Manager Ron Washington said Friday that nothing has changed with Josh Hamilton. It's a nice way of saying Hamilton, the Rangers center fielder, is still in pain.
Hamilton told reporters before Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday night that if
wholesale jerseys from chinathis were the regular season, he'd be on the disabled list, letting his strained groin muscle heal.
This isn't June 22, however, it's Oct. 22. Game 3 of the World Series is tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, and the best-of-seven series is tied between Texas and St. Louis at one victory apiece.
Hamilton has been playing with the strained groin for the past month and a half. In
cheap nhl jerseys the postseason, it has robbed him of his power, turning last year's AL MVP into a slap hitter, someone searching for a swing that doesn't hurt.
The media has asked Hamilton so many questions about the injury that he finally said Thursday: "It's going to hurt until the season is over. So it's a nonissue as far as talking about it. So stop asking me, please."
Another nonissue is that, as long as Hamilton can walk, he's going to play as long as the World Series lasts. Not only that, he's going to continue to hit third.
"Even if Hamilton doesn't do anything, he makes a difference just with his presence in our lineup," said Washington before Game 2 on Thursday. "I want his presence in it."
Washington added, "Don't be surprised if he comes up big, because I certainly won't."
Hamilton didn't do anything in his first three at-bats,
nba jerseys cheap shattering his bat in the first inning on a grounder to short and barely running to first base, flying out to left field in the fourth and striking out in the seventh. In the ninth, with the Cardinals winning, 1-0, and runners on second and third, Hamilton hit the first pitch he saw from veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes to right fielder Lance Berkman for a game-tying sacrifice fly.
Just as important, Elvis Andrus advanced from second to third, and he scored the eventual game-winning run on Michael Young's sacrifice fly. The Rangers' 2-1 victory sent them home with the series tied and Washington's prediction about Hamilton ringing true.
"All I can say is that I know my players better than you guys,
NFL Jerseys Cheap" Washington said after the game. "The nine guys I put out there on the field, those are the nine guys that got me here. We're going to deal with them through good times and bad times.
"If Hamilton tells me he can play, I'm putting him in the field."
St. Louis closer Jason Motte started the ninth with a 1-0 lead. Motte, who throws close to 100 mph, gave up a bloop single to Ian Kinsler to start the inning. Kinsler stole second, and Andrus singled him to third. Andrus continued to second when first baseman Albert Pujols committed an error when he mishandled center fielder Jon Jay's relay throw near the mound.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa replaced Motte with Rhodes, who
cheap nfl jerseys had retired Hamilton on a fly ball to center in Game 1.
"I figured he'd stay with Motte, to be honest," Hamilton said. "A guy who throws close to 100, rather than bring in Rhodesy, who throws 89. But he didn't. I don't get paid to make those decisions, and I'm glad he made that one."
Still, the questions kept coming about the injury.
Is he taking any painkilling injections to deal it?
"I plead the fifth," Hamilton said.
How does the injury specifically limit your swing?
http://welovenun.webgoo.us/t6-topic"If I tell you, then the Cardinals might know how to pitch me," Hamilton said. "So I'm not telling you."
Hamilton is 0-for-7 in the World Series. In the postseason, he's hitting .250 (12-for-48), with no homers and eight RBI.
"He still scares you when he's in the lineup," La Russa said.
Hamilton showed why Thursday night.
