NL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS v BRAVES

October 6, 1999

Mike Hampton

MIKE HAMPTON: Pressure situation, you want to thrive in. It's easy to get up for those type of games, and if you do well, you look great, but if not, you know, you look like a guy that's choked; so it's a double-edged sword. But, you know, those are the games you want to be in. Those of are the ones that test your character and test your ability and everything is on the line. Those are situations that you dream about.

MIKE HAMPTON: It's a thing where you're going to have a chance to stay in longer and pitch deep in the game. Being able to just put the ball in play and make things happen with the bat only helped my situation of being able to stay in those games. It's something that I enjoy doing; something I have tried doing. Anything I can do offensively that helps this team win is definitely a big key. This year has been one of those years where a lot of things have gone right and that just happened to be one of them.

MIKE HAMPTON: Depends on the situation: Bases open, two outs, you make your pitch. It's not necessarily a four-pitch walk or something like that. Just throw your pitch, tough pitches. If he's going to hit a pitch, make sure it's a pitch you want him to hit and you don't fall behind in the count. And it's not necessary to throw a strike, but basically what it boils down to is a situation of the game whether we have guys in the scoring position. He's been hot. We've battled pretty good throughout the years together. I get him out and he hits me. You know, it's -- I don't think anyone really has the advantage, but definitely the situation determines how I'll pitch.

MIKE HAMPTON: In baseball, especially my experience in pitching, confidence is the biggest factor. You've got confidence in getting people out and confidence in your abilities of being out on the mound and knowing you're giving your team a chance to win each. And every time out, you're going to start getting to the point where you become a better pitcher. Earlier in my career, I was more of a thrower. I threw a little harder, getting into jams and getting into situations where I needed some outs; so I would turn it up, as opposed to a situation now where I can take a little bit off, get more movement on my pitches. That's been the biggest key I think not pressing. I try to pitch about a 90 to 95 percent rate where situations where I do need that extra, I still have it, and then situations determine when I've got an aggressive hitter I can pick some off. So it basically comes down to knowing your ability, to just learning throughout the years of what hitters like to do in situations and pitching smart.

MIKE HAMPTON: I don't know if disappointed is a good word for it. I've definitely had the best year I probably could possibly have. Everything has gone right. From a standpoint of pitching the innings, being late in the games, you know, I've been having a lot of run support; guys who have great behind me and been great behind the plate. I felt that I have a chance, and I feel like there's a guy in Arizona that's had an incredible year and his stats speak for themselves. Millwood has had a great year. I feel I have a chance, but like I say, I can't control those things. I wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't because of all the great years that pitchers have had this year.

MIKE HAMPTON: Well, having a chance to watch Jose pitch all year, he would definitely be on it. Millwood would be on it. I didn't get a chance to, you know, watch a lot of the games on TV like a lot of the media does that follows the teams. Randy Johnson, of course, he's going to be there. I've always liked Millwood, the way he's pitched kind of in the shadow of the big three here, the guys here, I don't think you can have a better year out of the spotlight like he's had, and he would definitely be in the top. To pick a favorite, Randy Johnson has probably got to be the favorite.

MIKE HAMPTON: You look back, they had a lot of their young pitchers and young players. There's some guys that have moved on and made some great years. If we're able to keep all of us together, I think there could be some special things happening there. But it was the greatest thing to happen to be to be able to come to Houston, to have a chance to pitch out of the pen in '94 and get some confidence, trust myself and actually realize that I was a major league caliber type pitcher. That was the best thing to happen to me. I have no regrets of my time in Seattle. I just wish I had I had a little more opportunity to prove myself. It didn't work out. But like I say, the trade to Houston was the best thing to happen to me.

MIKE HAMPTON: That would be the best-case scenario, and I hope it's true. We've got a great team, and we're facing a great team. We've got a great pitcher. For us to win today things are going to have to work in our favor. We're going to have to get the breaks. To be able to go in that situation back home would be a big lift for this team and is something I would definitely look forward to.

MIKE HAMPTON: I don't think so. Atlanta has been a team that has won over the years with dominant pitching and timely hitting. It's something that they do well. I don't see that they have won so many games after the past six, seven, eight years. I don't see why they would have to start changing that.

End of FastScripts….