Mike Scioscia says Josh Hamilton isn’t getting the help he needs
After having a meeting with Josh Hamilton in Houston, Angels manager Mike Scioscia is concerned about outfielder Josh Hamilton.
With the Los Angeles Angels in Houston for a weekend set with the Astros, manager Mike Scioscia decided to meet with outfielder Josh Hamilton, who the team has distanced themselves from since Hamilton had another relapse with drugs and alcohol.
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According to Mike DiGiovanna, Angels beat writer for the Los Angeles Times, Angels bench coach Dino Ebel, who was with Scioscia at the meeting, said that the meeting went well.
However, all is not well as Angels manager Mike Scioscia is concerned with the well-being of Hamilton.
Scioscia isn’t quite sure that Hamilton is getting the help that he needs while he is in Houston and away from the team.
"[Scioscia] said there’s still “no clarity that he’s getting the help he needs.”“That’s a major concern,” Scioscia told MLBNetwork Radio on Friday morning, roughly nine hours before the series opener against the Astros from Minute Maid Park.[Scioscia] said there’s still “no clarity that he’s getting the help he needs.”“That’s a major concern,” Scioscia told MLBNetwork Radio on Friday morning, roughly nine hours before the series opener against the Astros from Minute Maid Park."
Scioscia’s words are very concerning. If Hamilton isn’t getting the help he needs, then it makes the uphill climb of overcoming substance abuse issues even more difficult.
The saga of Josh Hamilton and the Angels is heading straight for a sad ending. The team has removed almost any semblance of his name from the ballpark and the team appears to be distancing themselves from the troubled outfielder.
Whether the organization has supported Hamilton during his time of relapse is another story as well.
Hamilton’s state on the roster is in limbo, while he wasn’t suspended by the league, he is still a paid member of the team and is eligible to be with the Angels, but the team has made it clear through their actions that they are moving on
After a successful stint with the Texas Rangers, where the team appeared in the World Series twice, has not had the same success with the Angels and has struggled mightily after signing a $125 million contract.
Had Hamilton been suspended, the Angels would have received a tremendous amount of salary relief. The fact that he wasn’t, makes this situation even more of a mess for both sides and certainly no one is going to trade for his contract.
The Angels don’t have many options left, they can either just cut Hamilton and move on, or hope he can overcome his issues and finish out his contract.
At this point, the latter doesn’t seem very likely, and the manager’s comments sure make it seem like Hamilton is still in need of help.
[H/T: HardballTalk, Mike DiGiovanna]
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