Mike Hampton is in town and in a Diamondbacks uniform today. He was able to watch his freshman son play high school football and is glad to be here.
Interim manager Kirk Gibson wasn't clear on what Hampton's role for the team would be but hinted at a lefty-specialist type situation with LHP Jordan Norberto struggling with too many walks.
"Like I said, whenever they tell me it's time to pitch, then I'll pitch," Hampton said on Friday before the Diamondbacks series-opener with the Giants.
He went on to talk about his approach coming out of the bullpen.
"I've been mixing it up pretty well. I've been throwing everything, I haven't been holding back on anything. I think that's the key, to use all my pitches and mix it up in and out. Nothing's really changed from my philosophy as a starter. I just want to use my pitches and if there's a couple pitches that are working better than others in a shorter period of time I'm sure I'll use those. I plan on using everything I've got and getting outs as quick as possible."
Lineup Notes:
- Justin Upton will get another day off. He's available to pinch hit and could start tomorrow as long as he feels fine after working out today. Brandon Allen is back in left field but moved from hitting 8th to 6th.
- Parra will be in right and bat 8th. Tony Abreau will get the start at second for Kelly Johnson as planned.
- The Diamondbacks also recalled Zach Kroenke from Triple-A Reno.
- Kroenke has been starting for the Aces and according to Gibby will used in long relief situations. With Ian Kenny having thrown 165 innings already this season the D-backs are close to shutting him down for the season. We can assume that Kroenke will get a chance to start some games once that happens.
Official release:
(PHOENIX) - The Arizona Diamondbacks announced today they have purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton from Triple-A Reno and recalled left-handed pitcher Zach Kroenke from Reno, according to D-backs' interim General Manager Jerry Dipoto.
Hampton, 37, went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA (1 ER in 3.1 IP) and .273 opponents average (3-for-11) with 2 walks and a strikeout over 4 games with the Aces after being signed to a minor league contract on Aug. 21. Over 15 seasons in the big leagues, the two-time National League All-Star went 148-115 with a 4.07 ERA in 409 games (355 starts), while owning a .246 batting average with 16 home runs and 79 RBI. From 1999-2003, Hampton won five consecutive NL Silver Slugger Awards and was also a 2003 Rawlings Gold Glove recipient.
Kroenke, 26, went 7-3 with 2 saves, a 3.51 ERA (38 ER in 97.1 IP) and a .255 opponents average (94-for-368) with 39 walks and 69 strikeouts in 40 games (9 starts) with the Aces. He will make his Major League debut with the D-backs.