So long, Hampy

I know many of you out there are eagerly anticipating me to complete the title statement with "...and don't let the door bruise your ass on the way out" but I'm not going there. He pitched decently for two seasons, the trade made sense at the time and we gave up Tim Spooneybarger to get him. It was really bad luck that Mike broke down at the same time the Rockies and Marlins no longer had to pay his salary, but them's the breaks. Hampton was a good scapegoat for the past three dreadful years, but let's face it, there were a whole lot of other bad moves that lead to the recent 90 loss season.

Good luck in Houston, Mike. May the entire left side of your body not seize up and completely implode on the mound at Minute Maid as it seemed like it would many times during your Braves tenure.

Just Retire Already

Mike Hampton scratched literally 5 minutes before his start tonight.

If this isn't the team being overly cautious and not wanting Hampton to pitch in cold and potentially rainy conditions tonight, then Mike needs to just retire and get it over with. This might be something completely legit for all I know, but Bobby can't be begging the umps for more time to warm up an emergency starter whenever Mike pitches. Thankfully Jeff Bennett has stepped up and is pitching well with absolutely no warning.

In other news, Ted Turner is now completely insane.

UPDATE: strained left pec. Too bad he doesn't have huge pectoral muscles like this guy:

( can you believe that's the only pic of Ren's pec I can find on teh interwebs? what's the world coming to?)

What Th-?

Ok it's 50 degrees here, sunny, some dude is out mowing his lawn and all of a sudden...

SNOW FLURRIES.

IN ATLANTA.

AFTER EASTER.

What in the world is going on around here??

This is not right.

I think it's this guy's fault:

The Weather Gods have not gotten their yearly blood sacrifice and they're antsy. No pulled groins for Mike. No broken bones. No arms falling off the guy. No shredded ligaments. No ribs spontaneously ejecting from his chest. Mike is completely healthy and pitching well late into spring training. Seriously, if it weren't for Smoltzie's wonky shoulder, I fear it would look like The Day After Tomorrow around here. Don't panic folks, Smoltz will probably end up making his debut against the Mets so he won't be missing any time other than Spring Training, which he kind of skipped this year anyway with him pitching simulated games. I'd rather see him healthy in September/October instead of April anyway. Besides, a blizzard would be fun and a 5 man rotation would be even more fun.