I know he hasnt been very good this year, but do you think the Stros would take a shot and pick him and his salary back up? Apparently, Houston is one of the few teams he would play for.
Players are routinely put on waivers this time of year to see if any team 'bites'. If they do, then the player can be withdrawn from waivers to see if a trade can be worked out. In the case of Neagle and Hampton, the Rockies would probably allow them to walk to get rid of their huge salaries. If any team is truly interested, they would probably try to work something out so that the Rockies would pay part of their salary. I seriously doubt the Astros would pick him up. The starting pitching has been more than adequate this season and Hampton is an unknown at this stage of his career. It's not just Coors field. I believe his ERA last year was worse on the road and it may be the same this year.
Can a Hampton/ Pierre for Hidalgo + lesser pitching prospect trade be made now? Hampton and Hidalgo would go unclaimed on waivers but do all the players have to go unclaimed? The Woody Williams trade last year had people who went to San Diego who weren't waived.
So it's come to this!!! Where are the Drayton bashers who bashed the hell out of him for letting Hampton get away now??? If I remember right, we got rid of this guy and ended up with arguably the best setup man in baseball...we're busy winning divisions and he's getting waived.
I'm sure at the time, Drayton knew that Hampton would go sour and Dotel would suck as a starter, but be an excellent set up man. Pfffff!!! It's called luck. We didn't want to pay him and we traded him for a prospect, Dotel, and a good CF, at the time, Cedeno. I see it as dodging a bullet on Drayton's part, not genious.
Come on, now. Take this with a grain of salt. Darryl Kile sucked in Colorado as well, but then came back to be one of the best with St. Louis once he got out. I totally see the same thing happening with Hampton. He is too much of a competitor, athlete, and a damn good pitcher to not regroup and come back strong. With that said, I would love to have hampton back, but not at that price tag. If/ When it comes down, maybe. It all depends on how our young starters develop. It's hard to believe that Wade Miller is essentially becoming the elder statesman of our staff now since shane likely won't be back.
I don't recall anybody saying that Drayton knew all of this. But I can say that Hunsicker is smarter than the average bear. Just like in the market...buy low...sell high. How is getting 3 players for Hampton anything but selling high? I don't recall anybody calling Drayton a genius (note the spelling). This panned out to be a good baseball move, and the Drayton bashers refuse to acknowledge when a move he made pans out. I'm now going to start a group...anybody can join. I am now the President and CEO of MADB (Members Against Drayton Bashing).
Pedro Astacio is another pitcher who has thrived once he left Colorado. I wouldn't say that Hampton, or Neagle are worth their present salaries (who is?), but don't underestimate the pitching hell void that is Coors Field. As for Drayton's baseball acumen...um...not really there, sorry. He's also just as much of a weasal as the next MLB owner. Drayton is lying about his baseball losses and will sell the team after the 2004 All Star Game at a healthy profit. Show your books, or shut up and sell the team, grocery boy! How many businesses have the state pay for their means to make more profit? Are we supposed to feel sorry for this nitwit? I'll say this for him, he may be a cornpone huckster, but he's not an idiot at turning a buck. If a tampon company gave him a better offer the Astros would be playing at Tampex Field tommorrow. I just don't buy all of the sky is falling stuff.
Most of them actually. Whether it be paying for a larger highway so they can roll more trucks in (Compaq) or state tax rebates or any other number of things I saw when working for the state, corporate wellfare is there. It is just more visible in sports. The government can cut a check (like for the ballpark) or they can give fat tax rebates (like they do for most other businesses). Six of one half a dozen of the other.
Drayton doesn't need to have baseball acumen...that's why he pays Gerry Hunsicker and a whole slew of scouts. I'm not saying Drayton knew Hampton would fall apart after he left (and he did have a good season in NY)...I am saying that there seems to be the general sentiment that you should just throw money around to buy yourself a championship...it just doesn't work that way given the economics of baseball.
Mike Hampton would be a great addition to the 'stros. Right now I have no idea who would be the no.3 starter if we made the playoffs. I assume that it would be Mlicki but I'm not comfortable with that although he pitched VERY nicely in the playoffs last year. Hampton was the ace of the Mets team that made the series just the year before last and the ace of the 'stros the year before. The problem he has in Coors is that he is totally useless if he has no confidence in himself. Much like when he pitched against the Braves in the playoffs and walked what was it...five guys in a row? He lost his confidence and couldn't pitch. His away stats reflect his lack of confidence now. Put him in 'da box as No. 3 and he will do quite nicely. Of course it won't happen.
