Hamilton still unsure about his return
Josh Hamilton’s MVP-like season has meant everything to the Texas Rangers. They’re on the verge of their first AL West pennant with just over three weeks left in the season, but Hamilton has been out with a knee injury and bruised ribs. He bruised his ribs while crashing into the wall in a game against Minnesota last week when trying to make a catch. The Rangers still hold a comfortable lead in the division but they will need Hamilton back for the playoffs.
Hamilton has barely done any baseball-related activity since the injury. X-Rays have come back negative and Hamilton will continue seeing doctors as he tries to get better. But in the time he's been gone
"I'm doing everything I possibly can to get better," said Hamilton "I'll see a chiropractor in the morning and see if he can move some things around."
Hamilton is the leading hitter in baseball with a .361 batting average. He also has 31 home runs and 97 RBIs. Due to his impressive numbers and the Rangers unbelievable season, Hamilton is the AL favourite to win the MVP award. His presence in the lineup means a lot to the Rangers and while they’d like him back as soon as possible, they can’t rush his return. They may need him to finish strong, but they’ll need him even more when October rolls around and can’t risk him aggravating his injury. While the Rangers are in the driver seat in their playoff race, Hamilton is not convinced all is won.
"For me, there's always urgency," Hamilton said. "I want to be in there and help the team finish out the season and get to the playoffs. I'm not going to count on that we're going to make it. We've got to battle and fight through the rest of the season to get there. I'm not taking anything for granted."
The important thing is for the Rangers to stay focused on their playoff run and let Hamilton recover. If they start to struggle then you have to wonder if Hamilton will feel pressured to return before he’s ready. Texas still have some power in their lineup with Vladimir Guerrero, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz. The Rangers will also need some steady pitching down the stretch to shut down the high-powered teams of the American League.
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