Josh Hamilton: Injured MVP Still Can't Swing a Bat

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Josh Hamilton Won't Put a Timetable on Return from Broken Shoulder

With Josh Hamilton, the Texas Rangers were practically unbeatable in the early goings of the 2011 season. Heading into an April 12 matchup against the Detroit Tigers, the Rangers had won nine of their first 10 games, and there was no question that they were the best team in baseball.

Unfortunately, reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton broke his right shoulder sliding headfirst into home on a controversial tag-up play in the first inning of that game against the Tigers. The Rangers went on to lose 5-4, and they've only won three of eight games since.

Needless to say, the Rangers could use Hamilton back. But according to a report from the Associated Press, it's still up in the air when Hamilton might be able to return.

Hamilton, who was projected to be out as long as two months, says he can run and throw okay, but he still can't swing a bat.

"He's feeling better. His biggest problem is finishing," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "As far as all his other movements, it's great. But the finish is the thing."

As for the man himself, Hamilton refused to put a timetable on his return. All he can really do is stay the course.

"I'm not going to say ahead of schedule or behind schedule or anything,"said Hamilton before the Rangers win over the Royals on Friday . "The more I can use it in everyday life and try to get back to normal, the better it's going to be, the faster it's going to be."

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Because the Rangers have struggled without their three-time All-Star left fielder, the question is naturally whether or not the other players on the team might be pressing a little bit.

"The only person who can tell you if a guy is trying too hard are the guys who are out there. But I don't see it," said Washington. "I see that we're facing good pitching."

As for whether or not the Rangers miss having Hamilton in the lineup, Washington didn't attempt to sugarcoat it.

"Do we miss Hamilton? Darn right," he said.

Before his injury, Hamilton was hitting .333 with no home runs and seven RBIs. He led the American League with a .359 average in 2010, and also added 32 home runs and 100 RBIs on his way to winning the AL MVP. The Rangers eventually lost to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series.

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