On the first official day of training camp, the Rangers made sure new center fielder Josh Hamilton understood his new teammates are just that: mates.
More than four hours after the club first took the field and all the way across the spring training complex, Hamilton once again told the story of his troubled past to a small assembly of media. Only the media was joined by shortstop Michael Young, second baseman Ian Kinsler and third baseman Hank Blalock, all in gym shorts and shower shoes, in listening to the stories of Hamilton's four-year fight with drug addiction.
"We're teammates," said Kinsler, who a day earlier sat in the same room discussing details of a new five-year, $22 million contract. "He said he wants to be part of what's going on here, and we want him to know we want him here."
Said manager Ron Washington: "We are all accountable to one another. Showing up, that's accountability. Accountability is also about being there for someone else. It just shows you that those guys know what it means to be good teammates and to be accountable."
Hamilton spoke for nearly 40 minutes about his battles with cocaine and crack. He has done it countless times since he first tested positive for illegal drugs in 2002. He said that he has never before had teammates present.
"It made me a little nervous at first to see them," Hamilton said of his teammates. "Honestly, it just makes me, well, it makes me want to be here. Those guys, they are not boisterous or loud; they just go out and play. It makes me want to be part of that."
WHERE, WHEN: Surprise Recreation Campus, Surprise, Ariz.. First exhibition is Feb. 27 vs. Kansas City.
TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE
OF Nelson Cruz is out of options and will have to fight for a spot on the roster. But he's coming off a great Caribbean Series in which he was 11-for-27 (.407) with a homer and three RBI for the winning Licey team. He's still not yet 28 and he's got two plus tools (a power bat and an above-average arm). It's possible he could be a late bloomer.
TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia has toned his body and knows he'll only play catcher, not first base. But he's still going to have to win the job. C Gerald Laird, coming off a terrible year, is only one season removed from hitting .295 and is a more accomplished thrower. If Saltalamacchia struggles this spring, it won't be surprising to see him start the season at Class AAA Oklahoma. The Rangers do have options.
AUTHORITY FIGURES
Ron Washington was 75-87 in his first year as a major league manager. He acknowledged he struggled early in the year with delegating authority and learning the personalities on the team. But the Rangers played better than .500 ball over the final 100 games, and they seemed to understand Washington's philosophy of being opportunistic. It's clearly his team now.
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