And The Beat Goes On: May 14th

Boy, if you hated all of that other house music, you'll really hate this!

● Jeff Wilson recaps last night's game. And Todd Wills. And Richard Durrett. 

● JJT delivers a strange sort of article, and when I say strange, I mean "wow, this kicks off on a powerful note and then gets really confusing." Here's the powerful note:

Whenever the urge hits this season, Josh Hamilton arrives at the ballpark hours before the game and heads to Ron Washington's office.

Usually, Hamilton lies on a couch, and they talk.

Hamilton will reveal some of life's frustrations, and Washington listens before providing some of his to-the-point advice about how to handle life.

Then Hamilton will search his Bible for a verse or a story that bridges their conversation. It might take 20 minutes. Or an hour. Maybe longer. There's no time limit on the personal and confidential conversations between player and manager.

Once his spirit has been purged, Hamilton returns to the clubhouse with a clutter-free mind, so he can do what he does best: pulverize baseballs.

Now, further down, JJT presents the same "sign Josh no matter what" argument that has been presented several times already, and argues that Texas can afford to ink Josh because he's (a) still improving and not even at his peak yet, (b) because signing him won't bankrupt the team like A-Rod, and (c) because you don't let transcendent players walk when you have the fiscal means to sign them.

Since it is JJT, though, there are a few things that rub me the wrong way, such as the claim that Hamilton, in previous seasons, would "give up the rest of the at-bat" if he swung and missed at a bad first pitch. And the claim that the Rangers went bankrupt because of the A-Rod deal. Sounds like revisionist history on both counts. And the blowing off of Hamilton's injury risk/history with a statement like "players get hurt everyday." I heard a similar argument made on one of the radio post-game shows, and I'm baffled at people trying to dismiss the significant long-term concerns over Hamilton's health and physical well-being with statements so trite as "lots of other players get hurt!"

But, yeah. I like that intro.

● Josh Hamilton says that his goal is to play 150 games this season. Jackie Moore left during the sixth inning of last night's game due to light-headedness, and was transported to Medical Center of Arlington after the game for observation, but everything is apparently clear. Hamilton finally broke the four-homer bat, and it's headed off to Cooperstown. Scott Feldman is starting tonight's game due to the doubleheader. Adrian Beltre won't hit the DL, because the Rangers don't feel like they can live without him.