What can you say? If Mike Hampton were a bridge, there's not a human being on Earth -- I don't care how brave -- who would dare to drive over him.

It's so funny, it's sad. Or maybe it's so sad, it's funny.

I'm surprised it took this long to make it up on BTF. I figured it would be up to 50 posts by now.

The universe in which he was a Met seems completely removed from the one we're now in, doesn't it?

They are just saving him so he can face the Mets' heavy LHB lineup. Bobby is a genius.

Think Hampton is being DL-ed, and the Braves will have to call up some minor league arm. The bullpen is toast pretty much.

And who goes down when Smoltz comes off the DL? I am picking Corky Miller after his performance today, but knowing Bobby, his performance today means Corky earns atleast one more start

The universe in which he was a Met seems completely removed from the one we're now in, doesn't it?

Pretty much . . . since those were also the Steve Phillips-built, Bobby V.-managed, Mike Piazza-led, Best Infield Ever??? Mets of the 2000 World Series. Completely different universe, indeed.

Think Hampton is being DL-ed, and the Braves will have to call up some minor league arm. The bullpen is toast pretty much.

I understand that, much as they renamed the ROY for Jackie Robinson, the DL is now going to actually be renamed the Mike Hampton Disabled List. As such, Hampton won't actually have to be put on it; he's got a lifetime honorary membership.

I thought it was awesome when Cox put Resop in LF today.

Shouldn't the DL list be named after Carl Pavano instead?

Yesterday there was some discussion on WFAN if the Mets should get Edgar Alfonso as a backup infielder. A mere 8 months older than Derek Jeter.

Shouldn't the DL list be named after Carl Pavano instead?

American League version. Simple.

he's got a lifetime honorary membership.

Nah, There is enough competition from Alou and El Duque.

Nah, There is enough competition from Alou and El Duque.

Hmmmmmm . . .

Games Played, 2006-2007

Moises Alou

2006: 98
2007: 87

El Duque

2006: 29
2007: 27

Mike Hampton

2006: chirp
2007: chirp

Alou and El Duque -- who I grant you are deadly serious about their rights to the trainer's time and attention -- don't even stand a chance when Mike Hampton clears his throat and says, "Ouch." The trainer comes a' running. He puts his kids through college and retires because of Mike Hampton. Hell, Alou and El Duque are robust, hale and hearty compared to Mike Hampton.

Some awesome person with $45 to blow should totally sponsor Hampton's Bbref page:

60-day D.L. sponsors this page.
Mike, my east-rising sun.

See, now I kinda feel like an #######. Last night I said it would be awesome if Hampton threw a single pitch, feigned a serious arm injury and burst out laughing when Cox and the trainers came trotting out to check on him.

I thought it was awesome when Cox put Resop in LF today.

That was awesome. Anybody remember the last time they saw that? That is, a manager stashing a pitcher at a fielding position so he could bring him back in the game to pitch later? It would have worked brilliantly if Resop could, you know, ever get anybody out. I remember the Brewers doing it some years ago.

OTOH, for the rest of his life Matt Diaz is going to have deal with being the guy who was replaced defensively by a pitcher.

OTOH, for the rest of his life Matt Diaz is going to have deal with being the guy who was replaced defensively by a pitcher.

Back in the mid-1980s, a guy named Ken Hayward, playing first base for the University of Michigan, had to deal with this regularly. Of course, it was mitigated by the fact that the pitcher had to deal with the fact that a first baseman was replacing him on the mound. Hayward was an incredibly valuable guy; he was a LOOGY who could hit enough to play first base (at the NCAA level) and could get warm in eight tosses. Tough lefty coming to the plate in a key situation? Move the pitcher to first, let Hayward deal with him, and then switch back.

Whitey did this with Todd Worrell constantly.

I know Al Dark did switching with pitchers/positions when he managed Cleveland. Davey Johnson did it in 1986 when the Mets had several players ejected in a fight with Cincinnati, switching off McDowell and Orosco.

I understand that, much as they renamed the ROY for Jackie Robinson, the DL is now going to actually be renamed the Mike Hampton Disabled List. As such, Hampton won't actually have to be put on it; he's got a lifetime honorary membership.

Pedro stops by long enough to empty the mangoes out of the fridge. Hampton and Pavano just sit on my couch eating Doritos and playing X-Box day and night.

But my home and my heart belong to Griffey.

He'll be back, you know. We were meant to be together.

according to the ajc, it was was the first time since 1990 that a pitcher moved from the mound to the outfield and then back to the mound. Doesn't say who it was though.

But my home and my heart belong to Griffey.

This is the equivalent of a "Dear Mark" letter to a certain Padres almost-pitcher, whose heart is now breaking. What does a man have to do to earn you love, oh fickle 15-Day DL??? Griffey??? The veritable Iron Horse compared to The Twinge!

Chuck Tanner did that switcheroo thing with Kent Tekulve, too.

Is there a list somewhere of the players who have spent the most days on the DL? That would be an interesting list.

Roger Craig did it with the Giants so he could switch a lefty and righty late in a game as mathchups developed. IIRC one pitcher ended up watching a home run sail over his head in the outfield.

This situation seems ripe for an office pool joke, but it was actually too early to work. The first start? That's not even fair. My friend called and asked if I saw that Mike Hampton got hurt, to which I responded, "I know. Well, I didn't actually know, but I knew."

My wife and I were watching the game and they kept showing him hurt himself. She's a fairly competitive amateur runner and after awhile she just exploded. Something about him being a pu$$y and he should just keep going. To be honest, I didn't even know she was paying attention (she usually reads while I watch a game - I guess early in the year she hasn't lost interest yet). I also had never heard her use that word to describe another person.

It did seem as if Simpson (the SS announcer) and the other guy could barely contain sarcastic remarks. They never said anything that could outright be construed as critical, but the tone definitely seemed amused.

This may be the least surprising injury in the history of baseball. At no point did I understand the absurd preseason hype surrounding the Braves. Good offense, bad bullpen, mediocre old starting pitching (Glavine is basically a 6 IP/4.80 ERA now that he is no longer in Shea)

I know Al Dark did switching with pitchers/positions when he managed Cleveland.

Dark did it specifically (and only) with one pitcher--Sudden Sam, to avoid him having to face Frank Howard, who PWNED McDowell; in this game, he moved him to 2B; in this one, to 1B

And who goes down when Smoltz comes off the DL?

I'm hoping it's Resop. He throws hard, but has no idea where the ball is going. And even worse, watching him on TV, his fastball looks really straight.

Heh. Checking the game thread on Braves Journal:

Catz // Apr 3, 2008 at 1:21 pm

I bet Hampton will re-injure himself warming up or something

We have a winner!

Chuck Tanner did that switcheroo thing with Kent Tekulve, too.

I believe Tekulve pitched an inning, then played an inning in right field, and was then physically used by Rennie Stennett to lay down a bunt.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!


Oh, this is too good. I was laughing my ass off last night when i got the news. Hampton, you ####### china doll.

Come on, you sonuvabitch, keep getting injured.

I want to get in, go to, and graduate college in the time between your starts.*

Yep; his last start was August 19, 2005 and my first day of classes was August 22, 2005. Just checked.

That would be pretty sweet, craig. But you can take your time to graduate. I don't think he'll be back.

You may want to leave out "get in" in that list, then. ;-) Unless you got in the day before classes started.

############. I mean, I'm not surprised, but still. ############.

# Atlanta to pay $48.5M ($2M of 2003 salary, $2M in 2004, $1.5M in 2005, $13.5M in 2006, $14.5M in 2007, $15M in 2008).

The Braves got about 430 innings of roughly 109 ERA+ pitching and 32 wins.

Where's Sam H. to tell us all we're underrating Hampton?

Well, the Phillies may not have put a lot of work into upgrading the rotation, but at least if our perpetually injured veteran starter defies all logical possibilities and gets injured, we won't miss him (Kris Benson) very much.

To answer #4, since no one did: Hampton relegated to DL, Jo Jo Reyes called up for bullpen relief. (Carlyle started for Richmond last night.) Smoltz is slated to start Sunday, at which point, they'll have to designate someone.

Re: #36, The braves paid very little of that 2006-2007 money. Insurance, baby!

I'm hoping it's Resop. He throws hard, but has no idea where the ball is going. And even worse, watching him on TV, his fastball looks really straight.


See also: Yates, Tyler.

At least he has a little bit of a slide ball to keep hitters honest. Resop has that lollipop curveball with the slowed-down arm motion.

Oh, and Resop can't be sent down -- he's out of options. The only choice the Braves would have with him is to DFA him. In fact, I think the only one in that bullpen with options is Will Ohman. I can't even be sure on that.

They can just send Reyes back down when Smoltz comes back, can't they?

This is the equivalent of a "Dear Mark" letter to a certain Padres almost-pitcher, whose heart is now breaking. What does a man have to do to earn you love, oh fickle 15-Day DL??? Griffey??? The veritable Iron Horse compared to The Twinge!

Him? We had a strictly professional relationship. I hired him to do some home repair projects.

I had a LOT of home repair projects.

Whitey did this with Todd Worrell constantly.

Looks like four games in 5 seasons, according to BB-Ref.

