I'm not good at posting links, but, it was just announced that Atlanta Braves lefthander Mike Hampton, who has not pitched since Mid 2005, and who missed all of the 2006 season, due to Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, will miss the entire 2007 season, due to surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow.
Hampton was a terrible investment for the Braves. After winning 32 games from 2003 until the early part of 2005, he will not have pitched for nearly 3 years by the time he returns for spring training next year.
This is truly an unusual situation. Normally, a pitcher who undergoes Tommy John surgery misses one full season, and returns. In the case of John Smoltz, while he did miss the 2000 season due to this surgery, and his return was slow in 2001, including a disabled list trip or two, by the end of that year he was closing games dominantly for the Braves, and then had a lights out 2002, winning the Rolaids relief man of the year award with 55 saves.
Hopefully, Hampton can recover properly this time, and return to the Braves in 2008, to fulfill the final year of his contract.
Mitch
Hampton was a terrible investment for the Braves. After winning 32 games from 2003 until the early part of 2005, he will not have pitched for nearly 3 years by the time he returns for spring training next year.
This is truly an unusual situation. Normally, a pitcher who undergoes Tommy John surgery misses one full season, and returns. In the case of John Smoltz, while he did miss the 2000 season due to this surgery, and his return was slow in 2001, including a disabled list trip or two, by the end of that year he was closing games dominantly for the Braves, and then had a lights out 2002, winning the Rolaids relief man of the year award with 55 saves.
Hopefully, Hampton can recover properly this time, and return to the Braves in 2008, to fulfill the final year of his contract.
Mitch
