“Hey, man, you’ve got to have a better car than that, coming in here,” the fan said. according to Hamilton. Hamilton smiled while relaying that story, and during most of his 16-minute news conference prior to today’s Rangers-Angels game.
The exception was his reaction to the final question, when asked whether he’s had any flashbacks to his last game here as a Ranger, the 5-1 Wild Card playoff loss to Baltimore in which he batted 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and was booed lustily, especially after going down meekly in his final at-bat.
“No. I don’t ever have a thought about that game until somebody asks me about it,” Hamilton said. ”And then I quickly think about it, and then I quickly release it.”
After that game, Hamilton raised eyebrows by paraphrasing a Bible verse, Matthew 10:14.
“If they don’t receive you in a town, shake the dust off your feet and move to the next.”
So Hamilton did, signing a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in January.
Returning to face Texas fans’ probable wrath was inevitable. It so happens it was for the Rangers’ 2013 home opener.
Hamilton was not well-received in the town he still calls home. When he came to the plate for the first time, in the top of the second inning, the booing was loud and extended. When Hamilton struck out on four pitches, the fans erupted in a standing ovation.
He was booed again when he came to bat in the top of the fourth. Once again, the stadium erupted in cheers when Hamilton struck out swinging. When he came up in the sixth, the boos were less audible. He lined out to right-field.
So much for Hamilton’s pregame plan. He jokingly told media members during his press conference: “I figured it out: Albert (Pujols) is going to be introduced before me, so I’m just going to kind of slide in behind him and run out.”
In the bottom of the second inning, Hamilton, playing right-field, misplayed an A.J. Pierzynski triple that led to Texas’ first run.
Before the game, he was asked what he thinks his emotions would be when he was introduced, and when he stepped into the batter’s box for the first time against Derek Holland.
“Could you ask me that after the game?” he said. “Who knows? I don’t know. I’m sure the heart will be a racing a little bit, both times, probably.”
Putting himself in the Rangers’ fan’s position, how would he react to his return?”
Oh, man. It’s hard for me to do that,” he said. “I think about, by me, it’s good memories. I have good memories in general that nobody can take away from me, about fans, about the organization, about the time here we had, and the growing process.
“But as a fan, honestly, I think about probably the best five years in the organization’s history. Or four years. And that’s what I think about.”
Hamilton’s family still lives in the area. He said he was grateful for the chance to sleep in his own bed and spend time with his wife, Katie, and their children.
Hamilton said his family will attend today’s game, adding that he hopes fans will be respectful.
“My kids could care less,” Hamilton said of the potential for boos. “They’ve already talked about it, ‘If you get booed Dad, so what? We’ll cheer for you.’ . . . I just hope to hear that they have a good experience otherwise, watching the ballgame.”