I just read this astoundingly stupid nugget on Chop-n-Change:
"Mike Hampton threw off a mound for the first time since having elbow surgery back in April. The 35-year old left-hander is trying to come back from two lost seasons due to such surgeries and be an effective part of the Atlanta rotation next year. Any benefit the team could get from Hampton next year would be a huge plus for solidifying the rotation. "
Also being floated (again) is the possibility of a return of Tom Glavine next season.
With apologies to the clip below.......
MIKE HAMPTON ISN'T WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR. TOM GLAVINE ISN'T WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR. GREG MADDUX ISN'T WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR. AND IF YOU EXPECT THE TO WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR THEY'RE GOING TO BE GRAY AND OLD!
Seriously, there is no point hoping for any positive return from Mike Hampton for the remainder of his contract. I wrote this almost a year ago and it's still true. Yet writers continue to trot out this false hope.
IT'S.......NOT.........HAPPENING.
Let's not forget about Chipper Jones and his "injuries" which keep him out until getting called out by Smoltz for babying everything. He's probably quit on the season, unlike a lot of his teammates who are still hanging on, 4.5 games out of the wildcard, desparate with 16 games left but not out....yet.
(Really, they have three against Washington, three against Florida, four against Milwaukee, three against Philly, and three against Houston. All those teams are playing out the string or floundering lately. It's still possible if they get their acts together.)
And of course, there's Andruw Jones, who has turned in one of the worst "contract year" performances I've ever seen. Has anyone ever seen a proven hitter, in his prime, hitting .220 and slugging barely .400 in a contract year? How the hell do you get outslugged by Yunel Escobar? They should have traded him to the Red Sox when they had the chance last year.
At least Andruw is gone soon - the Braves will not re-sign him for what he will ask, even after such a horrendous effort.
Too bad Hampton and Chipper can't disappear after this season, because the team could use the extra $40 million from these three contracts for some people who can pitch and actually give a damn.
You know, gutting it out, hustling down the line, showing up to play every day, hustling and not loafing, not missing weeks or months at a time - something those three haven't done in a few years.
Maybe a little more effort would have the Braves closer than 4.5 games right now and keep me from typing this rant as the season comes to an end, whether it is in three week, four week, or more. There's still some hope.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Stop the false hope
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2 comments:
Agree with your comments on Andruw, Glavine, and (reluctantly) Hampton. I'll give you all those. But, Francase, you have to give up this constant Chipper bashing. I have never met another Braves fan who hates the guy so. He's actually very popular and that's exactly why fans of rivals like the Mets love to pick at him. It's the ultimate form of respect for a man who named his son Shea!
Chipper is having a monster year. Look at the numbers. Braves would be 10 games under 500 without his the numbers he put up in the 120 or so games he played. Is he injury prone? Sure. But he's not alone in that regard. And it has nothing to do with him loafing. Smoltz called him out to fire him up. But he ultimately knows better. Chipper's 35 and has been playing pro ball (at 3 different positions no less) for 17 years now. There is no shame in that.
With a couple more solid seasons like this one, Chip is on the way to the Hall of Fame. I recently heard Buster Olney and Tim Kirkjan (both HOF voters) say he will have earned it after getting his 400th HR. Not too shabby of praise there.
I understand your frustration. They frustrate me too. But most of us felt this was an 85 or so win team from the beginning. They'll come in close to that. And the nucleus of Jones-Francouer-McCann-and now maybe Texiera just needs some decent pitching in the future.
Rant all you want but give the man his due....and some hot wings, Chick-fil-a shakes, and fine girls too!!
Chipper has underachieved in expectations for the past four seasons. It's way past time to cut bait. He's never been a team leader in the traditional sense, and has a penchant for missing time with the most miniscule of injuries.
I don't think he ultimately "knows better". And constantly missing 1/4 of the season or more does not speak of dependability.
I like the young core very much, and think that in a couple years each may be all-stars in their own right.
It's time to move on. I'm tired of his excuses. And it would not surprise me if he decided to sit for the rest of the year.
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