MLB: Hamilton - What could have been?

Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith discuss how good Josh Hamilton would have been without substance abuse. Watch more videos like this at www.espnamerica.com

[@Brian211978]

Skip Bayless is one of few people I've ever heard speak who can make a good point and shoot himself in the foot in less than 10 seconds!!

[@chasehagemann1048]

I read Hamiltons biography and the drugs had nothing to do with pressure n baseball. He was shaken after a big car accident he was involved in and he started hangin out with druggies from a tattoo shop

[@sominboy2757]

If im not mistaken he finally got clean when he went begging for food from his grandma

[@spybro3264]

@@sominboy2757 nah he went to his grandmas when he had no where to stay after he got lost after using crack his grandma forced him to eat cause he was all the way down to 180 and that’s where he got clean

[@Cinerary]

He has an addictive personality. He would have found drugs for any reason.

[@ianrotheroe2540]

Crazy that ESPN doesn’t cover baseball stories like this anymore :/

[@marksuave25]

I agree, ken griffey, is the most gifted player that I've seen since 1990. Ken griffey did it with out steroids, had he not tore up his tendons and ligaments, he would of hit closer to 800 homeruns.

[@bondsgoat25]

BB

[@slappy699]

Barry used drugs to make him better, Hamilton used drugs that made him worse. Yet STILL hits like a monster

[@eduardoguadalupe7709]

Barry Bonds was already, Drugs didnt make him better, get your facts straight. Drugs didnt enhance his hand to eye coordination which is vital in baseball.

[@christopherekberg5479]

Wtf Barry hit more home runs than any player in history are you delusional from using the same drugs Hamilton did your insane if you think he's better than Barry or never played baseball

[@slappy699]

@@christopherekberg5479 3 years ago....your seriously responding to a comment from 3 years ago? And honestly believe Bonds took the same drugs? Troll somewhere else

[@lukaz3336]

@@eduardoguadalupe7709 Yes they did lol. Without the steroids he doesn't have those extra 4 mvps and definitely doesn't have 73 home runs. He was still a hall of famer anyway but without those extra mvps and home runs hes not in the GOAT discussion. Which he isn't.

[@bondsgoat25]

@@lukaz3336 ur insane my guy Only 400 400 member before steroids and would have been 600 600 if he didn’t take roids Greatest hitter with the greatest eye ever Oh and he was a 50 stolen base guy 40 40 guy with 8 gold gloves His 93 season he had a 1100 ops, Griffey trout mays Aaron cobb none of them ever reached a 1100 ops The only reason he’s not in the goat convo for u is because u know absolutely nothing about baseball

[@barrybomber1463]

If Hamilton had those six, seven seasons back there's no question that he would have hit 50 to 60 home runs those season and he probably would be at the 500 home run range.

[@tryhardchief]

I think if he did he could be better then arod

[@zachramey7187]

+ROACH He would have been this generation's Ken Griffey Jr.

[@bgstv10001]

@@zachramey7187 hell no he differently wouldn't been Ken Griffey of this era

[@zachramey7187]

@@bgstv10001 Dude he really was that good. He was universally considered a generational talent when he was the #1 overall pick and actually showed how good he was after screwing up the first half of his career. 5 tools man, with an exclamation. He won an MVP and threatened for a triple crown in his brief run and then lost his battle with addiction again. Plus Griffey was the guy most scouts compared him to and Griffey didn't disagree.

[@salvatoresultana4058]

And the Tampa Bay Rays might have a championship or two.

[@froey198033]

Ok I know this is about Josh Hamilton but let's not forget about Ken Griffey Jr and if he never got injured. If he never got injured Griffey Jr would be the homerun king no ifs ands or buts about it, period.

[@Mr.Jtea3]

He should not be in the hall of fame. Fucking guy makes a couple nice catches when he came up and had some mid 50 home run seasons never was a 310 hitter

[@cougars8bb]

Fan of TheBrand333 you’re ridiculous 🤦🏻‍♂️ man your entire message is BS... he’s one of the best. Get off the stuff Josh Hamilton was on and come back to reality.

[@raymondreddington134]

Jeff Froment yea but he did get injured just like Hamilton got involved with drugs so doesn’t really matter “what could have been.”

[@edgar-iq2ci]

@@Mr.Jtea3 career 306 avg u clown

[@ST3Di03]

“Why did they lose back to back ws?! Where was he then?!” Umm you mean that clutch homer he had in Game 6 ‘11 that got them the lead in extras and the pitching couldn’t hold. Takes more than one great player to win a championship in baseball.

