While Hamilton has talked about missing a few weeks, the Rangers believe he can be back sooner than that. In fact, Texas is holding out hope that their slugger can return by this weekend.

On the season, Hamilton is hitting .270 with ten homers, 49 RBIs and 43 runs. Compared to his near MVP season last year, his numbers this year are disappointing. That said, the Rangers are desperate to get him back in the lineup. As of late, scouts have commented that Hamilton has looked better than he has all season.

Without Hamilton, it’ll be difficult for the Rangers to make the playoffs. As it stands, the Rangers are 76-60 and trail the Boston Red Sox by 2.5 games in the AL Wild Card race.

Josh Hamilton - Texas Rangers (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Now, the team might be without Hamilton for an extended period of time. Struggling with a reocurring injury to his groin, Hamilton will undergo an MRI on Monday to help figure out the extent of the injury. If enough damage is found, the slugger could be headed to the disabled list for the second time this season.

Last year, Hamilton was one of the best stories of the year. He had a .304 ERA wih 32 homers, 130 RBI, 98 runs and 35 doubles. This season, his numbers have dipped — .240 batting average to go along with six homers and 24 RBI.

Even if the MRI doesn’t show much damage, you can expect to see Hamilton playing a lot at DH to give his groin time to heal.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Last season, Hamilton hit .304 to go along with 32 homers, 130 RBI, 98 runs and an on-base percentage of .371. This season, his production wasn’t up to his 2008 standards. In 18 games, he has two homers, ten RBI, eight runs, a batting average of .242 and an on-base percentage of .282.

Prior to bursting onto the scene last season, Hamilton was a highly touted prospect who battled injury, drug use and variety of other off the field problems. Having turned his life around off the field, he was able to live up to his potential on the field.

On the season, the Rangers are off to a solid start. They are currently 14-12 and in second place in the AL West, only .5 games back of the Seattle Mariners.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

5. Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox
Carlos Quentin had a rule shot at this award until he broke his hand in a freak incident. After fouling off a pitch, Quentin hit his bat with his wrist and ended up breaking his wrist — and his chance at the AL MVP.

4. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Each and every season, you can go ahead and pen Alex Rodriguez’s name as a candidate for the American League MVP. This year his stats are once again very good and he’s especially hot as of late, but he doesn’t quite have the numbers this year to be a legit contender.

3. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
Not only are Justin Morneau’s numbers very good, he’s on a winning team that isn’t supposed to be a playoff contender. Morneau still has a shot at this award but he’ll need a red hot finish to the season and for the Twins to advance to the postseason.

2. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
Many league pundits are leaning toward Dustin Pedroai as AL MVP and while he’s not a bad candidate, I don’t quite have him on top of the pile. However, there is no question that without Pedroai, the Red Sox would be in a world of hurt.

1. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
The Josh Hamilton story is in need of a storybook ending — and the American League Most Valuable Player award certainly can put a ribbon on his breakthrough season. Hamilton has had the best stats for almost the entire season. The Rangers aren’t winning much but Hamilton has led Texas to a better than expected finish.

Can Josh Hamilton end his season with the 2008 AL MVP award?

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

I’m an admitted bandwagon baseball fan. I love the sport of baseball but I don’t love any specific team. The last team I loved was the Montreal Expos — and we all saw what happened to the Expos. However, each year I latch on to a few teams and watch those teams a little bit more. Who are my favorite baseball teams in 2008?

Los Angeles Dodgers
The combination of Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez trying to climb the mountain all the way to the World Series is a good story. Those two long-time rivals are now fighting for the same cause on the other side of the country.

Chicago Cubs
The lovable losers are actually winners this year. This is one of the best Chicago Cubs teams in a long time. If the Cubs are ever going to end their World Series drought, wouldn’t this be the perfect year?

Texas Rangers
The Josh Hamilton story is just too cool not to follow. Hamilton has gone from heroin to hero in record time. Although the Rangers don’t have much of a chance to make the postseason, they have an puncher’s shot.

