Hamilton's New Swing, Approach Paying Dividends

Imagine how big it would be for the Texas Rangers' offense if Josh Hamilton can get going at the plate — not 2009-2012 Hamilton, but just a "good" version of the former AL MVP. If you're not sure, it'd be huge.

Two games ago, Hamilton changed his hand placement on the bat, and on Thursday night he was rewarded with a monster game — a three-run home run early and a walkoff RBI single in the ninth to win it.

The home run was his fourth of the season in 27 games and most importantly, he seems to be feeling more comfortable at the plate and laying off the junk that has plagued him at so many time in the past.

When Hamilton was collapsing down the stretch for the Rangers in 2012, he was at the mercy of anything low and away. Junk killed Hamilton. The same book was out on him when he was in Los Angeles, and still is now.

But in this series against the Yankees, Hamilton has more than not been able to lay off junk low and away, and pitchers have been forced to throw him strikes, strikes he's hitting and hitting well.

Again, curb your expectation on what Hamilton could provide, even if he's a really good version of himself. He's not the player he was in those glory years in his first Rangers stint, but he can still be pretty good and productive, and that'd be huge for the Rangers.

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