[@spybro3264]

Facts

[@gregorypatricksmith8611]

Hamilton was so talented … perfect swing

[@Me-fr7yj]

If he somehow manages to win a World Series before he retires he will have the most legendary baseball story of all time

[@soberup5017]

Josh would of been the best 5-7 tool player ever w/o drugs being involved That’s IMO

[@paul-baseballcollector]

He didn't have great defense. Career .980 FLD% is nowhere close to a 5-tool player. He didn't have speed either (probably because of the car accident, but curiously that didn't prevent him from hitting), his most stolen bases in a season was 9...

[@jsm530]

​@@paul-baseballcollectorhe had fine defense and also could throw 95 mph he was a titan. Cope harder dumb incel

[@isaacacuna3593]

I didn't see Barry Bonds in two World Series!!! lol

[@dnavarro972]

The rangers were blessed to have him

[@mattsmith3835]

Josh never did heroin. I read his biography, crack and alcohol we're always the problem

[@doesnotexist305]

My eyes nearly rolled out of my head when Skip said that he could have been the best ever.

[@smithfan22]

DoesNotExist305 why? Josh was the natural. He threw 97 MPH in high school. When he was 18 years old drafted 1st overall the Rays asked him to pick a position....again...pick a position.

[@RL-ko2sy]

The dollar amount those teams spent on him AFTER knowing he was a Drug Addict

[@doesnotexist305]

@@smithfan22 why? Are you seriously asking that? This isn’t basketball where every new player has a couple of great years and suddenly he’s the best ever. Baseball has a long history. To be the best ever you have to surpass so many unbelievable players. In 2008, his break out year, he was already 27. He would have had to go on a run of 10 years putting up Barry Bonds numbers to be the best ever. It simply wasn’t happening.

[@jsm530]

​@@smithfan22that's absurd he's ohtani if he didn't ruin his body but still despite thay still had a nice career.

[@bodeycooper5311]

What if Bonds never used steroids? He would've never hit 73 in a season.

[@CumLordGary]

Bodey Cooper it would've been like 60-65

[@Monkeybojangles007]

Ken Griffey and Wille Mays were the best "all around players" to ever play the game.

[@anthonymeadows9503]

No

[@WhiteRiceProd]

Ernie banks

[@user-ic4pj4un7u]

STEPHEN A SMITH KNOWS ZERO ABOUT BASEBALL....WHY IS THIS GUY TALKING ON THIS SUBJECT....

[@Rpagsis1]

Hands down- Josh has more raw talent than Bonds whom I feel is the greatest. His tools are still dominant, and has only gotten better year over year. Bonds has the #'s, but he also had the pedigree, and the exposure around the game from birth few ever get to experience. Josh is so gifted that his skill-set never diminished and returned to the MLB level after a long absence not just seamlessly- but as a dominant force among the elite players. He made it look easy.

[@kenweaver2064]

god bless josh hamilton

[@mr-kg1vb]

Only God knows what he could've been..

[@ftghb]

bonds was a better hitter, better baserunner, better fielder, struck out less, got on base more than griffey Bill James Win Shares: 1989: Griffey 14, Bonds 23 1990: Griffey 24, Bonds 37 1991: Griffey 30, Bonds 37 1992: Griffey 25, Bonds 41 1993; Griffey 29, Bonds 47 1994: Griffey 20, Bonds 25 1995: Griffey 9, Bonds 36 1996: Griffey 28, Bonds 39 1997: Griffey 36, Bonds 36 1998: Griffey 29, Bonds 34 As you can see, not even close. Pre-steroid barry absolutely demolished Griffey in his prime.

[@tylerriley5976]

Facts

[@TheLockdownKidNYC]

Griffey or Mantle or even Rodriguez without injuries. I would much rather have that discussion.

[@michaelscott5869]

Josh Hamilton hit 35 homers in 2010 and led the league in hitting. Just saying.

[@superepichighlights3102]

32 not 35

[@legendaryhighlights2827]

32*

[@marianziani1108]

Gold glove winner too

[@lonnyfuller5806]

Barry bonds doesn't hit 796 if he isn't on steroids all steroid users records should be eliminated and never allowed in the hall of fame

[@drewbreesisontrtsoistombra1813]

Barry bonds is the goat just off his walks

[@228allday]

Well alot of our favorite players during the 80s-2000s era wouldn't be in the HOF

[@lukaz3336]

@@drewbreesisontrtsoistombra1813 Hes not the goat. But hes up there.

