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Thursday, May 01, 2008

ajc: Mike Hampton leaves rehab start (RR)

Bad vibes...The Many Slides of Hamp!

Mike Hampton’s protracted comeback trail took another turn Wednesday when the pitcher left a minor-league game with more discomfort in his left pectoral muscle.

He left in the fourth inning of Class AAA Richmond’s game at Durhman, N.C., after throwing 71 pitches in what had been an encouraging outing to that point.

“We were counting heavily on him,” said Braves manager Bobby Cox, who had the left-hander scheduled for a May 10 start at Pittsburgh, but will have to reassess that plan as the Braves’ rash of injuries continues unabated.

“He went 31/3 [innings] and felt it, is all I know,” Cox said, adding that he wouldn’t know more until the Braves see Hampton after they return to Atlanta. “He came out [of the game]. Maybe he came out just in time.”

Repoz Posted: May 01, 2008 at 07:14 AM | 37 comment(s)
Related News: General, Atlanta

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1. In what respect, Craig K? Posted: May 01, 2008 at 07:30 AM (#2764896)

...

2. BaseballDIY Posted: May 01, 2008 at 08:13 AM (#2764910)

There aren't many things I give worse odds than the likelihood of Chinese Democracy ever coming out, but a Mike Hampton comeback is one of them.

3. Belfry Bob Posted: May 01, 2008 at 08:17 AM (#2764912)

He left in the fourth inning of Class AAA Richmond’s game at Durhman, N.C.,

The IL has moved into some obscure markets, that's for sure.

4. Chris Dial Posted: May 01, 2008 at 08:53 AM (#2764938)

Chuck James came in in relief.

5. BhamWhiteBaron Posted: May 01, 2008 at 08:55 AM (#2764942)

Repeat?

6. gef the talking mongoose Posted: May 01, 2008 at 08:55 AM (#2764943)

I'd have to seriously think about breaking down & getting cable TV if some network would give (speaking of "breaking down") Hampton & JD Drew their own reality show, in which they'd compete to see who could come closest to carrying out routine tasks (opening a jar of peanut butter, for example, or taking out the trash) without suffering debilitating injury. Ambulances would be standing by at all times.

7. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: May 01, 2008 at 09:20 AM (#2764961)

Now come on, it's borderline slander is group JD Drew with Mike Hampton. Say what you will about Drew's injuries, but at least he's played in a season more recent than one where the Astros won the pennant.

I'm sure Sam H. will be along any minute now to tell us this is just a brief setback.

8. gef the talking mongoose Posted: May 01, 2008 at 09:27 AM (#2764968)

RB -- yes, but Drew is on my fantasy team, where he excels in hitting only when on my bench, so I'm becoming ever more frustrated with him. (Not as much as I am with Casey Blake, though, who I think is probably hitting .800 with multiple HRs on my bench & .000 in my active lineup.)

9. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: May 01, 2008 at 09:28 AM (#2764971)

Would someone be throwing baseballs at Drew's hands as he carried out the routine tasks?

10. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: May 01, 2008 at 09:51 AM (#2764988)

“We were counting heavily on him,” said Braves manager Bobby Cox

That's a joke, right? I mean, Mac over at braves journal broke down bobby's mistakes last night, but if bobby actually believes this, then it really might be time to replace the old man. I haven't counted on a hampton start in 2+ years.

11. schuey Posted: May 01, 2008 at 10:21 AM (#2765023)

Who pitches in a major league game first: Mike Hampton or Carl Pavano? What century will it occur?

12. Bob "Jugement" Dernier Posted: May 01, 2008 at 10:47 AM (#2765064)

In other news, the corpse of Harold Stassen dropped out of the Republican primary race in Indiana this week.

13. Master of the small sample size Posted: May 01, 2008 at 10:59 AM (#2765089)

Hampton is looking more and more like the Black Knight...

"It's just a flesh wound..."

14. 1k5v3L Posted: May 01, 2008 at 11:01 AM (#2765098)

At least the Rockies got one decent season by Preston Wilson out of the Mike Hampton contract.

15. Deadball... With the Power To Melt People's Faces Posted: May 01, 2008 at 11:39 AM (#2765203)

Are the Marlins still paying part of his salary to not pitch for them?

16. jwb Posted: May 01, 2008 at 01:22 PM (#2765405)

No, but the Marlins are paying Ugueth Urbina to play in the Venezuelan Prison League.

(opening a jar of peanut butter, for example, or taking out the trash)

carrying a piece of meat up a flight of stairs. . .

17. bfan Posted: May 01, 2008 at 01:27 PM (#2765413)

no, I think Cox was sincere that he was counting on Hampton. it is just typical of his bad planning, counting on stuff that isn't going to happen, and then blaming the lack of success of the Braves on the event. He bunts way more with "non-bunters" than he should and then when they don't succeed, he acts surprised. Dude-Matt Diaz wasn't put on this Earth to bunt.

18. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: May 01, 2008 at 01:38 PM (#2765431)

You'd think that injuring two key players who should almost never be bunting (mccann and escobar) in consecutive years would teach him not to do it anymore. Those are players who should never be bunting unless the game (tie game, late) absolutely calls for it.

19. bfan Posted: May 01, 2008 at 01:45 PM (#2765443)

That and bunting Diaz from time to time, who is a poor bunter. You give up the .350 average so that you have 1 out, man on second and the bottom of the order up?

