UPDATE, 7:10 p.m.: Josh Hamilton released a statement saying his issue has been discipline.

"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 it again publicly but feel I haven't been given that option with all of the speculating out there as to what the 'mystery issue' was."

EARLIER: The Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton is trying to put his prolonged slump behind him and put to rest speculation about his off-the-field mystery.

"People are not going to understand; I'll share more later," the All-Star outfielder said after Thursday's 15-9 win against the Los Angeles Angels. "It's out there that my marriage is falling apart and people are trying to figure out what's going on, but it's nobody's business. When I want you to know, I'll let you know."

Last weekend, Hamilton, who was in the midst of a 1-for-14 slide, stopped short of revealing what's really been holding him back.

"The frustrating part is dealing with (the media) and not being able to share everything with you guys," Hamilton told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "When the time is right, you guys will be right in the loop.

"I've been shown a lot of things over the past week. There's disobedience and there's obedience to God. I've been being disobedient. It may be a small thing to you, but it's a big thing to him. There's consequences. It's like a father and a kid. There are disciplines. You guys can chew on that and think about it."

Rangers manager Ron Washington sidestepped the question when he was asked about it during an interview on an ESPN Dallas radio station.

"The issues is something that I think Josh would definitely have to be the one to expose," Washington said. "It's certainly not physical. It has nothing to do with injuries. Josh is the one that made the statement that got all the inquiries going, and I think Josh is the one that has to put a rest to the inquiries, not Ron Washington. I can just tell you one thing: It is not because he's hurt."

The mystery continues, but his slump (.177 in July) may be coming to an end.

In Thursday's slugfest against Angels, Hamilton had four RBI in, and he has driven in 10 runs in the past nine games.

"Basically I've said, 'You know what, stop thinking about it, stop listening to everybody. Everybody's got something to say and just go out there and play'," said Hamilton, who becomes a free agent after the season. "React. Try to slow the game down again. It worked. There's nothing wrong with my swing. It's just about trusting myself, not being too aggressive and trying to slow the game down again."