[@jonathanwashington7510]

No Mark Teixeira Hands Down Is Probably One Of The Greatest Switch Hitters To Ever Play 1st Base

[@kelvinpichardo6498]

Can't argue with you on that one

[@jaredjohnson1027]

Stephen A is not a baseball guy you can tell

[@derrickwilkins851]

This crazy Stephen a is a buck dancing BOY for real

[@salvatoresultana4058]

Question asked by Jay: what would have Hamilton been without the drugs? Answer by Stephen A.: how are you going to just take that out of it? Me: THAT'S WHAT THE FUCKING QUESTION IS!!!

[@crypt3214]

Sorry but SAS is completely wrong on this one simple as that

[@ftghb]

only member of the 400-400 club, only member of the 500-500 club. All of that was pre-2000. Statistically, one of the greatest defensive left fielders of ALL TIME. Bonds still beats the shit out of any position player not named Mays, Ruth, Williams, Aaron

[@jsm530]

Roids bonds would have sucked without needing to look like a meathead dirtbag. Bonds will probably die of cancer and have a hilariously tough demise. Rip

[@JakeNaughtFromStateFarm]

Rangers lost to the Cards because Ron Washington wanted to use Darren Oliver for some reason. They lost to the Giants because they were better than anyone realized, even themselves.

[@reezyakarileyfreeman3542]

2:40 Stephen A changes the subject to attack Barry Bonds . Interesting

[@willzimmermann6615]

Maybe if he found a home with Yankees and a buffer they could of shipped of Melky or matsui and and a Phil Hughs

[@paul-baseballcollector]

To the people saying he was a 5-tool player, he wasn't. He could have been, but wasn't. I loved Josh, but his career .980 FLD% is nowhere close to a 5-tool player and didn't have speed either (probably because of the car accident, but curiously that didn't prevent him from hitting), his most stolen bases in a season was 9

[@sbeallvln]

4:10 Oh, please...

[@erikmunoz55]

Stephen A. Smith have you ever herd of Ken Griffey Jr???

[@LibraLee88]

Jr (The Kid) was a bad boy

[@TheIcon04]

it's not that far off. skip goes off the deep end saying hamilton could have been the best EVER. but if we're talking naturally talented he's in griffey's class. griff delivered so i rank him higher of course

[@PaulGilbertrulezzz]

Ken Griffey Jr is the best in MLB history. period. right there with Pujols.

[@tylerriley5976]

PaulGilbertrulezzz uhhhh no

[@mattyo7350]

We all know, God we know, what we need more in today's world are people consumed by envy. That's the Sin that has taken much of those whom "think they are in a place of power." To judge is to set the stage for your own time of the Ultimate Judgment.. Good luck with such a long road ahead!!!

[@willzimmermann6615]

Stephen A never seen a tic tac he didn't like or a comb he could use

[@joesakic91]

Um CM83able, without Babe Ruth, you wouldn't have players like Jackie Robinson taking the game of baseball to another level by breaking the color barrier.

[@thegreatestentrepreneur3384]

Come on guys. Josh would have been the greatest hitter if it was not for drugs. But then again it's not about stress or drugs!!!! It's about what you do on the field!!!I'm a picture that has not been notified yet. But I'll be the Goat of baseball!!!!I'm coming for all hitters that think they can hit. I want get 2 or more homers hit off me in my career!!!that's a promise

[@luisrosales9349]

Stephen A can just shut up. Did he really blame Hamilton for the Rangers going 0-2 in back to back world series? What a joke.

[@chet174able]

He was banging it

[@johnniejay]

He could've been as good as Mike Trout.

[@christopherekberg5479]

You got to love Stephen a Smith wtf he can never be as good as Barry bonds his dad was mlb Bobby bonds and Willie Mays was his godson bonds would be MVP with out alleged peds

[@christopherekberg5479]

He tells it like it is

[@ritchiegranado9419]

I hate steven A smith hes always a debby downer

[@ST3Di03]

They lost 2 World Series cuz they didn’t have an amazing bullpen, let alone they had a pretty good bullpen but not what they needed for the cardinals and giants

[@lukaz3336]

Hamilton fell off a cliff after that 2012 season.