Tampa Bay Rays
Who can’t love what the Tampa Bay Rays are doing. In years past, the Devil Rays were one of the worst franchises of all-time. Seemingly overnight, the Rays are now making a run at the American League playoffs.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

• Ryan from College Fast Break tells us how he enjoys the summer without college basketball.
• David from Every Morning Quarterback discusses how summer vacation is over … at least for NFL players.
• Jodie at Gossip on Sports chats about how Dwyane Wade almost ruined her day at the beach.
• Cherie from Dejuiced talks about her summer fun as baseball leads up to pre-season football and then college football.
• Lyndsey at Girls Dig Sports tell us about her good times at the Gus Macker national 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
• Sandy at Green Posse talks about the British Open which begins on July 17th. She also discusses the ultimate sports fun this summer – the Beijing Olympics on Light The Torch.
• Tony at Inside the Ballpark talks about the Midsummer Classic and his experience at the All-Star break festivities back in 2005.
• Michael from Jab & Grapple loves WWE’s SummerSlam and reminisces back to the first SummerSlam back in 1988.
• Jeanne at Hockey Beat tells us ways to enjoy hockey during the summertime.
• Stephen at Hoops Fantasy discusses the fun of NBA Summer League. He also talks about the Home Run Derby over at Knuckle Curve.
• Jyle loves about kicking around a soccer ball at The Footie and wearing your favorite pair of sneakers at Sneaks ‘N Gear.
• Kori at The Fantasy Kickoff talks about preparing for your fantasy draft in the summertime.

What are you doing for fun this summer? Visit one of the b5 sports blogs and let us know about your sports summer fun.

Photo credit: istockphoto

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Josh Hamilton didn’t win the Home Run Derby. Hamilton, however, did steal the show. The Texas Rangers outfielder hit 28 homers in the first round to set a new all-time record. Hamilton had a number of blasts over 500 feet that were just stunning to watch.

If you are a baseball fan, you owe it to yourself to watch this epic Hamilton Home Run Derby video. Hamilton, who we named as the AL MVP at midseason, is just an amazing story. If you don’t know the Hamilton story, read our Josh Hamilton biography. He’s gone from out of baseball to arguably becoming the best hitter in baseball.

Here is the Josh Hamilton video:

Post from: Knuckle Curve

NL MVP – Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Sure, the Astros are a bad team and chances are slim that they will make the playoffs. That said, Berkman is having a career year and is the best hitter in the NL to date this season.

AL Cy Young – Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Mariano Rivera might be having his best season in his career but Lee has been amazing. His 12-2 record is very impressive, as is his 2.31 ERA. Lee was nothing special until this year but now the Cleveland ace is making a name for himself.

NL Cy Young – Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds
Josh Hamilton is playing amazing baseball for the Texas Rangers, however the Reds have to be happy with their offseason move. The Reds got Volquez from the Rangers and he has consistently been the best pitcher in the NL this season.

AL Rookie of the Year – Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
One day soon, Evan Longoria might become more famous than Eva Longoria. He’s the clear cut rookie of the year in the AL — and it’s not even close. He has exceeded all the hype he had coming into the season.

NL Rookie of the Year – Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
A lot of players on the Cubs are getting notoriety this season but one can argue that Soto is the most valuable player on Chicago’s roster. He has stepped in as a rookie and is playing great baseball.

Is Geovany Soto the best player on the Cubs?

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Hamilton’s baseball journey started when he was the first overall pick of the 1999 baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2001, Hamilton was in a car accident and at that point started experimenting with drugs. He played sparingly in 2001 due to injuries and drug use. Between 2002 and 2006, Hamilton didn’t play baseball at all. He failed numerous drug tests and had many failed stints in rehab.

In 2006, Hamilton started getting his life back in order and started playing baseball again. He finally made it to the big leagues in 2007 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. However, during the offseason, Hamilton was traded to the Texas Rangers.

In 2008, Hamilton has been tremendous. He’s leading the American League in homers (19) and RBIs (76), while posting a .312 batting average. Hamilton is now clean, sober and playing the best baseball of his life. He’s truly the ultimate feel good story in baseball this season. And if he keeps it up, he could cap off his story with an AL MVP award.

Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is proving there is hope for everyone.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Can Chipper Jones hit .400?

2. Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Lance Berkman has long had the talent to be one of the best hitters in baseball. This season, he seems to have put it all together. He’s hitting .366 with 19 homers and 57 RBIs for the Astros. If he remains hot, he could find himself in the middle of the MVP race.

3. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Josh Hamilton has gone from feel-good story to great baseball player. He’s surpassed all expectations and is simply having a fantastic year. He’s leading the AL in both homers and RBIs. Currently, Hamilton is batting .316 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs.

4. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Chase Utley is leading the NL in both homers and RBIs, much like Hamilton in the AL. Utley has a batting average of .313 to go with 21 homers and 58 RBIs. This season, he has taken over as the best player on the very talented Phillies roster.

5. Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox
Outside of Hamilton, Carlos Quentin has the best power numbers in the AL. Although he is only hitting .277, he has 16 homers and 54 RBIs. He’s second in the AL in both homers and RBIs at the moment.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve