Nine years ago, Josh Hamilton was on top of the world, becoming the top draft pick of the (then) Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Early on, he didn't disappoint, showing his immense talent in the minor leagues.

Unfortunately, things didn't last. Hamilton began to struggle with injuries, and an addiction to cocaine began. In the years that followed, his life reached new lows: seven failed rehab attempts, five suicide tries, and (the least of his worries) three lost seasons.

Then in 2005, he turned things around. Having found strength in God, Hamilton's eight attempt at rehab worked. Two years later, he made his return to baseball with the Reds. He hit .292 with 19 home runs before being traded to the Rangers. He has yet to disappoint; the Hambino is hitting .308 with 22 homers and 98 RBI in route to his first All-Star appearance.

Oh, and he had 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby, adding frosting to the cake that is his recovery story. Who could resist such a perfect story? Nobody. Not the media. Not the public. Josh Hamilton was an inspiration for us all and addicts everywhere!

Shakespeare DiMaggio of Tirico Suave says not so fast; is Josh Hamilton really all that inspirational?

When I think of inspirational sports stories, I think of Lance Armstrong dominating the Tour De France after beating cancer. How about Ray Ray McElrathbey raising his younger brother and playing Division One ball for Clemson. Jim Abbott overcoming his disability and carving out a nice Major League Career. Or even Jason McElwain dropping 20 in 4 minutes. I don’t think of a guy who dealt with the adversity of an injury by taking up crack.

The people who would best identify with Josh Hamilton's story would be fellow drug addicts. But would they find all that much inspiration? Your run-of-the-mill junkie can't afford quality rehab clinics, let alone eight. Your average addict doesn't have a handler following him around, making sure he stays away from his vices.

The typical junkie isn't a talented baseball player.

If I was a drug addict, I think I might even resent Josh Hamilton.

What do the Mariners and the Tigers have in common? Both teams are in need of a left-handed bat in their lineups. If that player must be a designated hitter, so be it. A player like Barry Bonds would be well-suited for their on-field needs.

Bonds' agent Jeff Boris said not even a single team has contacted him regarding Bonds since he became a free agent. Even more, he doesn't expect Bonds to play any baseball this season.

As a result of unsigned players like Bonds and Kenny Lofton, the MLB players' association has decided to investigate the possibility of collusion.

According the Collective Bargaining Agreement, "Players shall not act in concert with other Players and Clubs shall not act in concert with other Clubs." (Of course, this wasn't on the books in 1918 when the owners released all of their players with an agreement not to sign each other's players, thus allowing them to reduce player salaries).

Dan Halem, MLB senior vice president and general labor counsel, said, "The union notified us that it was investigating potential collusion regarding Barry Bonds and asked for information, and we told them that there was absolutely no collusion with respect to Barry Bonds or any other free agent."

Honestly, why would teams have to work together to keep Barry Bonds away from a baseball field? The lack of interest in Bonds has nothing to do with collusion and everything to do with Bonds. Consider the cloud of steroids and media personnel that follow his every at bat; Bonds would be nothing but a distraction. Few--if any--fans would actually be excited to see baseball's anti-hero on their favorite team.

The MLBPA can keep digging, but they will find that thirty teams made thirty separate decisions. They all chose to avoid Bonds and his baggage.

Not collusion. Just sound logic.

Evan Longoria, a highly-touted prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, was recalled from Triple-A Durham. He is expected to make his debut today against the Baltimore Orioles.

Longoria, the third pick in the 2006 MLB Draft, will be stepping in for injured third baseman Willy Aybar, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list after missing his second game with a hamstring injury.

With an outstanding spring, Longoria showed he was the Rays' best option at third base. He was both offensively and defensively superior to Aybar. Accordingly, the Rays sent him to the minors to start the year, where he hasn't had the best of starts.

“We’ve been decimated by injuries. It’s not necessarily the ideal way that we wanted to call him up,” Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

“But we’re confident in his ability to adjust at the plate, and what he brings to us defensively is something that we felt was very important to where we’re going.”

If Longoria can contribute at the plate and is that something the club has been searching for defensively, why did Tampa Bay start the season with Aybar?

The answer is simple: money. By spending just 13 days in the minors to start the year, this season will not qualify as a full season of experience for Longoria. Longoria will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season. Thus, the Rays will have the third baseman on the cheap for an extra year.

The problem comes in the system. Players with three years of service or less essentially have their salaries controlled by the club. If a player doesn't like the team's offer, the team can just renew to player's contract for even less. For example, Prince Fielder had 50 homers and was second in the NL MVP voting, yet will earn $670,000 this season--a fact he wasn't too happy about. Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, among the league's best at his position, is signed for $439,000 this year.

In Longoria's case, the Tampa Bay Rays will have him dirt cheap for what amounts to four seasons.

Then, after the 2011 season, Longoria will be eligible for arbitration and receive market value. In 2014, he can become a free agent and get his revenge. Still, an extra year he will wait.

Wouldn't it be fitting if the Rays turn it around with Longoria, only to missing the playoffs by a game? If only he was here from the beginning, they say.

A shocking new report from the Associated Press uncovered some startling information: New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez makes a lot of money. And Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is cheap; he doesn't pay his players very much. What revelations!

Alex Rodriguez's new salary is the highest in Major League Baseball at $28 million. In comparison, the Opening Day roster and disabled list of the Marlins tops out at $21.8 million.

So, A-Rod, what do you have to say about about this? "The Marlins? It's amazing," Rodriguez said. "And they still seem to find a way to be very competitive. [...] To win two championships in 11 years, that's really admirable, and I'm very proud of that organization, being from Miami."

Since every time baseball salaries are mentioned, people seem to break it down into "per homer" or "per inning." (Any of those stats really.) Why not do the same now? Alex Rodriguez has earned roughly $170 million in his career. That is--refreshing my math rules for dividing by zero-- an undefined amount per World Series win. The Marlins, since their inaugural 1993 season, have paid $470 million to players, or $235 million for each World Series title.

So, to conclude, A-Rod is overpaid and Loria is a cheap jerk business-wise owner.