8 Years, 121 Million Dollars

In a game like baseball, where a team like the 2006 Cardinals can sneak into the playoffs and win the world series, where the 2007 Phillies were able to come back from a seven game deficit in seventeen games to win the division, or where hits in play allowed by pitchers are largely contingent on factors out of their control, there are very few certainties anymore. Heck, we don’t even know if the Yankees will make the playoffs this year! One thing has been more than certain over the last few years, however, and it involves the name Mike Hampton and the word injury.

After pitching a full 2004 season he made just 12 starts in 2005 and has not pitched on a major league mound since. He has tried, however, making several attempts at coming back to justify the gaudy contract titling this post given to him in 2001, but to no alas. For all we know, that third of a season in 2005 may have been the last of Hampton’s career. Now, I’m not out to romanticize his career in any way, nor do I have any real sympathy for a guy making that much money for not really doing anything in recent years, but part of me does think it’s a shame that his body just does not seem fit for the game anymore, no matter what he does.

This year, his arm was finally major-league ready following two elbow surgeries, but the rest of his body fell apart. He was all set to make his major league return in early April but hurt his left pectoral muscle, getting scratched from the start in the process. He later aggravated his chest, and in a recent minor league start in which his pitch count rose to 90, he strained his groin muscle.

Hampton’s not an all-star or even the #2 option on most teams going back to his 2004 and 2005 performances, but a healthy form of him would be a suitable #4 or #5 starter… albeit the most wealthy one. I’ve seen reports that he should sign for the major league minimum with the Braves next year so he can “give back” to the team, which made little sense since he would still be getting paid and, honestly, who’s going to give him a nice-sized contract given his history? If he hurt himself like Kevin Brown punching a wall, or something along those lines I could understand that standpoint, but the fact is that Hampton has consistently hurt himself while trying to get back to the major leagues. I don’t know if the guy is “cursed” or if he has some sort of illness like Rocco Baldelli that is preventing him from staying healthy, but he just seems unable to do so.

“I can honestly look myself in the mirror and know that I’ve done everything I possibly can to get back,” he said. “Whether that happens or doesn’t, it’s not going to define who I am. I know I’ve done what it takes to get here and be successful.”

Unfortunately for Mike, unless he can get back to the big leagues and put together 4-5 solid years, his career IS going to be defined by his numerous injuries and setbacks, as well as for performance and lack thereof relative to a very steep contract.