Hamilton back with Rangers; hopeful for Friday
Josh Hamilton was back with the Rangers on Saturday after being examined by Dr. Robert Watkins, a back specialist, in Los Angeles. Watkins was the doctor who treated Hamilton for his back injuries when he was in a car accident back in March of 2001.
Hamilton suffered a stress fracture in his back from the accident. Watkins found on Friday that Hamilton has some inflammation around that stress fracture as well as a bulge in his lower back that was pressing on a nerve. That was causing the pinched nerve that has been bothering he received not one but two injections to help address the problems.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” Hamilton said. “I’m able to walk without a limp and put my clothes on without pain.”
Hamilton is also relieved that the problem will not require season-ending surgery. That apparently was on his mind when he went to Los Angeles.
“You want to hear that it can be taken care of without surgery,” Hamilton said. “Dr. Watkins was very reassuring that it can be taken care of without surgery.”
Hamilton hasn’t played since Sept. 2 but is hoping to return to the Rangers lineup on Friday when they open a three-game series at home against the Angels.
“That’s the goal if everything keeps progressing the way it is,” Hamilton said.
The Rangers are also hoping to have Young back by then. He continues to progress in his recovery from a strained left hamstring muscle with considerable improvement every day. He has taking batting practice in the indoor cages for the past two days and continues to pick up speed in his running.
The Rangers continue to be optimistic that he could be ready to go when the Angels arrive in town.
T.R. Sullivan
Toby
Can we get around the rain and get to playing some baseball! Hopefully it will be with a healthy team as soon as possible because it is needed!
Can we get around the rain and get to playing some baseball! Hopefully it will be with a healthy team as soon as possible because it is needed!
Seems like the fans and the Rangers are putting alot into the upcoming series with the Angels. It may not matter at all if they can’t beat the Mariners and A’s.
I agree with crow377, especially after last night’s pathetic showing against the M’s. I hate to be cynical(can’t help it, been following this team for 32+ yrs), but I have the nasty feeling that next weekend’s series against Los Anaheim might not be that important.
Only way it’s really going to make a difference is if we sweep the Halos, and I just dont ‘see that happening, especially since it appears that Millwood has run out of gas, Holland is faltering, and the offense is horribly inconsistent. Needless to day, I hope our boys make me eat those cynical words.