul to really take the weight on his shoulders and lead this team.

Amar’e Stoudemire: Now you can call the previous injuries freak accidents and strokes of bad luck, but Amar’e Stoudemire’s actions last night prove to be that of ignorance and instinct. After losing another battle to the Heat, Stoudemire took his anger out on the glass fire extinguisher case in the locker room. Giving the glass window a solid punch, the 29 year-old power forward lacerated his hand, resulting in a call to the paramedics as well as a hefty amount of stitches. I can understand the anger he was feeling, I’ve been there myself so I would not be justified to rip the guy for what he did. All I will say is that, when the frustration is at its peak, that’s the time to be a leader. Don’t allow your teammates to see you act in that manner. Again, I’m not saying it’s bad to be that upset because I think it shows how much he wants to win and how much he cares. But all the same, stop and think about the repercussions.

The lockout made the summer very tough on everyone involved with the NBA. Players came back out of shape, coaches couldn’t stay in contact with players, and fans were continually kept waiting to see the next “Breaking News” on SportsCenter. Yet here we are, on the first of May, and the playoffs are well underway. It’s sad to see how the fatigue has begun to catch up with some of the players, especially with the four listed above. But let’s not forget some of the injuries that I didn’t go into detail on such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Ray Allen, Brandon Roy, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, Manu Ginobli, Kobe Bryant, Rip Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, and so on. I know that I left out some names, but you understand the wear and tear these athletes have suffered. It’s been a rough season for everybody, but we can now appreciate in depth just how tough these teams have to be mentally and physically.