20. The Buddy Biancalana Hit Counter Posted: May 01, 2008 at 01:55 PM (#2765457)

Dave O'Brien's probably written more "Hampton not coming back yet" stories than he can remember and is trying to find a fresh way to communicate this reality, but I chuckled that he described this as "another turn" on Hampton's comeback trail.

Unless, of course, he's insinuating a series of turns in the same direction by which Hampton makes no progress. If that's the case, well played, sir.

21. Mike Emeigh Posted: May 01, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2765524)

He left in the fourth inning of Class AAA Richmond’s game at Durhman, N.C.

which is right next door to Rahlegi.

-- MWE

22. Metman died today. Or yesterday maybe, Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:07 PM (#2765598)

So, assuming Hampton doesn't, you know, actually ever pitch for the Braves, and Smoltz goes to the pen, what is the Braves rotation?

Hudson, Glavine, Jurrens, Reyes, and James?

Ouch. After watching the Phillies win a division while giving 104 starts to Eaton (6.29), Moyer (5.01), JD Durbin (5.15), Kendrick (insanely lucky), and the corpse of Freddy Garcia (5.90), I would never count the Braves out, but that's going to be tough.

23. rb's team is inventing new ways to lose! Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM (#2765634)

Jurjens is awesome. I have no doubts about him, and haven't since we traded for him. Hudson and JJ will be fine. Glavine appears to be working again, so that's nice. I guess at this point i'm hoping that the dreck from last year have improved with time and experience. Also that bobby will take a shot on campillo in the rotation. I think that he could be good as a fourth or fifth.

24. Corn On Ty Cobb Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM (#2765636)

Jurrjens.

25. bunyon Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:28 PM (#2765644)

Hampton is looking more and more like the Black Knight...

"It's just a flesh wound..."

The thing is, this does appear to be a flesh wound. Whoever said it wasn't fair to compare Drew and Hampton was correct. Hampton is unbelievably fragile. i think people are too quick to question the determination of oft-injured players, but I can't help wondering with Hampton.

26. flournoy Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:39 PM (#2765659)

Binks has been lights out for Richmond so far this year. Of course, he was last year, too. But he's still 23, and he could come up pretty big for Atlanta if he can adjust to the majors this year.

27. Corn On Ty Cobb Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:40 PM (#2765661)

Jurrjens is off to a great start and is extremely polished for a 22 year old. But he's still a 22 year old. I think he's going to be very good going forward, but expecting anything better than a 100-105 ERA+ this year is extremely unlikely. You need more than that out of your #2. It'd be nice if Glavine and James could stay healthy and provide league average production, but I doubt they will. Reyes is AAAA fodder and a non prospect to me.

28. Mike Hampton's #1 Fan Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:44 PM (#2765671)

Hampton is unbelievably fragile.

Obviously, he must be juicing.

29. flournoy Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:46 PM (#2765675)

Reyes is AAAA fodder and a non prospect to me.

Why do you think that? His big league performance last year was terrible, but very uncharacteristic of him, and he's only a year older than Jurrjens. Don't give up on him yet.

30. flournoy Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:47 PM (#2765678)

If Mike Hampton were suspended for steroid use, would anybody notice?

31. Metman died today. Or yesterday maybe, Posted: May 01, 2008 at 03:50 PM (#2765682)

Jurjens is awesome. I have no doubts about him, and haven't since we traded for him. Hudson and JJ will be fine. Glavine appears to be working again, so that's nice. I guess at this point i'm hoping that the dreck from last year have improved with time and experience. Also that bobby will take a shot on campillo in the rotation. I think that he could be good as a fourth or fifth.

I admire your faith.

Jurrjens is a 22 year old who has never pitched more than 140 innings in a year, so I'm not certain he could be considered a sure thing (and he has been quite lucky with the BABIP for a ground ball pitcher). Reyes is basically in the same boat, except his command is worse than Jurrjens'. I see a lot of work for the underbelly of the bullpen.

32. Corn On Ty Cobb Posted: May 01, 2008 at 04:06 PM (#2765712)

Why do you think that? His big league performance last year was terrible, but very uncharacteristic of him, and he's only a year older than Jurrjens. Don't give up on him yet.

Eh. He's Horacio Ramirez with a few ticks more velocity. I don't think he will strikeout enough hitters at the big league level to compensate for his awful command.

33. flournoy Posted: May 01, 2008 at 04:33 PM (#2765760)

But his command wasn't awful in the minor leagues. (He is "Binks" that I mentioned above, in case that wasn't apparent.) He's had 162 walks against 436 strikeouts in 442 minor league innings. You can peruse his stats yourself, so I won't recite them any further, but there's nothing there to suggest that he doesn't project as a good big league pitcher. The subjective reports on him that I've seen support that. I'm willing to overlook a pitiful half season in the big leagues at age 22.

34. MSI Posted: May 01, 2008 at 04:59 PM (#2765804)

Does anyone else think Hampton isjust milking this for all its worth, and collecting the rest of his 121 million contract.

35. flournoy Posted: May 01, 2008 at 05:02 PM (#2765809)

No. Why wouldn't he want to pitch?

36. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: May 01, 2008 at 06:42 PM (#2765936)

I thought DoB said he was fighting it mentally tehse days, afraid of re-injuring himself.

The worst news was Smoltz finally giving up and saying he won't start anymore this year ( done for his career, I would guess ). This season is fast going down the drain.

37. AJM Misses Brodeur Posted: May 01, 2008 at 07:01 PM (#2765948)

I like that 71 pitches in 3 1/3 innings is an encouraging outing. I guess that his arm hadn't fallen off was encouraging.

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ajc: Mike Hampton leaves rehab start (RR)

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