Mike Hampton, a better pitcher today than the one who was 2-4 with a 6.52 ERA in May, will walk back on the Pac Bell Park mound this Wednesday in hopes of bringing that championship back to Shea.
“I feel like I am a little bit different pitcher,” said Hampton, who took the 25-minute stroll back to the Westin St. Francis Hotel because he didn’t want to say anything “stupid” after the Mets’ 8-5 11-inning loss to the Giants in May.
So Bobby Valentine decided to go with Hampton (15-10, 3.14 ERA) against the Giants’ Livan Hernandez (17-11, 3.75 ERA) in Game 1 Wednesday. In Game 2, it will be Al Leiter (16-8, 3.14 ERA) vs. Shawn Estes (15-6, 4.26 ERA). In Game 3, Rick Reed (11-5, 4.11) opposes Russ Ortiz (14-12, 5.01 ERA).
Valentine declined to name a Game 4 starter and if the Mets are down 2-1 heading into that game, next Sunday at Shea, it is conceivable Hampton could come back on three days rest.
Although, Valentine wouldn’t say this was the biggest advantage of throwing Hampton over Leiter, whose history suggests
he doesn’t do well on limited rest.
If the Mets are up in the series, they will either throw Glendon Rusch or the righty Bobby Jones against the Giants in Game 4.
This will be Hampton’s first Game 1 NLDS start, but his fourth overall playoff start. The free agent-to-be is an improved postseason product after his first time out when he wasn’t himself against the Braves, going just 42/3 and allowing six runs, all earned.
“I think my first year in ’97 I did,” Hampton said when asked if he pressed. “I told myself, I’m not going to do that anymore. I was a little timid, a little nervous out there, really pitching defensively. I decided I’m not going to do that no more. The past two postseasons I’ve had pretty good starts.”
Both times he picked up no-decisions. In ’98 at San Diego, he went six innings and gave up just one earned run, while in ’99 he went seven innings and gave up three runs, earned, again against the Braves.
Hampton talked with a hoarse voice yesterday due to a little bit of a sore throat, which he expected to be gone by Wednesday.
Valentine decided to go with Hampton for no particular reason, the manager said, although every number was factored in.
You couldn’t fault Valentine either way, Hampton or Leiter in Game 1. Hampton is 9-0 with a 3.09 ERA against the Giants and Leiter is 2-2 with a 2.05 ERA.
“It really doesn’t matter,” Leiter said.
While Leiter has been the team’s most consistent pitcher all season, Hampton has been pitching the best of late.
In his last seven starts Hampton owns a 2.37 ERA compared to Leiter’s 3.30. Both pitchers were 3-3 with a one no-decision in that span.
“There is no wrong choice,” Hampton said.
The Giants are 18-20 against lefties after beating Randy Johnson yesterday.
“You can be the greatest pitcher in the world and then totally bomb,” Hampton said. “On paper it looks great, but you’ve got to go out there and perform.”
The 27-year-old Hampton knows this better than anyone after his first season in New York. He was brought here to win a championship, to be the final piece.
So he will get his chance to start if off and set the tone in Game 1.