Josh Hamilton Feeling A Little Better, But Still Far From Ready

Josh Hamilton didn't respond very well to last week's cortisone shots, an attempt to treat his bruised ribs. However, he did note some improvement on Sunday after two weeks of frustration:

"It feels a little better today," Hamilton said. "It feels better as far as everyday stuff like rolling over in bed and getting out of bed. This is the first day since I ran and swung a little bit [on Tuesday] that I've started feeling better."

And when asked whether the Rangers are preparing for a playoff series without Josh Hamilton in the lineup, Ron Washington said the following:

"No," Washington said. "Exclamation point. Exclamation point. Exclamation point."

The hope, on the Rangers' part, is that Hamilton is able to get back in time to play a few games before the end of the regular season in order to shake off some rust. Whether he's able to do that, though, is up in the air, as Hamilton has already experienced a few setbacks and hasn't progressed as hoped. The only thing that's certain is that Hamilton will not be rushed, as the Rangers have little to play for over the coming two weeks.