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Josh Hamilton: Rangers fans spoiled
Updated: February 18, 2013, 1:19 PM ET
By Richard Durrett | ESPNDallas.com
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SURPRISE, Ariz. Former Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton said the Dallas-Fort Worth area is not a true baseball town, in an interview with the DFW CBS television station on Sunday.
"There are true baseball fans in Texas, but it's not a true baseball town," said Hamilton, who while with the Rangers was booed during the AL wild-card loss to Baltimore at the end of last season.
Durrett: Boos Surely Will Await, Now
Josh Hamilton did a lot for the Rangers while he was here, but he should expect a cascade of boos upon his return with the Angels on April 5, Richard Durrett writes. Blog
Hamilton, who signed a five-year $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this offseason, said that Dallas has "always been a football town."
"They're supportive," Hamilton said about the fans, "but they also got a little spoiled at the same time pretty quickly."
Hamilton added: "You think about three to four years ago (before two straight World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011). It's like, come on man, are you happier there again?"
Rangers manager Ron Washington didn't want to say too much about Hamilton's comments.
"I'm not answering anything that Josh said," Washington said. "That's Josh. Josh is an Angel. That's Josh's opinion. My opinion is there were 3.5 million fans that came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there."
Hamilton's 2012 season ended in disappointing fashion, mirroring the Rangers' collapse. The club had a six-game lead over the Oakland A's in the AL West with nine games to play and couldn't hold it.
He dropped what appeared to be a routine fly ball in center field in a tie game in the final game of the season, won by the A's to claim the division. And he was 0-for-4 and saw a total of eight pitches in the AL wild-card loss to Baltimore. Some fans booed Hamilton after he struck out in his final at-bat.
He was asked in the interview what the reaction for Rangers' fans might be when he comes to the plate for the first time in Arlington wearing an Angels uniform on Friday, April 5.
"It will be mixed feelings from the crowd," Hamilton said. "People who really get it will cheer and the people who don't will boo. Either way, I'll do what I got to do to help my team win."
Updated: February 18, 2013, 1:19 PM ET
By Richard Durrett | ESPNDallas.com
457
192
51
SURPRISE, Ariz. Former Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton said the Dallas-Fort Worth area is not a true baseball town, in an interview with the DFW CBS television station on Sunday.
"There are true baseball fans in Texas, but it's not a true baseball town," said Hamilton, who while with the Rangers was booed during the AL wild-card loss to Baltimore at the end of last season.
Durrett: Boos Surely Will Await, Now
Josh Hamilton did a lot for the Rangers while he was here, but he should expect a cascade of boos upon his return with the Angels on April 5, Richard Durrett writes. Blog
Hamilton, who signed a five-year $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this offseason, said that Dallas has "always been a football town."
"They're supportive," Hamilton said about the fans, "but they also got a little spoiled at the same time pretty quickly."
Hamilton added: "You think about three to four years ago (before two straight World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011). It's like, come on man, are you happier there again?"
Rangers manager Ron Washington didn't want to say too much about Hamilton's comments.
"I'm not answering anything that Josh said," Washington said. "That's Josh. Josh is an Angel. That's Josh's opinion. My opinion is there were 3.5 million fans that came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there."
Hamilton's 2012 season ended in disappointing fashion, mirroring the Rangers' collapse. The club had a six-game lead over the Oakland A's in the AL West with nine games to play and couldn't hold it.
He dropped what appeared to be a routine fly ball in center field in a tie game in the final game of the season, won by the A's to claim the division. And he was 0-for-4 and saw a total of eight pitches in the AL wild-card loss to Baltimore. Some fans booed Hamilton after he struck out in his final at-bat.
He was asked in the interview what the reaction for Rangers' fans might be when he comes to the plate for the first time in Arlington wearing an Angels uniform on Friday, April 5.
"It will be mixed feelings from the crowd," Hamilton said. "People who really get it will cheer and the people who don't will boo. Either way, I'll do what I got to do to help my team win."
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