MLB All-Star Game: Each team’s worst All-Star selections ever
Colorado Rockies – Mike Hampton (2001)
In all truth, the Colorado Rockies have been fortunate enough to have seen some fairly sensible All-Star selections during their brief history. From Andres Galarraga to Larry Walker to Dante Bichette to Todd Helton, they’ve typically been well represented since coming into the league in 1993.
Well, almost. Mike Hampton’s 2001 season remains an aberration on their otherwise solid record.
Perhaps his selection was a reward for his excellent 2000 season, when he played in New York under National League All-Star manager Bobby Valentine. Or perhaps it was the result of a decent first half of pitching in MLB’s most hittable environment, Coors Field. Regardless, if we take a look at Hampton’s entire body of work, it certainly wasn’t typical of an All-Star.
Prior to the All-Star Game, Hampton was at the very least serviceable. In 18 first-half starts, Hampton owned a 9-5 record and a 4.02 ERA to go along with a 5.0 K/9 ratio. However that performance dipped precipitously in the second half, when Hampton 5-8 with a 7.46 ERA and surrendered 21 home runs over his last 14 starts. He would finish the season 14-13 with a 5.41 ERA, a 5.21 FIP, and watched his home runs allowed total rise from 10 to 31 in just one season.
With Todd Helton and Larry Walker both on the roster already, Hampton’s selection wasn’t a necessity. Brad Penny of the Marlins and Kerry Wood of the Cubs were both having much better seasons at the half and would have made better selections. This was simply Bobby Valentine being Bobby Valentine.
Next: Detroit Tigers - Robert Fick (2002)