Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton signs autographs after a spring training practice in Tempe, Ariz. Hamilton and the Angels play their first spring training game on Feb. 23. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)
Tags - Texas
- Los Angeles Angels
- Josh Hamilton
- Texas Rangers
- Angel
- Ron Washington
- Dallas
- Josh Hamilton
Texas Rangers fans have April 5 circled on their calendar.
Why? It's just the third game of the regular season, but the first time Josh Hamilton returns to Arlington, Texas.
The beloved Hamilton who resurrected his career with Texas departed in the offseason as a free agent and signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the rival Los Angeles Angels.
HAMILTON: New Angel hams it up for Pujols, Trout
Not exactly endearing to Rangers fans. Then this:
"Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town," he said in an interview with Gina Miller of CBS 11. "They're supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly. There's true baseball fans in Texas but it's not a true baseball town." Hamilton certainly didn't win any Rangers fans back with that comment. Nor did manager Ron Washington take the bait.
"I'm not answering anything that Josh said," Washington said. "That's Josh. Josh is an Anaheim Angel. That's Josh's opinion. "There were 3.5 million fans who came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there." Washington was referring to the attendance record the Rangers set last season, drawing 3,460,280 fans.
Thanks to Hamilton, the rivalry just got a bit more heated.
PHOTOS: Scenes from spring training
Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones gets ready to take batting practice at a spring training practice. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Kansas City Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur chases a ball during a spring training workout. Charlie Riedel, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
San Francisco Giants first baseman Brett Pill scoops a ball out of the dirt. Darron Cummings, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Pena throws at a workout. David J. Phillip, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett catches a ball as he hits infield practice. Charlie Riedel, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy throws at spring training. Darron Cummings, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler watches batting practice at spring training. Charlie Riedel, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks takes batting practice. Morry Gash, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval fields a bouncing ball during spring training. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers catches a ball during spring training in Phoenix on Feb. 15, 2013. Paul Sancya, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Philadelphia Phillies' Jacob Diekman exercises during a workout at spring training Feb. 17, 2013, in Clearwater, Fla. Matt Slocum, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Los Angeles Angels players, from left, Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols attend a news conference in Tempe, Ariz. Morry Gash, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera wipes his face as he joins Blue Jays third base coach Luis Rivera, right, to address the media. Nathan Denette, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
White Sox pitchers stretch during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Rick Scuteri, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Yankees pitchers Andy Pettitte (left) and CC Sabathia run in the rain during spring training at Steinbrenner Field. The Star-Ledger Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Chicago Cubs' pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa throws during a workout in Mesa, Ariz. Morry Gash, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana stretches during spring training at Tradition Field. Brad Barr, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder hops off a golf cart after arriving for a spring training workout in Lakeland, Fla. Charlie Neibergall, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Atlanta Braves infielder Ramiro Pena prepares to take batting practice during a workout in Kissimmee, Fla. David J. Phillip, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli works out during spring training at Steinbrenner Field. The Star-Ledger Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera rests after a workout in Tampa. Matt Slocum, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Pirates warm up during a workout session at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias loses the ball as he crashes into a screen in Fort Myers, Fla. Chris O'Meara, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
New York Mets manager Terry Collins, talks to 1-year-old Bentley DiToro, carried by his grandfather Charlie DiToro, of Palm City, Fla., during the team's first pitchers and catchers workout in Port St. Lucie. Julio Cortez, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Miami Marlins pitcher Edgar Olmos, left, runs sprints while pitcher Jose Ceda throws in Jupiter, Fla. Julio Cortez, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina gestures to fans as J.R. Towles looks in Jupiter, Fla. Julio Cortez, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Angels pitcher Jered Weaver throws at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Detailed view of a baseball in the dirt during Angels camp at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers fans have April 5 circled on their calendar.
Why? It's just the third game of the regular season, but the first time Josh Hamilton returns to Arlington, Texas.
The beloved Hamilton who resurrected his career with Texas departed in the offseason as a free agent and signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the rival Los Angeles Angels.
HAMILTON: New Angel hams it up for Pujols, Trout
Not exactly endearing to Rangers fans. Then this:
"Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town," he said in an interview with Gina Miller of CBS 11. "They're supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly. There's true baseball fans in Texas but it's not a true baseball town."Hamilton certainly didn't win any Rangers fans back with that comment. Nor did manager Ron Washington take the bait.
"I'm not answering anything that Josh said," Washington said. "That's Josh. Josh is an Anaheim Angel. That's Josh's opinion."There were 3.5 million fans who came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there."Washington was referring to the attendance record the Rangers set last season, drawing 3,460,280 fans.
Thanks to Hamilton, the rivalry just got a bit more heated.
PHOTOS: Scenes from spring training
Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones gets ready to take batting practice at a spring training practice. Kim Klement, USA TODAY SportsRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Kansas City Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur chases a ball during a spring training workout. Charlie Riedel, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
San Francisco Giants first baseman Brett Pill scoops a ball out of the dirt. Darron Cummings, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Pena throws at a workout. David J. Phillip, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett catches a ball as he hits infield practice. Charlie Riedel, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy throws at spring training. Darron Cummings, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler watches batting practice at spring training. Charlie Riedel, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks takes batting practice. Morry Gash, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval fields a bouncing ball during spring training. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY SportsRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers catches a ball during spring training in Phoenix on Feb. 15, 2013. Paul Sancya, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Philadelphia Phillies' Jacob Diekman exercises during a workout at spring training Feb. 17, 2013, in Clearwater, Fla. Matt Slocum, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Los Angeles Angels players, from left, Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols attend a news conference in Tempe, Ariz. Morry Gash, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera wipes his face as he joins Blue Jays third base coach Luis Rivera, right, to address the media. Nathan Denette, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
White Sox pitchers stretch during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Rick Scuteri, USA TODAY SportsRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Yankees pitchers Andy Pettitte (left) and CC Sabathia run in the rain during spring training at Steinbrenner Field. The Star-LedgerRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Chicago Cubs' pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa throws during a workout in Mesa, Ariz. Morry Gash, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana stretches during spring training at Tradition Field. Brad Barr, USA TODAY SportsRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder hops off a golf cart after arriving for a spring training workout in Lakeland, Fla. Charlie Neibergall, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Atlanta Braves infielder Ramiro Pena prepares to take batting practice during a workout in Kissimmee, Fla. David J. Phillip, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli works out during spring training at Steinbrenner Field. The Star-LedgerRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera rests after a workout in Tampa. Matt Slocum, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Pirates warm up during a workout session at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY SportsRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias loses the ball as he crashes into a screen in Fort Myers, Fla. Chris O'Meara, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
New York Mets manager Terry Collins, talks to 1-year-old Bentley DiToro, carried by his grandfather Charlie DiToro, of Palm City, Fla., during the team's first pitchers and catchers workout in Port St. Lucie. Julio Cortez, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Miami Marlins pitcher Edgar Olmos, left, runs sprints while pitcher Jose Ceda throws in Jupiter, Fla. Julio Cortez, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina gestures to fans as J.R. Towles looks in Jupiter, Fla. Julio Cortez, APRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Angels pitcher Jered Weaver throws at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY SportsRelated story Fullscreen![None]()
Detailed view of a baseball in the dirt during Angels camp at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
