Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton issued a statement Friday saying the "issue" he's been dealing with on a personal and professional level is discipline. "Professionally, it's been plate discipline. Personally, it's been being obedient to the Lord in quitting chewing tobacco," Hamilton said in the statement. "I was hesitant to address the tobacco once again, because it's an area that I've struggled with trying to quit in the past. I wanted to have some time of success under my belt before addressing again publicly, but felt I haven't been given that option with all of the speculating out there as to what the 'mystery issue' was." Hamilton ended the statement with a listing of two Bible verses -- Hebrews 12:4-5 and John 3:30. In addressing the media earlier this week, Hamilton said that something was weighing on his mind, but that it would be revealed at a later time. He declined Thursday night to detail what it was, but noted there was a lot of speculating about it. Hamilton has struggled at the plate for the past two months. He hit just .223 in June and batted just .177 in July. He had 19 homers in April and May but had just nine in June and July. He did have two hits and four RBIs in the Rangers' win Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels. Read more: http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story...-plate-discipline-quitting-tobacco-use-issues
