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Mike Hampton's career has been interesting to follow. At one time many felt he was the best LHP in baseball, but injuries have plagued him and now he is arguably the best fifth starter in the game. Anthony DiComo from mlb.com wrote the following:
JUPITER, Fla. -- Breaking Albert Pujols' bat is not an easy thing to do. So when Mike Hampton fired a pitch toward Pujols on Monday and shattered the bat of arguably the National League's best hitter, half of him knew he was having a good day.
The other half simply hoped he wasn't seeing things.
"I think he set me up for the year," Hampton joked. "Usually, we try to set up hitters, but I think he might have set me up. I'm not going to count it a victory yet."
He won't, but the Braves certainly will. Hampton drew rave reviews from manager Bobby Cox after his best and longest outing of the spring, giving the Braves reason to believe that they've found a fifth starter as talented as any in the league.
"He had no-hit stuff today," Cox said. "I don't know if I've even seen him that good since he's been with us."
Hampton pitched 4 1/3 innings in all, allowing just one run -- and even that didn't cross the plate until after he had left the game. He struck out the first two Cardinals he faced -- both looking -- and three in total, accumulating seven groundball outs along the way. The only noticeable blemishes on Hampton's line were two hits and three walks -- and the free passes didn't even irk him all that much.
"That's the biggest hurdle I've jumped over yet," Hampton said.
Pitching into the fifth inning encouraged Hampton, and pitching as well as he did was simply a bonus. It has to be, because right now -- and perhaps for the rest of his career -- all issues continue to center around his health.
Even on a day such as Monday, when Hampton could seemingly do no wrong, the Braves had to temper their excitement. This is still a pitcher who has teased them with potential before, only spend far more time in the trainer's room than on the field. This is still the same Hampton who hasn't pitched since 2005 due to multiple surgeries on his left arm, and who remained fragile enough to miss significant time this spring with a strained right groin and a strained right hamstring.
Still, that electric stuff -- it's difficult for a manager to ignore.
"We're here to get in shape," Cox said, "but I'd rather see guys sharp."
Guaranteed nothing coming into the spring, Hampton has now pitched himself into the Braves rotation until further notice. And that's quite a step forward. Usually, missing two consecutive years with arm trouble would be a ticket to retirement for a 36-year-old pitcher. Not Hampton. Not now.
The Braves don't necessarily need him -- they've got youngster Jair Jurrjens already in the rotation, and the rehabbing Chuck James ready to pounce at any opening -- but a healthy Hampton could change the scope of things. He's still got that kind of talent.
And this -- at least for now -- is a healthy Hampton.
"If I can build from this on two more starts," Hampton said, "I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be ready to go."
He even laid down two sacrifice bunts on Monday, proving that his prowess as a hitter -- Hampton once hit .344 with the Rockies -- hasn't disappeared. He pitched, he hit and he fielded. And all this from a guy who last week was idling in a simulated game, unsure exactly when his next chance might come.
So, sure, the Braves have reason to be excited and reason to be optimistic as they await Hampton's final two Grapefruit League starts this month. They have reason to be cautious, too, knowing that their fifth starter will always remain one break, tear or strain away from never pitching for them again.
The Braves recognize the potential risk. And after watching Hampton pitch on Monday, they also recognize the potential reward.
"I feel good with the outcome of everything," Hampton said. "It was a good step. I'm pretty happy with the results and where I'm at -- and hopefully it can continue."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
