Lengthy slump frustrates Rangers' Hamilton
The funk goes on for Josh Hamilton.
The bottom has fallen out of what previously looked like an MVP season.
Once the AL's leader in all three Triple Crown categories, the Texas Rangers outfielder has fallen out of the lead in all three categories now that the Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera has passed him in RBI (82-81). It's just part of what has become an all-out free fall.
Hamilton was hitting .368 heading into June. He has batted .195 since, 78th among 83 AL qualifiers. During the same time, he's compiled a .665 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. His slugging percentage alone for the first two months was higher: .764.
Hamilton showed real frustration with the stretch on Tuesday, slamming his helmet against the rack in the Rangers' dugout after grounding out to second on an inside fastball. It's the kind of pitch he usually drives for extra bases when he's in the right hitting position. It's been a long, long time since he's been there.
"As soon as I threw the helmet, I was like, 'What an idiot I am,'" Hamilton said. "But I was just getting a pitch that I wanted, that I can usually do something with when I'm in a good hitting position. It was inside. I can usually get to it and do something with it."
But, since Hamilton is in what he calls "swing mode," he's often committed to swinging too early and is not able to react the way he usually can. He's been trying for two months to get back from "swing mode" to being able to react to pitches.
"When you get caught in it, there is always a phrase or something that triggers (the proper approach)," Hamilton said. "I haven't heard it or recognized it yet. But I'm not going to make any major changes to the way I swing. I just want to be in the right position."
