Comeback (they used to be) Kids?

Spring Training diamonds will have their usual amount of young players trying to win jobs at the Major League level. Along with the youngsters will be a bunch of players trying to do what Troy Percival did last year: Come back from the, "Oh yeah, I remember him," list.

First, there is Mike Hampton at the Astros camp, trying to reclaim a little piece of the magic of ten years ago when he was 22-4 for the 1999 Astros. Hampton has won 141 games in his career, but only 8 in the last four.

Next, we have a two-fer in Toronto where Mike Maroth and Matt Clement attempt to reclaim their careers after being lost for most of the last two years. Matt Clement in particular, was once a pretty good pitcher. He kind of cracked with Boston as he did not seem to handle the pressure there. That problem combined with a sickening line drive to the face and extensive shoulder surgery bring a lot of stuff to overcome.

Then we have Carl Pavano, whose well chronicled fiasco with the Yankees counted to nine wins in four years after a career year in Florida for their 2004 team. The Indians took a flier on him and hope he can make it all the way back.

In Detroit, there is Dontrelle Willis, who couldn't find home plate last year and didn't win any games at all for the Tigers in 2008. There has been little news on the former fun player from the Marlins, which can't be a good sign.

At the Rockies camp, Danny Graves will try to come back to the majors after missing all of the last two seasons. Graves has 182 saves in his career, but was lost in the mists for a couple of years. He wants to be a closer again.

In the long shot category, Jay Gibbons, he of former Orioles fame (and infamy), is hoping to revive his career in Florida after missing all of 2008. He once drove in 100 runs for the Orioles, which seems like a long, long time ago.

This blog has already mentioned Mark Prior, who will give it another go for the Padres this year.

The Brewers went into their own time machine and brought back Chris Capuano, only four years removed from winning 18 games. But he missed all of last year after a disastrous year in 2007.

And finally, we'll go back to Cleveland where Tomo Ohka, who did not pitch in the majors last year, will try to come back and pitch at the top level. Ohka had one excellent year for the Expos back in 2002 and then a whole lot of moving around and mediocrity ever since.

To all of these players, a tip of the Fan's cap and here's hoping at least one of them has some success and becomes an interesting story in 2009.