This article really pissed me off.

"This has nothing to do with Josh Hamilton, the Christian. Or Josh Hamilton, the recovering drug addict."

This has nothing to do with writing a decent lede.

"This is not about what a great guy he is or the great example he can be. This is strictly about Josh Hamilton, the major leagues' best player.

Anyone who regularly watches the Rangers saw Hamilton win games with his bat, arm, legs and glove at various points last season."

But don't forget, nobody obsesses about the Rangers.

"Just as we can no longer accept average seasons from the Rangers because they've proved their standard of excellence should be raised, we must hold Hamilton to a higher standard as one of the game's best players next season and beyond.

Hamilton's talent is immense. No one can dispute that.

But as good as Hamilton has been since Jon Daniels acquired him for Edinson Volquez before the 2008 season, he hasn't put together consecutive monster seasons."

This argument makes no sense. He's been in the league for three years. How is that enough of a sample size to determine whether he needs to "step it up"? A little insight for people who don't know a bunch about journalism: columnists are lazy. They got to their position after years of thankless beat reporting. Once you get the job, it's like become tenured at a university. You have to do something really bad to get fired. This an example of a columnist who wrote a column minutes before deadline because he was either too lazy or he didn't care.

Let's continue.

Hamilton must spend this off-season getting his mind and body right. The combination of the Rangers' talent in the big leagues and the minors and their strong front office should have this club competing with the AL's big boys for the next several seasons.

They need Hamilton to lead the way.

Okay, I completely agree here. A healthy Hamilton is essential for the Rangers to defend the AL West next season.

"....Understand, he's never going to be a vocal leader, the kind of guy who jumps in his teammates' faces and inspires them.

Everyone isn't like that. There's no shame in it. Everyone is different.

But he can be a leader in his own way. He must accept that."

What the hell? He's making points that aren't terrible? I completely agree with being a leader in your own way. When a guy tries too hard to act as a vocal leader, it leads to people ignoring that person. Being a leader is knowing when to pick your spots, not rah-rahing all the time. JJT might not suck after all!

"It starts by making sure Washington writes his name in the lineup every day, the way Michael Young demands it, whether he's in the outfield or at designated hitter."

VOMIT VOMIT VOMIT. OH MY GOD, JJT. WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN? He must demand to be in the lineup? If you watched the Rangers play at all last year, Hamilton got into a heated argument with Wash after he benched Hamilton after an injury the previous day. The dude played through a nagging knee injury. He played through broken ribs through the playoffs. He got three cortisone injections in his knee in a span of three months, something you aren't supposed to do.

What more do you want from him? Yeah, Michael Young demands to be in the lineup. That's great. I'm sure Christian Guzman wanted to be in the lineup, also. What a fuc*ing awful point.

See, Hamilton is the only player on the roster – until the Rangers re-sign Cliff Lee – who inspires his teammates by his very presence in the lineup.

When he plays, they believe they'll win because sooner or later Hamilton will make the game-changing play."

JJT, Sports Psychologist!

Maybe it's hitting a homer or scoring from second on an infield out. Perhaps it's making a leaping grab or throwing a runner out at home.

Hamilton hasn't always understood that. And he certainly hasn't always embraced the responsibility that accompanies his talent."

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT AND PLAY HARD AND DEMAND A TRADE WHEN YOU ARE TOLD TO CHANGE POSITIONS, LIKE MICHAEL YOUNG!

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSONALITY OF A DOORKNOB, LIKE MICHAEL YOUNG!

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO COAST OFF OF 4 DECENT SEASONS, LIKE MICHAEL YOUNG!

"At times, he just wants to be one of the guys, which is impossible. His talent demands a spotlight.

The game's best players don't get to chill in the shadows. They must embrace the responsibility and pressure and nuisances that go along with greatness.

Talk to enough members of the Rangers organization and it's obvious they believe Hamilton is ready to take the next step toward greatness."

That MVP trophy? NOTHING TO DO WITH TAKING A STEP FORWARD. The true test of a leader is how much you ask to be in the lineup!

"It's time."

Oh good god. See, this is what's called a sentimental send-off. When you run out of things to say, you conclude with a cute little saying or phrase that ties the bow on the column. Like this:

"LeBron James was supposed to be the Chosen One. It turns out he was Judas."

See! Anyone can do it!

We all should. HAHA, BOOM!

I am surprised he didn't throw in a claw and antlers reference

Since JJT is focusing on Josh Hamilton in his article ... so will I ...

Josh just needs to be Josh ... he's not Superman, and the Rangers aren't the denizens of Gotham City ... he needs to "do what he do" ... nothing more, nothing less ... it would be nice to see how a "healthy" Josh Hamilton handles the rigors of a full season, but that will include games as the DH, along with days off ... which I'm perfectly fine with ...

The Rangers don't need Josh to be William Wallace ... they just need him to be the best Josh Hamilton he can be ... we can win with that level of performance ...

GO RANGERS !!!

Thanks, BBTiA, for giving us an alternative to the drivel...you know, this isn't football where you can put on your gameface once a week on Saturday or Sunday and just begin seething intensity from your every pore for several hrs. These guys are asked to be ready 6 or 7 days a week for 6 straight months (or 7 straight months, as it did this yr). Big guys take a huge pounding to their bodies over that stretch. You aren't going to see Josh average 155 games a yr, it's just not statistically possible for a guy his size who moves at the speed he does to always be healthy enough to play. Wish it could be that way, but it just can't.

I really don't bother reading Ranger-related articles unless they're posted here or linked from here with an endorsement from Joey or the guys. This site really is quite superior in thought-provoking well written Ranger baseball talk. Thank you for that.

Exactly, Swamp. Trying to be someone you just aren't is futile at best, and detrimental at worst. Do what you do.

You don't have to fly around rodeo-clown style like Ray Lewis to be a leader...especially in baseball. You can lead by example and in Josh's case he can lead by inspiring others the way he deals with his demons...just like a baseball season, it's a long, everyday grind. And even though I personally get tired of the god-god-god talk...there are many in that locker room who don't.

But the bigger issue I have here, is that for anyone even remotely interested in reading about baseball, why in the hell would you read a JJT article?

Taylor can spin the yarn for the Jonny come latelies men. Let him rile up the rabble with his columns. Lot more eyeballs on Taylor's writing then Joey's, so rather him be writing about /anything/ on the Rangers on Thanksgiving week than nothing. I love how there are people that didn't spare even a thought about baseball before that are talking about the Lee negotiations and on whether Josh Hamilton can stay healthy. Its good for the Rangers, good for baseball in DFW, good for the DMN and ultimately good for the hardcore Rangers fans too. Take it as an opportunity to give the casuals around you the real sports opinions if you want. Evan Grant should be the one doing their writing though.

Tre makes a pretty damn good point...

since when does mlb get column space in november over turduckens and hs football in north texas?

is progress i guess...kinda like when the musers talk rangers...is a positive even if they are ignorant tools