Hamilton, Rangers talk about drinking incident

ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton said Friday he wished that the hastily called press conference set up at Rangers Ballpark was to discuss a contract extension.

Unfortunately for Hamilton and the Rangers, the circumstances were much different.

Hamilton admitted he was out drinking in Dallas Monday, suffering a setback in battle against addiction.

"It was just wrong," Hamilton said. "That's all it comes down to. I needed to be in a different place. I needed to be responsible at that moment, that day, period. And I was not responsible, so those actions of mine have hurt a lot of people very close to me."

Hamilton said personal reasons with a family member led him to the point where Hamilton was at a Dallas restaurant having dinner. He said he had three or four drinks and then called teammate Ian Kinsler to hang out with him.

Hamilton said Kinsler did not know Hamilton had been drinking because Hamilton can be deceptive and sneaky when he drinks. Hamilton said he did not drink in front of Kinsler but the two of them went to a Sherlock's Baker Street Pub & Grill when the restaurant was closing.

Hamilton said the two of them talked about baseball, family and life and then Kinsler went home after about 25 or 30 minutes. Kinsler drove Hamilton to his car and Hamilton said he was going home, which he did not. He went back to the bar and continued to drink.

He said there were things that happened after he drank that he's not proud of, but did not elaborate. Drugs were not involved.

"I've had two drug tests since Monday, so I have no concerns there at all," he said. "But anytime I drink, there's a point that comes where a switch flips and you never know when that point's going to be reached — whether it's the first three or four, or the 15th. And that's what's so dangerous about it."

Hamilton, who did not answer questions in the 12-minute press conference, did not have a prepared speech.

He thanked his wife Katie for her support as well as the Texas organization. General manager Jon Daniels was out of town but assistant GM Thad Levine was at the press conference. No Rangers players attended.

"I don't want you guys — knowing everybody out there who's watching or going to read about this — to think 'he's fine with it, he's not hurt by it'," Hamilton said. "Well, I am hurt by it tremendously. More so for my wife and my kids and the Rangers organization. They've been nothing but great. I appreciate everything they've done, supporting me. It's just awesome to be able to work for somebody that really cares for you and not just what you can do for them and they've been great for my family."

The club was informed of the incident Tuesday morning by Hamilton's agent Michael Moye.  Daniels has talked with both Hamilton and Kinsler about what happened. Hamilton can be a free agent after the season and general manager Jon Daniels said last month that the Rangers hoped to sign Hamilton to an extension.

Contract talks were the least of Daniels' concerns Friday.

"There are a number of emotions, a number of thoughts," said Daniels in a conference call. "We talk a lot about how we view ourselves as a family. When someone in your family has a mistake, however you want to term it, there are a lot of emotions involved. One was disappointment, but the overriding emotion was concern for Josh and for his family."

Hamilton said he will fly to New York soon to meet with Major League Baseball as well as doctors for MLB and the players. Daniels said the Rangers would wait until after those meetings to see if the team would impose any penalties against Hamilton.

Hamilton would have likely been in the news soon without his second January relapse in the last three years. The team was nearing a decision on a new accountability partner for him.

Hamilton has been without one since Johnny Narron left the team to take the hitting coach job in Milwaukee. Hamilton's father-in-law, Michael Dean Chadwick, was slated to take over that role but pulled out because of family considerations in North Carolina.
   
Daniels didn't think having an accountability partner would have prevented what happened Monday because that person normally works with Hamilton during the season. Daniels expects a new person for that role to be named next week.

Hamilton, who was suspended by baseball for nearly three years because of substance and alcohol abuse, had his first relapse in January of 2009. He was photographed drinking in an Arizona bar before spring training.

Hamilton was not punished by MLB or the Rangers for that incident. Friday he sounded more concerned about his family than baseball.

"I put my wife through a lot in our marriage and she's a very strong woman," he said. "It's about time I became the strong one in the relationship, take responsibility and take the lead in making choices, making decisions and stepping up and being the man I'm supposed to be and not continue to hurt her, put my kids in situations where they might hear things. It's not a good situation for anybody."