Hampton impressive in first major league appearance since 2005
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Only a few minutes after one of the
biggest outings of Mike Hampton's career, he faced one of his
biggest media gatherings in years.
The Braves beat a Houston Astros split squad, 6-4, and Hampton
was the big story.
He's been sidelined with multiple shoulder and elbow injuries
and, most recently a leg injury. He has NOT pitched in a big league
game since 2005, but Braves manager Bobby Cox said he still has
Hampton penciled in for a spot in his starting rotation.
Hampton was sharp and struck out his first batter, Michael
Bourne, on four pitches. He allowed only one single in two innings
and only went to two balls on one batter.
Despite the layoff, Hampton said he wants to be treated just
like any other Braves starter during the spring. He is part of a
five-man rotation that includes John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Chuck
James and Tim Hudson and Cox said that, until he hears otherwise,
Hampton will go every fifth day, adding more innings along the way.
Hampton said all he wanted was a chance and that he has never
felt better. Hampton won 22 games for the Astros in 1999 and won a
total of 27 games for the Braves in 2003 and 2004, but he went 5-3
in 2005 and has NOT pitched in the majors since.
Hampton said he is NOT ready to call it quits if the spring does
NOT go well, but he was throwing his curveball and sinker, mixing
it in with his regular pitches and said he did NOT feel even slight
pain.
Fifteen of Hamptons 22 pitches were strikes and nothing except
for a Jose Cruz, Junior single in the second inning, left the
infield.
Cox has plenty of candidates for a fifth starter, but he made it
clear he expects Hampton to get the nod.
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