Hampson is Padres' unsung hero

Without a doubt, Justin Hampson is the unsung hero of the Padres.

For the third time this season, Hampson bailed the Padres out of a desperate situation in last night’s 5-3 win at Colorado.

After Chris Young left with a strained oblique muscle before the third inning, Hampson came on to pitch 3 2/3 shutout innings.

It was the continuation of a trend whereby Hampson has been the go-to guy whenever the Padres needed someone the most.

Remember the June 16 game at Chicago when Young was ejected for an altercation with Derrek Lee? Hampson was summoned to pitch 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief.

Or how about the April 29 game when the Padres and Dodgers went 17 innings? Hampson allowed just one unearned run over the last four innings … and probably would have pitched all night if the Padres asked him to do so.

The Padres better not send Hampson back to the minor leagues again. He’s too valuable in those grunt roles that nobody else on this team seems willing … or able … to fill.

Will Padres' bullpen collapse?

Heath Bell and Doug Brocail are pretty much having career seasons.

Cla Meredith and Scott Linebrink have both hit low points this year, but each is doing well overall.

Royce Ring and Justin Hampson have been adequate in their turns filling the left-hander’s role in the bullpen. Kevin Cameron must be writing a book titled “How I Spent My Summer Vacation Sitting in the Padres Bullpen.”

Trevor Hoffman is still Trevor Hoffman.

However, the Padres bullpen did implode twice this weekend. It cost them a loss Saturday at Arizona, one night after taking away any chance of winning with a poor performance Friday.

The ultimate question: Can the Padres hold up in the bullpen for the duration of 2007?

Judging on the weekend, the answer is negative. But going by the first half of the season, the answer is positive.

The next 2 ½ months will tell whether this bullpen is for real or was just masquerading during the first half of 2007.

Padres do it in threes (or less)

The Padres have won nine games this year while scoring three runs or less.

That’s nine out of 24, as in 37.5 percent of their wins.

Can they keep this up? Time will tell.

They do lead Major League Baseball in team ERA at 3.11. They do have the best bullpen ERA in the majors at 2.19.

The bullpen is back at it again, working 12 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing a run.

The Padres are getting great late-inning relief from Trevor Hoffman, Scott Linebrink, Heath Bell and Cla Meredith. Doug Brocail and Kevin Cameron are doing just fine in the middle, and Justin Hampson keeps eating up the innings while allowing very few runs as the long reliever.

It’s a long summer. The Padres pitchers will likely have to keep it up to overcome an offense that can best be described as "popgun."