I was excited to read about this, I always like when Bobby Cox does something outside the box. Of course, every time he does, he gets burned. He's like the anti-Torre. Any time Torre would bust out his closer before the 9th in the postseason he'd look like a genius; any time Cox would do anything unconventional it'd blow up in his face.

ISTR that had Bream been tagged out at home in the 1992 NLCS that the 10th inning might have seen Smoltz in LF and Ron Gant back at 2B.

Oh, and Resop can't be sent down -- he's out of options. The only choice the Braves would have with him is to DFA him. In fact, I think the only one in that bullpen with options is Will Ohman. I can't even be sure on that.

I have no problem if someone claims Resop on waivers. They can have him. He's just a harder-throwing Reitsma. Their names even sound the same!

They can just send Reyes back down when Smoltz comes back, can't they?

Reyes will be sent down to activate Chuckie James. They'll need another move to make room for Smoltz.

This headline is ambiguous. It looks like it's saying this is the first start Hampton has missed since '05.

What it should say is "Braves' Hampton scratched for 68th straight start".

I was disappointed that the Pirates didn't get to hit against Hampton, but fortunately they were able to pull out the win anyway.

Bennett actually did pretty well in his emergency start. Kid should be proud.

>>Rich Harden high fives himself in mirror.<<

I have to claim responsibility for this injury.

For the second year in a row, my NL-only fantasy team has been a magnet for the Injury Fairy. Not only the expected missed time from guys like Hermida, Alou, RJ, or the sleeper Mark Prior, but other players as well. It took only three days on the roster for Kelly Johnson to start missing time. It took less than a full start for Pedro Martinez to get hurt despite no history of hamstring problems.

But Hampton gets the reward for fastest cursed player. I picked him up after dropping Pedro to the DL for a one-start stint against a lousy Pirate offense around noon yesterday. By the time I got home from work, he had been scratched from the game.

Padre fans everywhere can look out. In a league with around 55-60 NL starting pitchers already taken, the pickings were very slim, so I went with Heath Bell for the ERA, WHIP, and maybe an occasional W. But who are we kidding? He will join his friends on the DL soon enough.

Well, the Phillies may not have put a lot of work into upgrading the rotation, but at least if our perpetually injured veteran starter defies all logical possibilities and gets injured, we won't miss him (Kris Benson) very much.

Chuck James is a better pitcher than Hampton. The Braves won't miss him.

Hey Hampton - How's that Colorado School System now?
http://sportslocker.blogspot.com/

>>Rich Harden high fives himself in mirror.<<

And hurts his shoudler doing so.

>>Rich Harden high fives himself in mirror.<<

And hurts his shoudler doing so.

I prefer that Rich Harden not high five anything. In fact, when not pitching, he should be encased in bubble wrap and locked in a room where the air can be purified before he breathes it. Gently, Rich, gently...

according to the ajc, it was was the first time since 1990 that a pitcher moved from the mound to the outfield and then back to the mound. Doesn't say who it was though.

Les Lancaster. Interestingly enough, he stayed in left feld for three batters.

Mets/Cubs, June 13, 1990

Chuck James is a better pitcher than Hampton.

Uh, excuse me? Mike Hampton hasn't allowed an earned run in more than two and a half years.

Uh, excuse me? Mike Hampton hasn't allowed an earned run in more than two and a half years.

Of course, Mike Hampton also hasn't retired a batter in more than two and a half years. :)

Chuck James is a better pitcher than Hampton. The Braves won't miss him.

Well, it's not like they ever had him, so it'd be hard to miss him. Can chuck james actually make it out to the field? Then he's better.

Hampton made it out to the field. He participated in the pre-game player announcements on opening day.

Weird that Mets fans would go so far to find other examples, didn't Davey Johnson do just this on more than one occasion?

"The universe in which he was a Met seems completely removed from the one we're now in, doesn't it?

"Pretty much . . . since those were also the Steve Phillips-built, Bobby V.-managed, Mike Piazza-led, Best Infield Ever??? Mets of the 2000 World Series."

Sam, I'm shocked; '99 was the BIE. The WS team had Todd F Zeile at 1st & Mike F Bordick at short.

Hampton made it out to the field. He participated in the pre-game player announcements on opening day.

So did Chuck James, actually. I thought he was supposed to be in extended spring training, but there he was.

If you all have not seen them you need to go to You Tube and search on some combination of Mac Thompson (who writes a Braves Blog) and Mike Hampton and watch some of the videos he has made of Mike Hampton getting hurt.

Sam, I'm shocked; '99 was the BIE. The WS team had Todd F Zeile at 1st & Mike F Bordick at short.

Sue me. I was using a little artistic license, trying to capture the era in general. While Ordonez was still around (though injured when the WS came around) in 2000, the saddest thing of all about that team was that Olerud was gone. How could you not like John Olerud?