Angels manager Mike Scioscia: Josh Hamilton 'not the same'

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is having a down year, and manager Mike Scioscia believes it's due to Hamilton's lack of confidence.

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is having a down year, and manager Mike Scioscia believes it's due to Hamilton's lack of confidence.

"Josh is not the same as he was when we were looking in the other dugout in Texas," Scioscia said, according to ESPN.com. "Right now, he's not in the batter's box with the confidence that we know he has. He's working hard to try to find it."

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The Angels entered play on Sunday in a virtual tie with the A's for first place in the AL West, a spot they haven't been in since 2011. But Hamilton, who was not in the starting lineup on Sunday, is hitting just .266 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs this season. He has struck out 99 times in 72 games.

The five-time All-Star and 2010 AL MVP is a career .292 hitter with 190 homers and 667 RBIs in one season with the Reds, five with the Rangers and two with the Angels.

The 33-year-old was on the disabled list for two months this season with a torn ligament in his left thumb. He was hitting .444 with two homers in early April before the injury.

- Chris Mascaro