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DEL.ICIO.USCampillo a valuable Brave
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since August 2005, Mike Hampton’s pitching record with the Braves is 0-0. His salary for just this season alone would cover nearly the entire payroll of the Florida Marlins. Frankly, it would appear he has just about reached a dead end. Through. Quit. Even speculative stories about how much progress he’s making toward returning to useful form have been noticeably absent. Sometimes you wonder if he ever wants to pitch again, or if his arm has taken early retirement.
That being such as it is, let’s consider the case of Jorge Campillo, whose arm also has had one of those Tommy John remodeling jobs. It’s working like new. Jorge has won more games in two months than Hampton has in two years, and he started late. A lot of us experts were wondering how long it would be before he’d get a chance to start with all those faltering arms around him. Even Tom Glavine took a sabbatical on the DL.
Once Campillo got in the rotation, only a blister could stop him. But just temporarily. He knows how these big-league teams can get careless with a guy, beginning with the Braves, and he’s taking no chances. Bet you didn’t know that he was in the Braves’ stable as long as 12 seasons ago. He was signed by an unidentified scout in 1996, then just as handily lent to the Mexico City Tigres in his home country. Then at the end of the season they gave him to them. Take him he’s yours.
That’s a good league, the Mexican, Triple-A, where Warren Spahn finally hung up his gear. Not exactly 5-star accommodations. Max Lanier, who jumped the Cardinals in 1946 to join the Pasquel brothers, told of a park in which a railroad ran through center field, and the game had to stop when the train came through. For Campillo, it was beginning to look like a lifetime. He put up good figures for the Tigres, good ERAs, started and relieved, but for eight years nobody came calling.
Then Seattle bought him in 2005. After arm surgery, he was a Pacific Coast League earned-run leader, but still the Mariners weren’t impressed. Then came the Braves again, nearly 12 years since the first time. They picked him up off the street the day after Christmas last year, but registered him under that non-descript category of “non-roster invitee.”
So was his spring non-descript, but soon after the season opened the Braves’ pitching was in such a jumble, he was called up from Richmond. First thing you notice about him is his non-conforming style. He has an economical delivery, not a lot of windmilling and fussing about on the mound. He gets ready to pitch. He delivers the ball. At the top, it seems he’s re-gripping the ball and comes almost directly overhand. However he does it, it’s working. At the moment, he has won twice, should have had another, and his earned-run average leads the staff.
By his calendar, he won’t be 29 years old until August. The Braves list him at 6 feet 1, but he doesn’t look it. He is an amiable sort, but you’ll notice the absence of conversation here. His management of the English language is still a work in progress, as is my Spanish. His pitching, though, speaks a language easily translated to major league. In the surgical absence of Peter Moylan, the Australian surprise of a year ago, Campillo (“cam-pee-yo”) has the look of the pitching sleeper of ‘08.
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By richbrave
May 31, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
He was effective here in 4.1 IP, but I personally had no idea he would be as good as he has been in Atlanta so far. If there ever was an individual that epitomized an axiom, it’s JORGE CAMPILLO - carpe diem!!
By Charlie
May 31, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Campillo has been a pleasant surprise. That is a rare thing considering the lousy team play on the road. This team has no clutch ballplayers. They CHOKE. They find new, and even more stupid ways to be losers. They are not unlucky. They are LOSERS. Saturday’s game…We were better off with Soriano on the DL. This guy seems to pout on every pitch. He is a thinner version of Bob Wickman. He has no baseball game skills, other than being able to throw one. Maybe when John Smoltz gets back, we’ll have a chance to actually close out a game when leading in the 9th. But, hey, bottom line is that the makeup of the 2008 road Braves is that there is no one to “close the deal”…not with a big hit, or a finishing pitch.
This group could use a TEAM HEIMLICH.
By Coach (Braves in 2008 to the playoffs)
June 1, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
My hat is off in salute to Roy Clark and his merry band of scouts. First we saw Buddy Carlyle and Peter Moylan, followed by Jeff Bennett and now the aforementioned Jorge Campillo.
Gentlemen, you are at the top your game !
By Cal Ripken
June 1, 2008 1:12 AM | Link to this
Dear Furman, FINALLY someone telling the truth about the Fragile Lefthander from Brooksville, Florida. You do realize that your comments will anger young David O’Brien who not only has the Delicate Portsider’s back BUT also appears at times to be his agent, mentor, confidant and beneficiary.
Outside of the Ryan Leaf negotiators,the MORONS who first signed the Diminutive Swan Lake Afficianado to a long term contract have to be collectively the MOST snookered individuals in the modern sports era.
Now be ready as the Mother Hen comes on board to remind us all how well those sessions off of flat ground are going. Now if they ever remove the mound from the infield, the Bravos may get something from the Man On The Milk Carton.
By Bill Thomas
June 1, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
Here i thought that I was the only guy sick of hampton’s act.
By Sonny Collins
June 1, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this
Good job Furman. Let’s actually talk about the guys who put on the uniforms and not the welfare recipient bilking the system. If this guy was a 30 year old woman with 5 kids and using the system like this what would be reaction.
By Athens Al
June 1, 2008 1:22 AM | Link to this
Story elsewhere saying Hampton had no pain in pectoral region after a session. I would feel good about that until I thought about all the other parts of hampton’s body that can start to bother him before he takes mound again.
By Bobby Is The Best
June 1, 2008 1:24 AM | Link to this
do we sign up mike again next year and hope for best
By RN In Rome
June 1, 2008 1:27 AM | Link to this
Give Hampton a break. He is trying to get back.Any of you get back ny faster.
