All in the family/ Quality of life was one of Hampton's deciding

DALLAS - Mike Hampton is moving to Colorado.

So are his wife, Kautia, and sons Gage, 5, and Griffin, 1.

So are his father, Mike Sr., and his in-laws.

So is his sister, who soon will graduate from Florida State, and his brother, who is graduating from high school this year.

So maybe when Hampton says his new eight-year, $123.8-million contract with the Rockies isn't just about the money, he's telling the truth. It might have as much to do with quality of life - not just for him, but for his entire family.

"I did a lot of homework on this," Hampton said. "I stayed up late at night. ...This was about my family and having a chance to win.

"I have a 5-year-old boy who will be starting school next year, and I wanted to be in a place where we wouldn't have to move him out of school after the season was over."

Hampton also says his decision to sign with the Rockies was also about the winning, but that's a little more of a stretch, considering that he reached the World Series last season with the New York Mets and considering the caliber of teams he turned down, like the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals, who obviously have had more success than the Rockies, 82-80 last season.

But while Hampton's family stayed behind in a Houston suburb last season, Hampton was living in Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Kautia, who grew up in Brooksville, Fla., felt just as uneasy in New York as her husband.

And while it was believed that St. Louis had just as much to offer the Hampton in terms of quality of life issues as Colorado, the advice he received from two of his best friends - Cardinals pitchers and former Rockies Darryl Kile and Dave Veres - helped make his decision that much easier.

Kile and Veres, after all, are playing in St. Louis, but their homes remain in Colorado.

After touring Denver, and being given a chance to live there for eight years, with an option for a ninth, Hampton knew he'd found a home.

"I'm hoping to be there for the next eight years and beyond," Hampton said. "Had I stayed in New York, my father and my in-laws were not going to move there."

So it turns out that Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd has reshaped his starting rotation for the same reason that the Rockies are one of the best-drawing teams in the major leagues: it's the atmosphere, not the lack of it, that landed a pair of big-time free agents.

Denny Neagle, signed Monday to a five-year, $51-million deal, also left New York, preferring to play close to his Morrison home to pitching for the world champion Yankees.

Neither pitcher seems overly concerned that Coors Field has been described as a pitching graveyard. Neagle surrendered the most fly balls in the major leagues last season, a potentially ominous sign, and Hampton walked more than 200 batters over the past two years, and has a lifetime ERA at Coors of 6.49.

But Hampton also was the toughest pitcher in the majors to homer against last season, allowing 10 in 217q innings, and his ratio of groundballs to flyballs was second only to Atlanta's Greg Maddux.

"I make my living getting groundballs," he said. "Unless they want to hit the ball under the fence for a home run, it doesn't matter to me."

And while much has been made of Kile's meltdown at Coors - successful with the Houston Astros before arriving in Denver, then 20- 9 with the Cardinals in his first post-Rockies season - neither Hampton nor Neagle depend as much on the curveball, which tends to hang a little more in the thin air at Coors.

"We're different pitchers," said Hampton, who pitched with Kile for four seasons in Houston. "He relies on his good curveball. I think my style might suit it a little better.

"There's no doubt (Coors) is the toughest place to pitch. It's a test I look forward to and something that I think will make me a better pitcher in the long run."

If it doesn't, he'll have plenty of family support to help him through the rough days. Just like Neagle.

Now, if only the Rockies can convince Darren Dreifort, who pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season and is the next free agent pitcher on O'Dowd's wish list, that Denver is the perfect place for his family, as well.

- Thomas Harding may be reached at [email protected]

Hampton's deal

Highlights of Mike Hampton's eight-year, $121 million deal

The Rockies announced the deal as totaling $123.8 million, but that figure includes 2.8 percent interest that accrues. The Major League Baseball Players Association does not recognize such interest, so it will list the official figure at $121 million.

Like Denny Neagle did for his five-year, $51 million deal, Hampton agreed to backload most of the money. The signing bonus is $20 million, but other than the $1 million that goes to charity it will be paid after the contract ends - at $1.9 million a year for 10 years.

The Rockies have also agreed to pay $1 million to a Hampton charity.

Not only that, but the deal starts with an $8 million salary for 2000 and an $8.5 million salary for 2001. That's not chump change, but it will only be second on the club to Larry Walker. Hampton's salary, however, continues to escalate and tops out at $15 million.

After the 2007 season, the Rockies can pay a $6 million buyout or pick up a $20 million option.

There is a full no-trade clause. If the Rockies' ownership - Jerry McMorris, Charlie Montfort and Dick Montfort - "changes significantly," Hampton can opt out of the deal at no financial penalty.

Reaction to Hampton's contract

"Announce the deal. He's an outstanding pitcher. It's a lot of money.

Case closed. I don't want to hear about the Wheat Ridge school system." - Sandy Alderson, one of baseball's executive vice presidents, on Mike Hampton's claim his signing was a family decision.

"There is a benefit to saying 'No' from time to time. It would be nice for baseball to experience that benefit occasionally." - Alderson, ridiculing the Rockies for offering the $121 million deal.

"It's always the money, especially when it's not about the money." - Mets GM Steve Phillips

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