Angels Will Miss Hamilton With Thumb Injury

Photo courtesy of CBSSports.com

As a kid, coaches always told young baseball players never to slide into first base.



You're not acheiving anything positive by doing so. Spending time in mid-air to slide slows down the runner's approach and we all know every step down the first base line counts. More importantly, you can injure yourself.

That's something Josh Hamilton has recently learned. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder, according to reports, is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a thumb injury after sliding into first base against the Seattle Mariners. At the time, the Angels were trailing 2-0 to Robinson Cano's new team and were unable to come back from the deficit.

Photo courtesy of BleacherReport.com

Here's my problem.

This wasn't a playoff game. This wasn't a game to determine the divisional title. This game wasn't one to decide the Wild Card. This was their eighth game! Nothing special! Why even risk yourself in a game that, in all honesty, won't make your season? Why? Because that's who Josh Hamilton is. Hamilton is a go-all-out, take-life-by-the-horns kind of player. He leaves nothing behind anytime he takes the field. In most cases, we like those players, but you have to realize that living to play another day. It may not hurt to lose a game this early in the season, but it could definitely hurt to lose a player like Hamilton this early.

Last year in his first season with the Angels, Hamilton batted a career-low .250. Some believe that he won't play at an All-Star level. But Hamilton thrives on proving critics wrong and defying the odds. Don't be surprised to see him play in an All-Star Game this year if not next year.