SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton went into his press conference Friday with a game plan to talk just about baseball, teammates and the upcoming season.
He then spent the next 30 minutes primarily talking about his recovery from his latest alcohol relapse, mixing in five readings from the Bible along the way.
It hasn't been an easy process for Hamilton, but one that has given him some clarity about his struggles and a plan for moving forward. Always an open book with the media and his teammates, Hamilton believes his ability to communicate with his family is the key to avoiding the abuse issues that have plagued him throughout his professional career.
"Things are going really good," said Hamilton, who answered questions from the media for the first time since he drank at a Dallas bar in late January. "Over the last three weeks everything's been better. As far as the fact of really focusing on my family, my relationship with Christ, talking to the Lord and really hearing him and not talking so much. Don't get me wrong, this is going to be an ongoing process until the day I die."
Hamilton said the main part of the process is focusing on his relationship with his wife Katie and his four daughters. Hamilton said he had a tendency to shut down away from the ballpark and he's made an effort to be a better communicator with his family. He's done that through both individual counseling and joint counseling with his wife.
Hamilton said he's talked in counseling about things from as far back as his childhood and has tried to find the issues that have held him back. He said he doesn't want to put a Band-Aid on the problem but wants to figure out the reason he's had two relapses since 2009.
He knows that his main commitment has to be to his family.
"This isn't about baseball," said Hamilton, who also met with doctors from Major League Baseball in the week following his latest relapse and continues to get regular drug tests. "It's about how many more years I've got left to play and what's going to go on, what's going to happen after I play the game. This is a life thing. It's not a baseball thing."
It's that kind of openness and candor that his teammates appreciate.
"Josh is in a very unique position as a person," said second baseman Ian Kinsler, who spent some time with Hamilton the night he was drinking in January. "He's been very open with all of you (the media) and the fans. I think he deserves lot of respect for that."
While Hamilton has found support from counseling and at home, he also has it within the Texas clubhouse.
That hasn't changed despite his setback.
"He's going to get prepared for the season and compete and that's what we're all about and that's what he's all about," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "We're going to support him. We've done that since he's been here and we'll keep doing that."
Hamilton said Friday that he doesn't want there to be any more distractions in spring training, although that's become the norm for a team that had to deal with Washington's cocaine admission in 2010 and Michael Young's trade demands heading into last year's camp.
He doesn't expect his uncertain future to be an issue either.
Hamilton knows baseball is a big part of his life and that he's in the final year of his contract with the Rangers. General manager Jon Daniels said the team has tabled talks about a new deal in the wake of Hamilton's relapse. Hamilton made it clear Friday he'd still like to play with the Rangers after 2012.
"I've done a lot of good here and they've been good to me too," said Hamilton, who feels well physically after offseason surgery for a hernia and to repair three abductor muscles. "There are always ways to work things out. I'm not stressing over a long-term contract because I know I'll be playing baseball."
Hamilton, who hit .298 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI in 121 games in 2011, said he trusts his agent Michael Moye with his contract and doesn't think his relapse means he has to take the first contract the Rangers may offer him.
He also said he doesn't feel like he owes the Rangers anything and that they knew the risk they were taking when they traded for him in 2008.
"The Rangers have done a lot for me," said Hamilton, whose current deal is for two years, $24 million. "I've got a question for you all, 'Have I done a lot for the Rangers?' I think I've given them everything I have and I don't think anyone can say I haven't. When it comes down to it, people don't understand, fans don't understand. This is a business. This is an entertainment business. I love Texas. I love my fans. I love the fans of the Rangers. I love my teammates. I love my organization. I love everything about it but I'm not going to sit here and say I owe the Rangers because I don't feel like I owe the Rangers."
While that may not be the news some fans of the club want to hear, the 2010 Most Valuable Player did give them a big reason for him to pull in his battle against addiction and being a better communicator with his family.
"When it's right at home, this is going to be real good here (the ballpark)," Hamilton said.
