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Mailbag: Hampton Update
Written by Colin on May 26, 2008 – 7:44 amMike wrote our mailbag recently asking:
What is the status of Mike Hampton? I can’t find any updates on his recent injury and/or his rehab status. Anything would help – thanks.
Mike, let me help you with this one. Expecting Mike Hampton to be back at Turner Field anytime soon is probably setting yourself up for disappointment (not saying I’ve done the same thing time and time again).
I was one of the biggest Mike Hampton believers coming into this year, and as much as I’d like to believe that he can come back from this injury and pitch effectively for the Braves from the starting rotation, I have to caution you against buying into it. Until we actually see Hampton on the mound for the Braves, I’m in doubt that it’ll happen. And I sure won’t count on it.
That said, Hampton threw on flat ground Saturday, and there were no issues or re-straining of the pectoral muscle that has been giving him trouble all year. Hampton said “It felt good; I didn’t feel anything.” Hampton has another set of flat ground throwing Monday, where he’ll throw more than he did Saturday. He’s expected to have a few more similar sessions before he throws off a mound – that’ll come in the next week or two.
As far as a timetable for return, nothing has been said. I hate the cynicism that has crept into my thinking on Hampton, but it’s there nonetheless. I think we’ll see him in Atlanta sometime this year, but I can’t tell you when. I would love to see him come back from this and anchor the back half of the rotation for the remainder of the year, but that’s a long shot. Let’s all hope he can make it back and stay healthy. The guy’s worked hard and he deserves it.
Tags: Mike Hampton
Posted in Injuries, Mailbag | 22 Comments »
By josh on May 26, 2008 | Reply
Well ive decided not to get excited about Hampton any longer. I will just take a “yea right” attitude now. Headed down to the Ted here soon to hopefully see a split in this series. Go Braves
By Jonathan on May 26, 2008 | Reply
I was all for Hampton until the pectoral injury at Turner Field. Now, honestly, I could care less. I just want the season to end so we can be done with him and free up the salary. I did however get a good chuckle out of the 8×10 photos for sale in the clubhouse store at the stadium. Not quite sure why Hampton was in front. They’re going to have to pay me to take that off their hands. Maybe Mike’s mom could swing by and pick up a few.
By Joe on May 26, 2008 | Reply
Said it before….Hampton has pitched as much as me in three years, and I don’t &*%$ing pitch! 17 a year we could spend on a solid starter….or two……or three……or four and a utility guy. It’s just a joke now.
By Jonathan on May 26, 2008 | Reply
The only thing that is comforting out of it all is that the Braves are only picking up about a quarter of his salary.
By josh on May 27, 2008 | Reply
.25 To much!!!!!!!!!
By Colin on May 27, 2008 | Reply
He’s only making 15mil, not 17mil. And we’re only getting a quarter of that… which is under 4mil – which isn’t anything to sneeze at but it’s less than half what Glavine makes.
By Jonathan on May 27, 2008 | Reply
so we take that combined 13mil and spend it on trying to get another quality starter….
By Shaun on May 27, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, I really wanted to believe in Hampton this year, too. Thing is, when he pitched this spring, he looked really good. Saw him in the exhibition vs. the Indians at the Ted in March. C’est la vie.
Where’d you guys get .25 from? My understanding was that after the Rockies and Marlins covered most of his salary through 2006, we picked up the whole salary for 2007 and 2008, meaning there’s only insurance to offset it those years. Everything I’ve heard says the best guess on the insurance is that it covers no more than half.
By Colin on May 27, 2008 | Reply
He did look very good in March at the Ted, and in spring training he looked great too. His sinker was there working overtime.
By Jonathan on May 27, 2008 | Reply
The Braves were on the hook for $48.5 million over six years of Mike Hampton’s contract. $23.5 million to the Marlins and $12.5 million to the Rockies. This is all post-trade as the Rockies picked up all the pre-trade portion of the $121 million contract.
I know the original designation was to pull that money for the 2003-2005 seasons, so we may be on the hook for the full amount right now. I’ll need to research how the contract was buffered out in the payment structure.
By Shaun on May 27, 2008 | Reply
Here:
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html
Though, I’m not sure what this dude’s source is.
Schuerholz really loved backloading our obligations on contracts.
By Jonathan on May 27, 2008 | Reply
Great site, Shaun. Thanks!
The site sounds pretty accurate so I’d say his source is fairly solid.
Yea, that contract is completely backloaded so we have a good bit tied up in Hampton this season even with insurance. Either way, that’s all the more salary that we can free up.
By Mike on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
The thing about Hampton I like so much is that he’s a gamer which fits in well with the mentality of the team. I’m tempering my enthusiasm for his return but know that he could still be a huge asset. Also, the Braves have no choice but to pay what they are for him so we might as well think positive about the situation. Go Braves!
By josh on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Well ive decided not to get excited about Hampton any longer. I will just take a "yea right" attitude now. Headed down to the Ted here soon to hopefully see a split in this series. Go Braves
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I was all for Hampton until the pectoral injury at Turner Field. Now, honestly, I could care less. I just want the season to end so we can be done with him and free up the salary. I did however get a good chuckle out of the 8×10 photos for sale in the clubhouse store at the stadium. Not quite sure why Hampton was in front. They're going to have to pay me to take that off their hands. Maybe Mike's mom could swing by and pick up a few.
By Joe on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Said it before….Hampton has pitched as much as me in three years, and I don't &*%$ing pitch! 17 a year we could spend on a solid starter….or two……or three……or four and a utility guy. It's just a joke now.
By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
He's only making 15mil, not 17mil. And we're only getting a quarter of that… which is under 4mil – which isn't anything to sneeze at but it's less than half what Glavine makes.
By Shaun on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Yeah, I really wanted to believe in Hampton this year, too. Thing is, when he pitched this spring, he looked really good. Saw him in the exhibition vs. the Indians at the Ted in March. C'est la vie.
Where'd you guys get .25 from? My understanding was that after the Rockies and Marlins covered most of his salary through 2006, we picked up the whole salary for 2007 and 2008, meaning there's only insurance to offset it those years. Everything I've heard says the best guess on the insurance is that it covers no more than half.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
The Braves were on the hook for $48.5 million over six years of Mike Hampton's contract. $23.5 million to the Marlins and $12.5 million to the Rockies. This is all post-trade as the Rockies picked up all the pre-trade portion of the $121 million contract.
I know the original designation was to pull that money for the 2003-2005 seasons, so we may be on the hook for the full amount right now. I'll need to research how the contract was buffered out in the payment structure.
By Shaun on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Here:
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html
Though, I'm not sure what this dude's source is.
Schuerholz really loved backloading our obligations on contracts.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Great site, Shaun. Thanks!
The site sounds pretty accurate so I'd say his source is fairly solid.
Yea, that contract is completely backloaded so we have a good bit tied up in Hampton this season even with insurance. Either way, that's all the more salary that we can free up.
By Mike on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
The thing about Hampton I like so much is that he's a gamer which fits in well with the mentality of the team. I'm tempering my enthusiasm for his return but know that he could still be a huge asset. Also, the Braves have no choice but to pay what they are for him so we might as well think positive about the situation. Go Braves!