Is Josh Hamilton really Barack Obama? You might think so after the way the media has swooned all over him over the All-Star break. Hamilton, like Obama, has had lots of positive things said about him and his "feel good" story has been splattered all over the place. Yes, his 28 HRs in the derby were impressive. That is unquestionable. But, he did NOT win the homerun derby. Argue that he hit the most HRs and should have, but Justin Morneau won it, not Hamilton.

I have a real problem with the "feel good" story of Hamilton. Yes, it's nice that he's overcome personal demons, etc. and gotten his life clean. But, untold is that Hamilton is either so messed up or so weak mentally that he has a coach, paid by the Rangers (and previously by the Reds) to essentially be his chaperone so that he doesn't get himself into trouble – Johnny Narron. This doesn't sound like somebody who has their act completely together. Also, while I know drug addiction is a disease, it was still a personal choice that he made to ruin his life and almost waste his God-given talent. He got a second chance is making the most of it. That's great. But Hamilton made his own choices in life. I would like his story more if he had been diagnosed with cancer or something like that and then came back in the same way. Then I'd be on the Josh Hamilton bandwagon. For now, he's just a former druggie, who luckily got a second chance and is making the most of it.

And lastly, can Reds fans get over losing him already? We got Volquez and Herrera for Hamilton. It was a great trade for both teams. Where would Hamilton play on Dusty Baker's team? If he were up, we likely would be seeing Jay Bruce in a Reds uniform yet. Remember, we got Hamilton for a a $50,000 investment from the Rays. If anyone should be salty about losing Hamilton, it should be Rays. Imagine what their team would be like if he were still in their uniform? Wow.

Feel free to call me a heartless jerk or something that I'm not shedding tears or getting goosebumps at the Hamilton story, or those absurd The Natural references. In fact, I'm kind of tired about hearing it. Mark my words, he'll either be injured or slumping after that homerun derby performance. 

MLB reds, josh hamilton, jay bruce, dusty baker