Hamilton back with Rangers; hopeful for Friday Josh Hamilton was back with the Rangers on Saturday after being examined by Dr. Robert Watkins, a back specialist, in Los Angeles. Watkins was the doctor who treated Hamilton for his back injuries when he was in a car accident back in March of 2001. Hamilton suffered a stress fracture in his back from the accident. Watkins found on Friday that Hamilton has some inflammation around that stress fracture as well as a bulge in his lower back that was pressing on a nerve. That was causing the pinched nerve that has been bothering he received not one but two injections to help address the problems. "I'm feeling a lot better," Hamilton said. "I'm able to walk without a limp and put my clothes on without pain." Hamilton is also relieved that the problem will not require season-ending surgery. That apparently was on his mind when he went to Los Angeles. "You want to hear that it can be taken care of without surgery," Hamilton said. "Dr. Watkins was very reassuring that it can be taken care of without surgery." Hamilton hasn't played since Sept. 2 but is hoping to return to the Rangers lineup on Friday when they open a three-game series at home against the Angels. "That's the goal if everything keeps progressing the way it is," Hamilton said. The Rangers are also hoping to have Young back by then. He continues to progress in his recovery from a strained left hamstring muscle with considerable improvement every day. He has taking batting practice in the indoor cages for the past two days and continues to pick up speed in his running. The Rangers continue to be optimistic that he could be ready to go when the Angels arrive in town. http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/09/ hamilton_back_with_rangers_hop.html --

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