Josh Hamilton’s arrival won’t change Angels’ clubhouse beer policy

TEMPE, Ariz.--The Angels did not ban beer from their clubhouse after 22-year-old pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver in 2009, and they will not ban it after the signing of outfielder Josh Hamilton, whose harrowing addiction to drugs and alcohol led to a three-year suspension from baseball from 2003-05.

Hamilton, the former Texas Rangers star, did not ask the Angels to change their policy after signing a five-year, $125-million deal in December.

“We’ve talked for a number of years about what we can do to help players with their environment, but we don’t think it will be an issue,” Manager Mike Scioscia said before the team’s first full-squad spring-training workout Friday. “Guys are all responsible.”

The Angels do not allow hard liquor in their clubhouse. The Rangers allowed beer in their clubhouse during Hamilton’s five years in Texas, but when they’d clinch a division title or win a playoff series, they had a special ginger-ale celebration with Hamilton before moving on to champagne and beer.

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