Sampson becoming a veritable double threat

Pitcher thriving on mound, at plate

By JEFF CASPERSEN/Leader Sports Editor

With every quality outing, Chris Sampson's blip on the Astros' radar flashes brighter.

After a hard-luck 2005 season saw him go 4-12 despite carrying a 3.12 ERA with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, everything seems to be falling into place for the 28-year-old Round Rock Express right-hander.

Drafted as a shortstop by Houston in 1999, Sampson is making an impact both on the mound and at the plate in the Triple-A ranks.

Through Friday, Sampson held a 7-1 record and 2.64 ERA in 61 1/3 innings of work. Oh, and apparently Sampson's days as a position player paid off, as he's batting .522 (12-for-23) with three RBIs.

"He's been pitching very well for us," said Express manager Jackie Moore. "Not only the way he's pitching, but he's gotten some big base hits for us. He's an all-around good pitcher with a good feel. He does a lot of things to win ballgames. He's just a good all-around athlete."

Moore has been riding Sampson's hot hand in batter's box, frequently using him as a pinch hitter. In Sunday's game against the Tucson Sidewinders, Sampson delivered a pinch-hit RBI single.

The Texas Tech alum waxed modest when summing up his prowess at the plate.

"Skip wants me in the dugout just for pinch-hitting roles and all that," said Sampson. "Being an ex-position player, I run the bases well. I still do a lot of things to help the team, but as far as being a go-to guy as a hitter, I'm not a great hitter. I just have a little better of a plan than a normal pitcher would."

But pitching is clearly Sampson's forte. The Pacific Coast League leader in wins uses his sinker and exceptional control to wage battle. He also puts faith in his defense.

"I'm just making sure to go in there and throw strikes and let my defense help me out," said Sampson, who has allowed a miniscule five walks this season. "I keep the defense involved and they play hard for me."

And unlike last season, Sampson is getting plenty of aid from his offense.

The Express are averaging 7.1 runs a game whenever he starts.

"They say everything in this business levels out," said Moore. "Maybe this is the year it levels out for him."

After the Astros selected him in the eighth round of the 1999 draft, Sampson spent one season as a shortstop at Single-A Auburn in 1999, batting .239 and swiping 21 bases.

But baseball did not mix well with Sampson's personal life, leading to a three-year hiatus from the game. An affinity for competition led him back to the diamond in 2003, but this time as a pitcher, a position he played some in high school.

"I started missing the game, so I called the Astros back," Sampson recalled. "They asked what I thought about getting on the mound. Not a problem. As long it was between the lines, I just wanted to play again."

Sampson credits the organization's player development staff with molding him into a pitcher.

"I've always had a good arm," he said. "I pitched a little in high school and if you have a good arm in high school, everybody pitches. I didn't really have a clue. I could just throw hard and throw strikes. I¹ve learned a lot and I'm just trying to keep it going."

Chances are Sampson will keep it going right into the big leagues. At a level of the game where any player with decent numbers is game for a call up to the parent club, the former Red Raider could wind up taking the mound in Houston before too long.

"I'm just trying to put myself in a position where if the big club needs somebody to call up, I want by numbers to be in a position where I'm one of the first guys they think of."