The History Of Hamilton.

For Rangers left fielder, Josh Hamilton, few things have come easy. Life, in general, for one. Sobriety as well. But baseball? No way. Baseball has always been Hamilton's escape, the thing that keeps him going in the face of great adversity he experiences while struggling with his drinking problem. Alcoholism is a real disease that millions of people face. Normally, though, these people can quietly deal with it in the comfort of their own home, rather than played out in the media because they're one of the most popular players in Major League Baseball. For Josh Hamilton, few things have come easy.

It starts in 1999. Hamilton, a high school senior at the time, is drafted by the newly created Tampa Bay Devil Rays. His talent and baseball prowess is well known by this point; his hidden addiction is not. He rises through the ranks of the minor league system as all ballplayers do. However, in 2001, he and his parents are injured in a car accident. While the physical injuries aren't major, the psychological ones led to his longstanding alcohol and drug addictions, which haunt him to this day. From then on, he spent most of his time missing games, and the ones he did show up for, he batted poorly and fielded listlessly. In 2004, he was suspended several times for violating MLB's drug policy, and between then and 2006, he did not play baseball at all. For a player so promising, it was an upsetting scene.

Josh's career received a strong revival in Texas, but it began in Cincinnati.

In the 2006 Rule 5 draft, an event in which undrafted prospects or released minor league players may be selected by any of the Major League franchises, the Devil Rays made Hamilton available. He was drafted third overall by the Chicago Cubs, who immediately traded him to the Cincinnati Reds for $100,000. He started the 2007 season with the Reds, and made his presence known. His first big league hit was a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he won the National League Rookie of the Month for April, due to his power at the plate and stellar defense in center field. Even though he was shut out from Rookie of the Year (which he lost to Ryan Braun), it became clear that his abilities that had been so highly advertised over the years were duly noted. However, that didn't stop the Reds from trading him to the Rangers during the 2007-08 offseason.

Since his trade to Texas, Hamilton has become known as one of the best all-around players currently in the game. Unfortunately, his problems have not been solved by his newfound fame. If anything, they have been exacerbated. Twice since being traded, he has slipped and given in to the temptation of alcohol and drugs. The first was in 2009, a year before his most stellar season to date, when photographs surfaced on the internet of Hamilton, shirtless, clearly inebriated and surrounded by women. According to witnesses, he was also heard to ask where he could acquire cocaine, and detailed his plans about going to a strip club later that night. After this ugly incident, he put together a season for the ages in 2010: a .359 batting average (with 32 homers and 100 runs batted in to boot), an ALCS MVP award, the satisfaction of taking the Rangers to their first World Series in franchise history, and even though they didn't win, Hamilton netted his first (and most likely not last) MVP award. It seemed like he was finally back on track, and regardless of injuries plaguing him in 2011, he still helped the Rangers to their second consecutive World Series, providing a timely home run in Game 6 that might have garnered him a World Series MVP had Texas not dropped that game and the next to the Cardinals.

If not for his alcohol addiction, there would be no doubting Hamilton's monstrous abilities.

Sadly, just a few months ago, Hamilton admitted to another relapse. He spent a few hours in a Texas bar and had "2 or 3 drinks" before calling teammate and good friend Ian Kinsler to pick him up. Once Kinsler drove him back to his home, he made Hamilton promise that he wouldn't continue drinking after he left, which Josh agreed to. But addiction is too strong to overcome sometimes, and Hamilton walked to another bar and had a few more drinks before finally retiring. He held a press conference a few days later, and it seems that this put a small strain on his relationship with the Rangers. Hamilton is a free agent after this year, and the debate rages regarding if he's worth the risk. It seems almost ridiculous to even ask: Hamilton, with all his injuries and off-the-field troubles, is still the most talented outfielder around, and if any team isn't willing to take a chance, or offer assistance when he reaches out for help (something the majority of ballplayers wouldn't dream of doing), then they can watch while Hamilton's team leaves them in the dust as the Rangers have done since 2010.

For his part, Hamilton is trying to keep his head down and quietly put together a good season this year in the hopes of not only resigning with the Rangers, but finally delivering them a championship title in their 3rd straight attempt. But the media just won't leave him alone...because he's putting together an absolutely fantastic season: 18 home runs, 45 home runs and a .404 batting average as of this writing, all of which lead the league (he's also leading in slugging, OPS and total bases). The highlight of his season, maybe his entire career, was his 4 home run game a few days ago, which set a single-game American League record 18 bases (Shawn Green holds the MLB record with 19). It's been difficult to ignore Hamilton the past 3 years, but it's become impossible this year. If he can stay healthy and out of trouble with drugs, this might finally be the year that a World Series champion is crowned in the Lone Star State, and Josh may be able to add a few more MVP awards to his already weighed-down mantle.

A Nationals' Treasure.

The season started off better for the Washington Nationals than it ever had, even going back to their time in Montreal as the Expos. After a somewhat slow start, they quickly sped to the top of the National League East division, leaving the usual powerhouses (the Phillies and Braves) in the dust quite handily, where they remain at the time of this post. Up until Sunday, the team was healthy (barring closer Drew Storen and first baseman Michael Morse starting the season on the disabled list, and unfortunately adding right fielder Jayson Werth to that list Sunday projects to hurt more than help), and spirits were high. It didn't seem like things could get much better for the District of Columbia's baseball team.

