Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Veteran pitcher Mike Hampton has decided to retire. Gerald McCoy Jersey . According to MLB.com, Hampton told Diamondbacks management Thursday that he was leaning toward retirement. He had signed a minor-league deal with Arizona in December after making 10 relief appearances for the team in 2010. But the 38-year-old announced his decision Saturday, saying that he knew it was time. "The fire is there and the passion will always be there, but physically it was just time to shut it down," Hampton said in a release. "My career as a whole has been a blessing and I really believe that baseball gave me everything I could ever want and need. "I put my heart and soul into the game and it rewarded me very well for it. It is both a sad and joyous day because when you finally say youre done, it is tough at first. But as time goes on, I will be able to reminisce and think about it more positively." His decision ends a 16-season career marked by peaks and valleys. He became a star after going 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 1999 with the Astros, and signed a lucrative long-term contract with Colorado prior to the 2001 season. Hampton spent two largely disappointing seasons with the Rockies before joining Atlanta, but his career was then derailed by injuries. He did not pitch during the 2006-07 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He began his career with Seattle in 1993, and went on to pitch for the Astros, Mets, Rockies, Braves, and Diamondbacks. In 419 games (355 starts), he went 148-115 with a 4.06 ERA. A two-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger recipient, Hampton was also noted for his hitting. He posted a .246 batting average and 43 extra-base hits (16 home runs) in 845 career plate appearances. Authentic Marc Staal Jersey . "I dont think so," Sandberg told ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago on Tuesday. "Part of being in the Hall of Fame, they use the word integrity in describing a Hall of Famer, in the logo of the Hall of Fame, and I think there are going to be quite a few players that are not going to get in. Ricky Rubio Swingman Jersey . People in Hong Kong hold a street rally on Sunday to express their grief and anger in the wake of the Manila hostage tragedy and demand justice for the victims. Eight Hong Kong tourists died in last weeks bus hijacking and botched rescue. Luke Adam Jersey . The PBOC decided on Tuesday to raise the deposit reserve requirement ratio by 0.5 percentage points as of Jan 18, which analysts translated as a move to manage inflationary expectations and avoid a recurrence of the lending boom. Ty Lawson Jersey . Tristan Thompson added a career-high 22 points with nine boards for the Longhorns (11-2), who extended their winning streak to five games. Texas also got double-digit scoring efforts from JCovan Brown (17), Cory Joseph (13) and Gary Johnson (10). Derek Roy Jersey . -- Memphis Grizzlies guard O. (Sports Network) - J.A. Happ can add to Los Angeles misery this evening when the Astros continue their four-game set against the free-falling Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. Happ, who was 12-4 as a rookie for Philadelphia last season, won his third straight start on Sunday in Arizona, as he held the Diamondbacks to a pair of runs and six hits in seven innings, upping his mark on the year to 6-2, while lowering his earned run average to 2.86. When I am pounding the strike zone and not walking guys things usually go a lot better for me, said Happ, who was acquired by the Astros as part of the Roy Oswalt deal. It keeps my pitch count down and lets me have a lot bit more in the tank for when a tough situation comes up. Its definitely nice to get through seven innings. This will be Happs first-ever start against the Dodgers, whose struggles continued in the opener of this set on Thursday when Chris Johnsons three-run homer in the sixth inning carried Houston to a 3-2 win. The Dodgers had jumped out in front on a two-run home run from Andre Ethier in the first inning, but eventually fell for the sixth straight time. Bud Norris (7-8), who had been winless inn his previous three starts, gave up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over six innings to pick up the win for the Astros, who have won three in a row and five of six. Authentic Bobby Ryan Jersey. The rest of my game was awful, said Johnson, who went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts. I put Bud [Norris] in a hole in the first inning by making an error, and then [Andre] Ethier hit a homer. Bud pitched well except for that one pitch. I was glad I could do something to help us out after that. Ted Lilly (8-10) went six frames in the start, giving up three runs on seven hits. I didnt get the job done when the game was on the line, Lilly said. Pitching out of jams is part of what you do. Youre not going to win too many games if you cant pitch out of jams. Heading to the hill for the Dodgers tonight will be righty Hiroki Kuroda, who is 10-12 on the year with a 3.39 ERA. Kuroda absorbed the loss on Sunday against San Francisco, as he allowed three runs and six hits in eight innings. He beat the Astros the last time he faced them and is 2-0 in four starts versus in this series with a 2.55 ERA. The Dodgers swept a two-game series from the Astros back in May. Wholesale Jerseys. JaJuan Johnson had 12 points and Robbie Hummel added 11 for the Boilermakers, who are off to their first 7-0 start since the 1993-94 campaign. Mark Wohlford, Kelsey Barlow and John Hart all finished with eight points in the victory. ' ' '
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