AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 08
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Hampton’s injury cause for panic?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, folks, I had all these big plans to introduce myself to you today. To be cute, funny, charming, to do the best I could to hold up David O’Brien’s blog while he’s taking a day or two off. Then I walk in the Braves clubhouse door this morning and I find out Mike Hampton has injured his side.
So it was news bursts for you guys this morning rather than introductions, though I’ll at least say I’m Carroll Rogers and I’m going to be O’Brien’s backup on the Braves beat this year. Hey, nice day to take off, Dave!
Naw. He needs it and deserves it. Meantime, my latest burst of information is X-rays this morning on Hampton’s side were negative. There are no broken ribs, “just” a strained oblique. He seemed to feel positive about that.
I’m no doctor but I wonder if broken ribs might have been easier to deal with. The bone heals; there you go. But with an oblique strain - those are the injuries that seem to drag out. You try to come back, you come back too early, boom, pull the oblique again. They seem to like to bother people all season, especially with hitters.
And shoot, on Thursday morning Hampton said he was having a hard time laughing, breathing, sneezing, and he wasn’t looking forward to using the restroom, if you get my drift. (Would Dave have been more blunt about that? I’m a girl, OK. I can’t do it. And no, two Rs and two Ls don’t make me male.)
So best-case scenario, Hampton figures, is a month out to rest his side, then a month getting his arm back in shape, so he’s looking at maybe May. This is after 17 months out following his elbow surgery. So in the meantime the Braves will turn to Kyle Davies and Lance Cormier. Oscar Villareal could stretch it out and start if need be.
Hampton is 34. His body seems to be failing him in weird ways. He knows it and he’s not happy. At the very least, he says, his elbow will get a little longer to recoup from the surgery (normally recovery is 12-18 months. He’s at 17 months.) But can he come back from this too? The Braves always put on a calm exterior but it was clear today under the surface this was not at all good news.
What I want to know from a fan’s perspective, is it time to panic? I know you guys are probably already talking about this quite a bit, but I’m curious your thoughts given the latest info.
Oh and p.s.: the New York Yankees are in camp today. Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, and the guys. It’s a gorgeous day and the game has been long sold out. But on a day like today, with the Hampton news, that’s an “oh by the way.”
