Mike Scioscia: Josh Hamilton is “not the same player” he was with the Rangers

Angels manager Mike Scioscia wasn’t very complimentary of outfielder Josh Hamilton, as Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News reports. Hamilton went 1-for-4 with a double and three strikesouts in Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Rangers, a day after going 1-for-5 with a single and four strikeouts in another 5-4 win over the Rangers.

Here’s what Scioscia had to say about his outfielder:

“Josh is not the same that we saw when we were looking at the other dugout,” Scioscia said. “He’s not in the batter’s box with the confidence we know he has. He’s not attacking the ball like he can. He’s working hard to try to find it …but we need him to do what he’s capable of doing, or close to that.”

Hamilton entered Sunday’s action with only eight home runs, 35 RBI, and a .266/.339/.414 slash line in 313 plate appearances. The 33-year-old veteran missed about two months of the season between early April and early June after undergoing surgery on the UCL ligament in his left thumb. Hamilton has been underwhelming in two seasons with the Angels after signing a five-year, $125 million contract in December 2012.

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