Then...He came.

Speeding into the hearts of baseball fans everywhere, Bryce brings hope for Washington.

On April 28th, the long wait was finally over. His Holiness, Lord and Savior of the national pastime in the nation's capital, the Chosen One with all his Ruthian talent, Bryce Harper Christ, finally rose from the forgotten wasteland of Triple-A to stun and amaze the masses with His mighty athletic prowess. Even though He only went 1-for-3 in His first big league game, He's certainly made His presence known thus far in a few ways. First, His age immediately brings awe to those who weren't already aware that He is just a few months shy of 20 years old. His form and execution of even routine plays give Him the appearance of a comfortable veteran, even when playing in a stadium for the first time. Second, His attitude seems to have been put in check (to a point), as He's no longer blowing kisses to opposing pitchers who He has mercilessly destroyed or wearing eye black as heavily as He once was. He seems to be calmer, more levelheaded. Perhaps He learned a bit of modesty whilst in the company of His now-teammates during the spring. Whatever it is, He has yet to show the arrogance and flair that is so commonly the folly of youth. Third, and most important, He's already had His first rivalry spring into life, with Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels. And, just like in another story about a certain savior, this is where things get interesting.

The scene: Nationals Ballpark, on a warm spring night, May 6th, 2012. The players: Phillies at Nationals, bottom of the first inning. Cole Hamels, former World Series MVP and the hottest pitching commodity of the 2013 MLB free agent class, stands on the mound. He's allowed no hits, no walks, and is perfect through 2/3 of an inning. Bryce steps to the plate, and Hamels is ready. He knows what he's about to do to Him, and he knows that it's fully intentional, but the public won't know for a few days. He goes into the windup, and throws a 93 MPH fastball that drills His Holiness right in the small of the back. Harper cringes for a moment, taken aback by this slight delivered unto Him. He reaches down to test out His back, to make sure that the hottest prospect in all the land, the One who would grab Washington from the depths of the NL East and raise them to the top, hopefully to stay, would not fall from grace and onto the disabled list. Thankfully, He is Restored, and makes His solemn trot to first base, His body healthy and His mind calm, while Hamels, the Judas from Philadelphia, receives the cursed ball back from catcher Carlos Ruiz, a look of grim but controlled knowing, almost satisfaction, on his face. He realizes what he has done. He realizes that his transgression will not be forgiven. He knows that, for putting Harper's season in danger before it had even truly begun, he would be struck down by the mighty hand of fate (rather, a fastball by Nats hurler Jordan Zimmermann in the 3rd inning). However, he's unaware of what would transpire next.

Just like at the Last Supper, Harper's trust was betrayed by Cole "Judas" Hamels.

The next batter Hamels faces is his old teammate, Jayson Werth (who would also pay for the sins of Cole later when his wrist is broken during a routine play). Werth singles, and delivers Harper to third base, putting Him in scoring position. Hamels knows this is dangerous. He is aware that he's playing with fire by toying with Harper. For Bryce's part, though, He is calm. He is focused. Unlike in another similar story, He will not go down peacefully. His mind is clear, His legs twitching with anticipation. He is waiting for His chance to make Cole pay for what he has done to Him, and He will not miss the opportunity once it arises. Then, just like that, Hamels throws a soft pitch to first baseman Laynce Nix in order to keep Werth in check from stealing. Bingo. Harper lunges into a run, and Hamels can only look on helplessly as Nix, in a feeble attempt to quell the impending payback, fires the ball back to Ruiz. Alas, it is too late. Replays will show that He took a normal lead from third base, as any player in scoring position would do. Hamels was careless, unaware of who he was truly dealing with. Harper began His run to home plate before Cole could even finish his windup to first, showing that this was destined to happen all along. This was not purely payback. Even if Hamels had abstained from his intentional sin, Harper would have taken matters into His own hands. But in the moment, Hamels was stunned. After what he thought would be a simple faux-pickoff attempt, the play turned into one of the most stunning steals since Rickey Henderson. It Is Done.

In the aftermath, Hamels was suspended for 5 games, an almost meaningless punishment for a pitcher who could serve out the entire penalty without even missing a start. For his retaliatory quotes, wherein he called Cole "gutless" and "fake tough", among other things, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was fined an undisclosed amount. For all the hype about His arrogance, Harper has remained silent, keeping His head down while slowly continuing His ascent into the ranks of the all-time greats. He has become the model of modesty in this ugly situation, in stark contrast to the smug punk He was initially painted out to be. What this means for the budding Nationals-Phillies rivalry, for Hamels' free agent stock come the offseason, and baseball as a whole, remains to be seen. But make no mistake: He is Risen. He is Here. And He will not be going away anytime soon. Whether you are a believer, a skeptic, or a Braves fan, you will hear it soon enough: Bryce Harper has arrived. And God (or Bud Selig) saw that it was good.