Josh Hamilton went 0-for-4 yesterday and is now hitting .216 with a .657 OPS and 61 strikeouts through 56 games for the Angels.
Asked after his latest 0-for whether he’s gotten off to a slow start like this before Hamilton replied: “Never, ever--from the first time I picked up a ball to now, no.”
Hamilton also expressed confidence that he’ll get things turned around, telling Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com:
Take a poll of every player in this clubhouse and see if I’m going to come out of it or not. The proof is in what’s gone on in the past. I’ve struggled at times and always come out of it.
I’d actually be sort of fascinated to see the result of such a poll, if it were somehow possible to conduct it while getting truthful answers of course. Seems like a pretty good bet that at least a few of Hamilton’s new teammates are skeptical about him returning to the level that got him a five-year, $125 million contract from the Angels.