Over the offseason, Josh Hamilton's accountability partner - Johnny Narron - left the Texas Rangers to become the hitting coach with the Milwaukee Brewers. Recently, Josh Hamilton relapsed with alcohol and had to hold a press conference to explain and apologize. It's possible that these events are connected. It's possible that these events are not connected. In any case, Hamilton now has a new accountability partner. Richard Durrett:
Josh Hamilton Gets A New Accountability Partner
The Texas Rangers announced Tuesday night that Shayne Kelley has been named a major league staff assistant and part of his duties will be to support Josh Hamilton.
Kelley won’t only help support Hamilton. He’ll also do some coaching things. But Hamilton’s probably his primary assignment, or at least his most important assignment. Kelley accompanied Hamilton to New York on Monday for a meeting with league and union doctors. I guess this is the sort of thing that an accountability partner does.
Here’s Durrett on Kelley’s background:
Kelley has a religious background as team chaplain at Alabama from 1996-99. Kelley has been around baseball at the college and high school level for more than 15 years, including a two-year stint as minor league strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Royals.
Kelley’s job is complicated to perform, but on some level it’s simple to evaluate: if Hamilton does well, Kelley’s done well. If Hamilton doesn’t do well, Kelley hasn’t done well. We are all, of course, wishing for the former.
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