UPDATE-Fan who died at Rangers game identified

EMT's rush into action

This is one of the more sad stories in baseball in a very long time. We first reported last night about a fan falling some 20-feet to his death from the railing in left field at Thursday nights Texas Rangers game in while trying to get a tossed baseball for his son.

That fan has been identified.

He's 39-year old Shannon Stone, a firefighter from Brownwood, Texas. According to the Arlington, Texas fire department, Stone passed away after going into full-cardiac arrest while being transported to the hospital.

The accident happened halfway through the 2nd inning of the Rangers home game against the Oakland. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton picked up a foul ball that had been hit his way and decided to toss it into the stands in the direction of Stone. Knowing Hamilton, he was probably trying to make sure Stone's son, standing right next to him, got a ball.

Stone fell, some 20-feet.

The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram picks up the story RIGHT HERE

The Rangers, Hamilton in particular according to several reports are absolutely distraught over what happened. As were several relief pitchers for the A's stationed in the left-field bullpen, who saw the whole thing.

This is going to be a tough incident to investigate. Yes, we reported last night that it comes almost exactly one year after a similar accident injured a fan. But this is something that will be very hard to regulate.

Sure, it illustrates that fans should not reach over the railing for anything during a game, but how to you stop that?

Ballpark officials, the Rangers and others continue investigating what and how this could happen, we'll bring you more when that happens.

Here is last nights story from WFAA-TV in Dallas:

DFW Giddy As Rangers Move On To ALCS

It seems baseball fever has taken hold in Dallas/Ft. Worth, in October. Since the Dallas Cowboys are not very good (I'm keeping it clean too.) D/FW is jumping on the Texas Rangers bandwagon.

Tuesday night the Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in game five of their ALDS series and are moving on to the ALCS for the first time ever. Oh by the way the Rangers will play the New York Yankees.

The Rangers will have home field advantage in the ALCS but judging from their ALDS series with Tampa Bay that doesn't mean jack.

Here some locker room celebration and sound from the Rangers. (Thanks WFAA-TV)




Ranger manager Ron Washington takes a beer shower and other alchohic beverages. (Thanks WFAA)




You don't see Josh Hamilton in the locker room celebrating with his teammates when the alcohol was flowing. For years Hamilton has battled substance abuse and alcohol issues. When Hamilton entered the clubhouse his Ranger teammates doused him with ginger ale and soft drinks.

"It says a lot about my teammates," Hamilton told the Dallas Morning News, "them understanding the sensitivity of my situation and not wanting to send the wrong message to other people out there."

Photo Courtesy: Dallas Morning News

Yes, We Know About The Whole Josh Hamilton Thing

For those of you under a rock, here's the Josh Hamilton story from this afternoon.

Full credit goes to AJ and the folks from Deadspin for getting the pictures this morning and working everything through the press conference.

Those details are below...

((HT: CBSSports))

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton once again addressed his troubled history with alcohol abuse, after a website published photos of him cavorting with several scantily clad women in a bar last January.

Hamilton created headlines last season with his inspired comeback from the depths of alcoholism and drug abuse to lead the major leagues in RBI and nearly win the Home Run Derby.

The All-Star stood at his locker at Angel Stadium a couple hours before game time Saturday and told about a dozen reporters how much he regretted what happened at a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Prior to this latest episode, Hamilton said he hadn't drank since Oct. 6, 2005.

"I always knew there would be a chance it would come out," said Hamilton, who has three daughters. "I believe I got to the point where if you have alcohol in your system, your inhibitions go out the window. The details don't matter -- what kind of drink it was. It just put me in a bad situation."

Hamilton said he had gone for something to eat when he decided to have a drink. A dozen photos posted on Deadspin.com show the Texas slugger taking shots off the bar, and dancing and hugging several young women.

"I'm embarrassed about it for my wife Katie, for my kids and for the organization," Hamilton said. "I'm not perfect. It's an ongoing struggle, and it's real. It's amazing how these things can creep back in. But I am human and I have struggles."

When the Rangers acquired the 28-year-old outfielder from the Cincinnati Reds on Dec. 21, 2007, they were aware of Hamilton's off-the-field problems and came out with a "zero tolerance" policy regarding his drinking.

"If I think I can have one drink, I think I can have two, and then it snowballs to 10or 12," Hamilton said. "As soon as it happened, I called my support staff -- Katie, the organization and MLB -- and told them what happened. I was open and honest about it. People with an addiction can make a mistake."

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels spoke with Hamilton in the clubhouse Saturday before they addressed the media, and said later the tone of their conversation had a different kind of emotion than the one in January because of the time Hamilton's had to think about it.

"I'd hesitate to say it's something we're going to put behind us, but we're not going to allow this to become a distraction the rest of the season and we'll try to move on as best we can," Daniels said.

The Rangers, who entered Saturday trailing the Angels by 3½ games in the AL West, have not discussed punitive measures in case there is a recurrence. But Daniels said Hamilton will not be taking a leave of absence.

"That would be counterproductive," Daniels said. "We knew that going in when we acquired Josh. We know the risks of dealing with someone with substance abuse problems. Ultimately, he's a grown man and he has to make his own decisions. Nobody's here to baby-sit him, but we should help him make the right decisions and help him get through this."

When asked whether he will make a formal apology to his teammates in private, Hamilton said: "More than likely. I don't necessarily know when it would be, but I won't let it linger too long. What I do off the field affects my teammates and the name of this organization. They know who I am and what I want to accomplish."

