NL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS v BRAVES

October 6, 2004

Mike Hampton

MIKE HAMPTON: The answer's about 30 minutes ago, and it feels good.

MIKE HAMPTON: Well, even though the diagnosis, we know that I'm going to have to have surgery at the end of the year. For me, the longer the better, and for the team as well. We'll put it off as long as we can. The two starts that I've had since, we went, had it examined and I felt pretty good. I've been able to tolerate it and I've been able to move pretty well. I think that's a good explanation on his part.

MIKE HAMPTON: One thing with Leo's (Mazzone) philosophy is we throw quite a bit, we throw a lot in between starts and stuff like that to stay sharp. I'm not really surprised. I think all the throwing we've done since spring training has prepared me to be ready when I take the mound.

MIKE HAMPTON: I started following them from spring training because I have a lot of good friends over there, and their ups and downs. I was one of the guys, they dug themselves a really big hole, and it's going to be tough for them to get out of it. But they played great baseball. I went into that start against the Cubs knowing that if we do our job there, if we win, it's going to help them out tremendously. They're good friends of mine, but for me, the friendship will end, I guess, 4:09 tomorrow, between the white lines, which will be back to where we started.

MIKE HAMPTON: I've spoken to quite a few of them. They got some funny remarks about my beard and stuff. But that's all right. We're all good friends. Both teams are here for one goal, and that's to win, and win the World Series, and nothing matters unless you do that.

MIKE HAMPTON: I think any time you face a team, there's always two or three guys that you feel that have the chance to do the most damage. I mean, those are two of their best players, just like if you face the Giants or you face the Cubs, they got those guys, you can't let those guys beat you but you always elevate your game. But every year is a new year. Every at-bat is a different at-bat. Every inning is a different inning. Who knows what will happen this year, that's why we play the game. I know facing the top players on each team, I think every pitcher kind of puts a little more focus on that particular at-bat and that particular batter.

MIKE HAMPTON: I really just want to see if I could grow a beard. I just wanted to see what it looked like with hair on my face.

MIKE HAMPTON: Well, having a chance to watch him in the Subway Series and the postseason when we played him in 2000, he's just a very intense competitor, probably one of the most intense people I've seen on the mound. That's what works for him. He's one of the best. Not only pitching, but his work ethic has got him there. To answer the second part of your question is no (laughing).

MIKE HAMPTON: My kids are getting pretty old, so I want to be spending time with them for a while.

MIKE HAMPTON: It does. There's bragging rights involved. But I've seen the frustration on the other side when I was with the Astros, for the whole organization. So long since postseason and then winning the postseason series as well as winning a World Series, which they've never done. So I know it's a special time for them, and it's special for us, too. I've been there before. I got the second-place ring, I got the runner-up ring, and it's not as nice as the World Series ring. It's something we're all shooting for. Having the chance to face those guys, we win this series, it will be bittersweet, but something that I'm definitely going to work my tail off to accomplish.