By Jimbo
June 1, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this
anybody else notice Bobby is getting reallyyyyyyyyy fat!! Can’t be good for his health.
By sheila
June 1, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this
negative negative where are the supporters
By Pat
June 1, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
Baseball, You gotta love it. Thanks Mr. Bisher for the Campillo story. Now let’s all get ready for a hot streak from our club. I can feel it in the air. One more thing. Let’s keep the game out of the “Perfect World” push. No such thing people. I’m not one to bet on baseball. But if it isn’t the gamblers pushing for instant replay. Then who is it? Leave the game alone.
By Bill in VA
June 1, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Hey Mike Hampton, Please do the honorable thing and stop sucking the payroll dry! Allow the Braves to finish this season with a new guy, bought with the remaining few of your dollars. Forfeit the rest of your tens of millions of UNEARNED pay, for the good of the team!. You don’t have to do it, of course, but it would be set a good example to a lot of young people and old timers too!!
By Gene
June 1, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
I think that Hampton is a competitor, and he has tried his best to come back. I also thought that his big paychecks were coming from insurance. The whole episode is unfortunate and hopeless as far as Hampton contributing. I was in Cincinnati yesterday, and I have never seen so many pitchers, from both teams, bouncing balls in front of the plate. With each loss like yesterday, my hopes for a division championship become more remote. I would like to see Anderson batting lead off. He is going to be an exciting player.
By fieldofdreams
June 1, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Sorry Furman, when the league gets the second look at Campillo he’ll be exposed as the journeyman he is. As for Hampton, if he had an ounce of integrity he’d of let the Braves out of his 2008 contract.
By todd
June 1, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher called it right. Hampton does not want to pitch. I have never seen anyone in my 40 + years of playing and watching baseball that used more excuses to not get back into the game. My guess is that there is something psychologically wrong with him - maybe he gets stage fright - because it is hard to believe that someone who really wants to play would not live with a little discomfort to be able to compete. Maybe it is time for a sports psychologist intervention!
By steve
June 1, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
I too would like to see Anderson bat lead off. Has anyone noticed that Escobar is not comfortable leading off? Why not put some speed in the lineup. Norton is not an accomplished outfielder and he isn’t exactly getting on base that much either. With Johnson 7th, Blanco 8th and Anderson 1st we would have some speed in the line up together. After the first inning the only one between the would be the pitcher. Why Bobby will not put some pressure on the defense and let these guys run is beyound me. The rest of the league is starting to run more and more. They can’t always wait on getting the 2-run homer or three hits in an inning to score a run. They obviously can not put a bunt down to move a runner so we have a better chance steal a base. A single stolen base and another single and speed scores. The Braves now get a single and a couple outs another hit and and leave runners on. NO SCORE. We didn’t hit a 2-run homer. We can get 12 hits a game and get maybe 2 runs. Good batting averages but no rbi’s
By fieldofdreams
June 1, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Don’t look now but Naftali Feliz, one of the players Texas suckered us out of in the Texeira “trade”, is the dominant pitcher in the Appalachian League. Apparently the teenager throws in the high 90’s effortlessly, and his strikeout ratio is the highest of any pitcher in the Minor Leagues. Frank Wren is brilliant.
By DirtyDawg
June 1, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Since somebody brought up Esocobar, would someone please tell me what the Braves were doing in letting Bryan Pena go? I mean it was clear to me that he was far better offensively than Corky Miller - better bat, faster, et. al. Now Miller is supposed to be a great ‘catch and throw’ guy, but since we never got a chance to see Bryan do anything but pinch-hit, how bad could he have been? And since the only guy Miller catches is Campillo, at least Pena could have communicated with his pitcher when times got tough.
The main issue is that Yunel Escobar is a borderline head case that needs his lifelong friend around him to keep him grounded. How could the Braves not see that? He’s gonna be great but he’s also gonna sulk when things go wrong and we’ll wish to hell we still had Bryan to help out.
By Ralph
June 1, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Most of the Braves pitchers, such of Campillo, have done an excellent job. The hitters haven’t aren’t living up to all the positive news we hear doing the winter. To be perfectly honest, the present Braves, stink. You can’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again especially when most of them are just showing up for the game and go through the motion. The Braves players, are playing as individuals, and not as a team. The theme song of the Braves is “swing away”. If they get to the fifth inning, and they are trailing, the players give up. They should not go on the road, they should just forfeit the games. Right now they look like a pathic team, who just want their paycheck and go home, or play golf. The only enemy the Braves have is themselves.
By Michael Mays
June 2, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
First of all, I can’t believe all of the people bashing Hampton. I don’t know how many players would continue to rehab after all of the problems he’s gone through. Moreover, for those of you saying he should give back the money - in order to do that, he would have to retire. If he does that, he can’t try and pitch. Maybe it’s because Atlanta has a lot of fake fans, but this is like me telling someone to stop complaining about arthritis. Injuries happen, and b*** about it doesn’t make them go away.
By Scott S.
June 2, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
Hey everyone lets look at the facts. Braves will start winning more on the road. The bullpen is about to get stronger with Smoltz and then Rodriguez coming back. The rest of the East is sketchy at best. Pitching has not been the down fall of the team. Winning one run games can be real hard. I absolutely love this years team and I hope all the fans out there do too. Lets show some support like the early 90’s teams had and I will bet that you are watching the 2008 East Champions. They WILL stsrt showing us the magic and it will start soon!!!!!