MyFoxDFW/Fox 4's Peter Daut has the standard fan reaction piece


Admittedly, the editorial staff at OSG HQ was trying to determine the news value of the story and the angle we would take on the whole news item.

Public figure- check...
Sports- check...
Interesting angle- check...

Decide for yourself what you think about Hamilton as a person and this apparent relapse. Thus the posting. We're leaving the whole personal opinion out of the deal.

Talkin' Baseball: The Texas Rangers

Arlington, Texas is damn hot in the summer. When was the last time you saw a day game at the Ballpark in Arlington. Ranger fans will be sweating out another long hot summer in the Metroplex. The Rangers offense will put up runs and their pitching will give up runs.

Texas Rangers

Manager: Ron Washington (3rd season)
2008 Record – 79-83 (runner-up in the AL West)

Ranger fans, say hello to: Omar Vizquel (SS), Andrew Jones (OF), Eddie Guardado

And say so long to: Milton Bradley (OF/DH)

Team President Nolan Ryan should think about coming out of retirement. Yes he’s 60 something but I’m sure he can still bring it. He could only help the Rangers pitching staff that gave up over 5 runs per game or to be exacted, a major league worst 5.37 ERA. Right handed pitcher Kevin Millwood felt the glare of Nolan Ryan when he challenged the injury prone starter to have a full spring training or risk losing his spot in the starting rotation.

What To Like About The Rangers:

Josh Hamilton: The feel good story of 2008 should have another great year and in hard economic times Hamilton is a cost effective. He makes only $300,000 this year.

Farm System: Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels’ plan of building from with is paying dividends. According to Baseball America, the Rangers have the best minor league system in baseball. What out in 2010, 2011 and beyond.

We Are Scratching Our Head Over:

Andrew Jones: He got the big payday from the Los Angeles Dodgers and stunk. Now Jones is in Rangers camp on a minor league deal just trying to make the team as a fourth outfielder. It’s just not looking good for Andrew, in 5 spring training at-bats he has struck out each time. Jones’ career, like the stock market, is falling, falling, falling.

OSG Prediction: The Rangers are hard to figure out. They have the offense to challenge for the American League West title but to put it bluntly, their pitching is not very good. It’s been 20 years since Texas has developed a pitcher (Kevin Brown?) and no one on the farm is ready to contribute. With shaky starting pitching, not much middle relief and no closer ready to step up, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers regress this year to 3rd. 80 wins is about the max.

Photo Courtesy: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

Hamilton Rocks Yankee Stadium, Loses Derby

You have to love Josh Hamilton.

Living near Raleigh, and having friends that teach at Hamilton's old high school (Athens Drive H.S.), I am so proud of this kid.

He has battled through so much to shine on one of the world's biggest stages - Yankee Stadium. The Texas Ranger outfielder jacked a record 28 longballs (off Claybon Council - a really really really old guy) in the first round of the 2008 HR Derby. He only managed four more in the second round, but easily faced Twins' Justin Morneau in the Finals.

UPDATE: Morneau defeated Hamilton 5-3 in the Finals. Major league rip off.

--John V. Wood

It's All in the Numbers

In baseball, like most sports, numbers are a big part of the game. Hoy many homers did Barry Juiced hit last night? How many RBI’s does Alex Rodriguez have? It was just yesterday that the Phillies recorded their 10,000 loss as a franchise. Numbers, in baseball, are important.

For Josh Hamilton, life and baseball, are ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

Take, for instance, the number 1999. That’s the year Josh graduated high school from Athens Drive in Raleigh, NC and was named Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year.

Number 1 - the Devil Rays first draft pick in 1999.

The number .302 was Josh’s batting average in 2000, his first as professional. 13 was the number of homers Josh hit that year. He was also the youngest player in the All-Star futures game that year where he went 3-4.

2/28/2001 is another number that is important. That’s the day that Josh was in a motorcycle accident in Bradenton, Florida. It’s also that day he that led to him becoming addicted to pain killers and A LOT more…

2/18/2004 - that’s the day that Josh was suspended from Major League Baseball for violating the league’s joint drug treatment and prevention program.

The number 15 is the number of baseball games Josh played in 2004-2006, because of failed drug tests. Baseball has counted him out. He was down to his last strike. Two outs, bottom of the ninth.

But then, more numbers…

10/2005 - Josh’s first week of sobriety in 5 years.

3 - the number of times a day Josh begins working out.

12/2006 - Josh is picked up by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft and the traded to the Reds.

.400 - Josh’s batting average in spring training this year.

4/2/2007 - Josh makes his Major League Debut…about six years later than he had originally expected.

5/6 - Josh hits two homers against the Rockies.

26 - Josh’s age, pretty old for a major league rookie.

26 is also the number of tattoos Josh acquired in the those five drug-filled years, reminders of a life gone all too wrong for a guy with such promise. But, now josh is fulfilling those promises and proving everyone wrong who said he would never make it back.

2 and 6 - the ages of Josh’s daughters, Sierra and Julia.

.279, 14, and 30 - batting average, HR’s , and RBI’s for Josh this year.

And 1 - truly remarkable story of a guy who had it all, lost it all, found God, found his way back to the majors, and found his way back to the top of his game.

And 1 is also the number of new fans he has, after knowing more about his story.

756 may be the number that captures Baseball’s imagination in the second half of the season, but 33 has captured mine. That’s Josh Hamilton’s jersey number.

--Brian Eaves

"The rose goes in the front, big guy... " --Crash Davis