Hamilton returns to Tampa
Josh Hamilton was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays with the first overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft. He was a can’t-miss prospect with triple-crown potential.
Nine years later, Hamilton is finally about to show his skills at the Rays’ home park. He’ll be wearing a Texas Rangers’ uniform.
After a career detour that included injuries and addictions to cocaine and alcohol that kept him off the field from 2003-05, Hamilton went 0 for 4 in Monday night’s game against the Rays. He is fourth in the A.L. with a .327 average, second in home runs with 12, and has a league-best 53 RBIs.
“There’s a lot of history here with me, but at the same time, it’s a different team,” Hamilton said. “I’ve got to focus on playing ball. It’s a little weird seeing and facing some of the guys I’ve seen before.”
•Rangers infielder Hank Blalock, who has been taking medication for carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist, will return to Texas for an examination today.
Blalock may go out on a minor league rehab assignment before being activated from the disabled list.
Randolph survives meetings
Willie Randolph remains manager of the New York Mets after a much-anticipated meeting with team ownership.
Randolph sat down with owner Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, the club’s chief operating officer, as well as general manager Omar Minaya to discuss two things in particular: the team’s sluggish play, and Randolph’s comments last week about his portrayal on Mets broadcasts in which he raised the issue of race.
“Willie has my support. He has the support of our ownership,” Minaya said. “Willie’s job was never in danger going into this meeting.”
Nixon appearing in Tucson
The roar of adoring crowds of Fenway Park has been replaced by a smattering of applause in Triple-A Tucson.
Trot Nixon, once the epitome of Boston Red Sox grit and determination, is toiling for the Tucson Sidewinders and hoping at age 34 for another shot at the big leagues.
If it’s not with Sidewinders’ parent club, the Arizona Diamondbacks, then somewhere else, and he doesn’t know why he hasn’t gotten a call.
“You can ask why all day long, and you may never find the answer,” Nixon said. “You just keep plugging away and doing what you can to help the team win ballgames, and let that decision be made by other front offices.”
Nixon is hitting .302 for the Sidewinders with 25 RBIs. He hit his seventh home run of the season Sunday in a 6-4 loss to Sacramento.
He is the oldest player on a roster mostly made up of youngsters trying to make it to the majors for the first time.
Trachsel skipped again
Steve Trachsel will again be skipped in the Baltimore Orioles’ rotation, the result of his poor numbers and an off day on Thursday.
Trachsel ended a 14-day layoff in unimpressive fashion Saturday, allowing nine runs in 12/3 innings in an 11-4 loss to Tampa Bay. He’s 2-5 with an 8.82 ERA, which makes it easy for manager Dave Trembley to make the right-hander the odd-man out.