[@sumandsubstance7881]

Stephanie A'mad that a white man is better than a brother😂

[@joeambrose3260]

Pretty ridiculous statement. Ruth will always be the GOAT. Hamilton would've been a hall of famer. Nuff said

[@metaphoria3]

Griffey is GOAT. Period.

[@dylanmurray9973]

Metaphoria nah not really

[@tylerriley5976]

Nahhh

[@potatopotato5762]

Nah

[@xprkidx521]

How can anyone say Bonds is the greatest? Without steriods he's still a hof but he's no where near Aaron or Ruth

[@bondsgoat25]

Aaronn!!!!!! LOLLLLLLL hank Aaron dosent touch Barry bonds Without steroids bond had a 1100 ops season in 93 how many times did Aaron do that 0 Bonds after 98 had a career .411 on base that’s higher than hank Aaron’s best single season (.410)

[@willzimmermann6615]

You can't live in Florida or Texas with out fucking drinking and being happy on the inside if you lived a life like his probably.....

[@chet174able]

Stop it Barry bonds

[@crosbymalkin23]

Wow I'm sorry, but Stephen's argument was fucking terrible. Go ahead and make your case for Bonds, but don't argue it like that.

[@jonathanwashington7510]

I Still Say Mark Teixeira Is The 2nd Best Of Them All Anyone Agree With Me On This

[@chet174able]

Barry bonds is the greatest athlete ever

[@gregorypatricksmith8611]

Can you imagine hamilton on steroids???

[@superepichighlights3102]

There is no way Barry bonds is better than Hamilton. Let's "take out" all the 💉💉💉💉 bonds was shooting into himself while running around the bases, black guy. I'd like to know how his MLB career's going.

[@JoshCConnor]

What does "black guy" have to with this? Cut that retarded shit out. You're most likely no better than Bonds or Hambone.

[@superepichighlights3102]

+SuperSaleen01 no but I'm probably better than you. Have a nice day on the bandwagon

[@JoshCConnor]

baseball highlights Yet you're the one slandering someone dipshit. Btw I've been Rangers ride or die my whole life. That I can remember of course. #NeverEverQuit

[@DarkSideMaceWindu]

Anyone who says that is clueless about baseball, there isn't a single thing Hamilton was better at then Bonds.

[@thomasmoncrief883]

My wife knows more about baseball than Stephen A.

[@bigmoney749]

Greatest player ever? Beyond Barry Bonds and Mickey Mantle? News flash Skip. Bonds and Mantle are not even top five all time and that's with the roids. Why are these idiots deferring to Barry Bonds as the GOAT? BABE RUTH is the GOAT. A .342 career batting average, a 1.1694 OPS (best all time), 714 homers, a 94-46 pitching record, a 2.28 ERA, and 7 world series? Why are we having this conversation? Babe Ruth is easily the best player who ever lived.

[@christopherkorfeld7188]

John Babe Ruth never played against blacks so yea he's not the GOAT

[@tylerriley5976]

And Ruth also did PEDs but no one ever says anything about that

[@bondsgoat25]

Oh ya Bonds bonds on steroids (2001-2004) .582 On-Base (MLB RECORD) .609 On-Base (MLB RECORD) .863 Slugging (MLB RECORD) 1.383 OPS (MLB RECORD) 1.422 OPS (MLB RECORD) 73 HOMERUNS (MLB RECORD) 198 WALKS (2002) (MLB RECORD) 223 WALKS (2004) (MLB RECORD) He literally broke every record on steroids WTF are u on about

[@slavonic7907]

Did he just say heroin is worse than alcohol? Did he just say heroin is worse than cocaine? Cause that's wrong

[@johnnyhancock717]

Joseph Carter youre wrong dude..

[@keyboardwarrior327]

Found the heroin addict.

[@iiazoth3561]

Aaron Judge probably has the same power or even better

[@TortoTV]

ii Azoth no

[@KoopDoggggg]

no

[@ItsTimeIDisappear09]

Hamilton hit for average well and didnt strike out as much as Judge does

[@anthonyhall3425]

IF YOU'RE READING THIS MESSAGE KNOW THAT JESUS LOVES YOU.HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS AND ROSE AGAIN.GIVE HIM YOUR LIFE TODAY.HE WANTS TO BE A PART OF YOUR LIFE.HE'S WAITING ON YOU TO GIVE YOU PEACE AND ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM