Josh Hamilton Could Be Headed For DL; Who’s in Center?

ARLINGTON – The disabled list is becoming a more realistic possibility for Josh Hamilton because his sore ribs have not healed much in the past week, despite aggressive treatment that included a cortisone injection.

Hamilton is out of the lineup tonight for the third straight game. Marlon Byrd is playing center field with Andruw Jones in left. Hamilton had X-rays in Baltimore, but they showed no breaks or fractures. He is expected to meet with Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister before tonight’s game to be re-evaluated.

“If I can’t play, it’s hurting,” Hamilton said. “I can’t even pick my kids up. It’s that bad.”

If  Meister feels more rest is necessary, the Rangers could potentially wait on Hamilton all the way through the weekend and essentially play with a 24-man roster. They begin a stretch of four consecutive games  tonight against left-handed starters and five in the next six games.  Playing an all-right-handed hitting outfield of Jones, Byrd and Nelson Cruz would certainly be a palatable option for manager Ron Washington. Brandon Boggs would almost certainly be promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City if the Rangers decide to place Hamilton on the DL.

UPDATE: After Hamilton was examined, Rangers GM Jon Daniels said the club will wait until at least Thursday to make a determination about Hamilton’s status. The only thing that could force the Rangers to make a quicker decision would be another injury to another player.

Until Hamilton is healthy, the key issues becomes who plays center field:  Byrd, who is starting there for the third straight game, or Jones, the 10-time Gold Glove winner.

For now, the answer is Byrd.

“I think it comes down to speed,” said outfield instructor Gary Pettis. “Does Andruw have all the knowledge in the world to play center? Yes. Does he have an accurate arm? Yes, he does. At this point, I think Marlon is the better option, but that’s not to say Andruw is not still a very good outfielder. As we get older, we tend to lose a step”

Jones just turned 32; Byrd turns 32 on August 30. But the difference in their “baseball ages” may be the amount of time they’ve logged in center, the most physically demanding outfield position. Jones has 1,662 career starts there and ranks 10th all-time in total center field starts. Byrd has started 375 games there.

“I still would like to play center field,” said Jones, whose start in left Monday is only his third career start in left, and all of them have come this season. “I feel like I’m still a better center fielder than a left fielder. I felt good in center this spring. Marlon is solid; he’s probably out there because he might be better than me [at the position] physically after the knee surgeries last year. But I still think I know how to make myself get to the ball.”

Said Washington: “Marlon has been playing center field in some fashion for us for the last three years. I’m going to with the guy I think is most beneficial to us out there. That’s just my call.”