Hampton Lost for ANOTHER Season

by gondeee on Apr 9, 2007 5:08 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

From the Braves PR Office, more wonderful news about the best injured pitcher we have (emphasis added):

Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton was examined today in New York by Dr. Dave Altcheck, who performed Hampton's "Tommy John" surgery in September 2005.

It was determined that Hampton has a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow. Dr. Altcheck will perform surgery on the tendon tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 7 a.m. in New York. Hampton is expected to be able to return to pitching activities in six to nine months. More information will be available after the surgery.

I have no words...

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I have a few 4-letter words

That worthless sack of crap. $100 million well spent.

by TradeAndruw on Apr 9, 2007 6:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Man

Does anyone know if his salary is covered in insurance? And can they then use those funds if needed?

by tblack on Apr 9, 2007 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, sort of...

...Of his $14 million, about $9 million is probably covered. The Braves won't give exact numbers, but this was generally the numbers that they were able to save last year (percentage wise).

by gondeee on Apr 9, 2007 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

I am sort of pulling those numbers out of my ass, but usually these contracts are insured such that 2/3 or 3/4 of the contract can be recouped and the rest goes towards a deductable of some sort. Super-high-end insurance is crazy, and belive it or not a lot of it can be recovered since it is spread around to so many different companies through re-insurance. Of course teams don't release these numbers, but based on other contracts in which insurance was recovered this is usually the case. So...I'm guessing around $9 mil, of course who knows what they paid as a premium to get that kind of covereage.

by gondeee on Apr 9, 2007 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice

Give me my money back, you [starting pitcher].

by Velcro Vernacular on Apr 9, 2007 6:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oh well

bla bla. i hate hampton.

by RehabReject on Apr 9, 2007 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

best return on their dollar since signing Maddux

... has been the health insurance premiums on Mike Hampton.

Hope the insurance carrier isn't AFLAC. They'd have to roast the duck.

by JimK on Apr 9, 2007 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No insurance

The insurance on Hampton's contract expired and was not renewed. That's what DOB from the AJC has been saying.

by Miatanate on Apr 9, 2007 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Conflicting Info

Here is what the official story said:

"Insurance covered part of Hampton's salary last season and will cover an undisclosed amount this season."

and then this from DOB himself:

"I came back a couple hours later, howver, and after speaking to a team official who assured me that was innacurate, that they still have insurance on him."

Money saved to fill needs during the season, just like they spent that money on Wickman, Baez, and Aybar last season.

by gondeee on Apr 9, 2007 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't We just shoot him?

If he was a horse he'd be GONE by now...Lock and Load

by CaptainRockSxD on Apr 9, 2007 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tragic and Frustrating.

I, for one, really thought he'd be back this year and hoped he'd help turn our starting pitching into another strength; now I'm at a loss for words. I hope he gets better and, even more so, I hope we find a way to win without him. Here's to a speedy recovery for Cormier and continued luck for Davies.

by ejruiz on Apr 9, 2007 9:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Geez

Wow guys. I'm all for cynicism and a jaded view of life, but give it a rest.

by rabies on Apr 9, 2007 10:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hey..

Wasn't Sturtze a starter before he went to the bullpen in New York?

by RehabReject on Apr 9, 2007 10:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't go there

Seriously!

by gondeee on Apr 9, 2007 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I've never been a Hampton supporter but the nasty comments here are a little unwarranted. It's not the like the guy got injured on purpose or because he was lazy or riding a dune buggy. He's got a bad elbow. Pitchers get hurt.

Hopefully, the insurance will cover enough to let them patch up the hole in the roster.

by mhsiegel14 on Apr 9, 2007 10:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sigh,,,,,,

elbow, setback, knee,,,,of course, he is injury prone.

A friend of mine was operated on for acute appendicitis when I went to college. Later a week, she felt the pain again. The doctor made a wrong diagnosis.
How about Hampton? I know it can't be happening... a bit disappointing.

Unfortunately, Hampton was still under contract for six years and, with the injury woes that have followed the veteran left-handed pitcher, now appears to have been anything but a bargain for the Braves. ---from mlb.com
07:$14.5M, 08:$15M, 09:$20M club option $6M buyout(The Colorado Rokies)
I'm sure fans don't want to resign with Hampton.

by brule on Apr 9, 2007 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Poor Hampton

I'm now starting to sympathize with the Cubs. It seems Prior and Wood would always be so close to making it back, then they'd be down with a bum shoulder or elbow or whatever, and, well, that was it for the season. Fortunately for us, we have what looks to be a decent starting 4 or 5 even without Hampton.

But if we're paying him (or insurance is paying), we might as well cross our fingers and hope he's ready by next year. What else can we do???

by wuky on Apr 9, 2007 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hampton

I am sorry, but not entirely surprised to see this happen. It is probably not Hampton's fault (unless he was too aggressive in rehab or didn't follow doctor's orders) and, yes, these things happen. The real problem was that Rockies unwisely gave him a super contract, which they soon saw was a colossal mistake. JS saw an opportunity and his gamble nearly worked. Hampton was pitching impressively during the end of 2004 and the beginning of 2005.

The pickup of Redman and the development of Cormier should mean that the difference will not be that great in the first half of the season.

A healthy Hampton might have been good in the second half....

by Stephen on Apr 10, 2007 3:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We're Spoiled

I think we Braves' fans got used to the Mazzone years with Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux putting up healthy year after healthy year until Smoltie's elbow went in '99. That's why we see huge contracts doled out to pitchers who can stay in the rotation. Stability is hard to come by, as the Cubs have learned.

I still don't think we really appreciate the magic we had for a decade with three great pitchers in the rotation consitently. BP's article on the Braves noted, as Bill James did in the Historical Abstract, that it was a historically great rotation -- possibly the best of all time.

by mhsiegel14 on Apr 10, 2007 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs