"What everybody labels the sophomore slump…I don't believe it," Hamilton said. "It just depends on the player's preparation and how he gets ready for the season."
That's the challenge facing Nomar Mazara as he gets ready for his "sophomore" season in the Major Leagues. The second year can often be the toughest for a young player, and it can also reveal much about him.
"It could be because everybody knows who you are and what you are about and where your holes are," third baseman Adrian Beltre said. "You still keep the same approach, but you still have to have an idea and keep getting better.