Astros Want Bagwell to Retire

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I actually think the Astros would be better off competitively if Bagwell retired.

 

If Bagwell can play, the Astros could be a considerably better offensive team. Defensively, if he can throw first to third than I'm all for him coming back. I'd love nothing more than for Bagwell to have a really solid year. He's a class act who you have to chear on. Berkman reports that he has extra mobility since the surgery so he should be able to do a decent job in left. My big concern is Wilson in center. He's much more suited to left with his knees. Regardless, I'm rooting for Bagwell through all of this.

 

Who plays instead of Bagwell if he isn't back? When he did play last year he wasn't a very good offensive player, especially poor for a 1B.

 

If Bagwell is back, the Astros likely run out this line-up:

 

2b Biggio

CF Taveras

LF Berkman

3b Ensberg

RF Wilson

1b Bagwell

SS Everett

C Ausmus

 

If Bagwell isn't able to play, Berkman shifts to first, and Lane moves in at left.

[Mike Scott]

I actually think the Astros would be better off competitively if Bagwell retired.

 

If Bagwell can play, the Astros could be a considerably better offensive team. Defensively, if he can throw first to third than I'm all for him coming back. I'd love nothing more than for Bagwell to have a really solid year. He's a class act who you have to chear on. Berkman reports that he has extra mobility since the surgery so he should be able to do a decent job in left. My big concern is Wilson in center. He's much more suited to left with his knees. Regardless, I'm rooting for Bagwell through all of this.

 

Who plays instead of Bagwell if he isn't back? When he did play last year he wasn't a very good offensive player, especially poor for a 1B.

 

If Bagwell is back, the Astros likely run out this line-up:

 

2b Biggio

CF Taveras

LF Berkman

3b Ensberg

RF Wilson

1b Bagwell

SS Everett

C Ausmus

 

If Bagwell isn't able to play, Berkman shifts to first, and Lane moves in at left.

 

Either Lane or Tavares would be the odd man out if Bagwell came back. Purpura loves both of those guys but thinks Lane can swat 40 HRs. Lane is seen as a right fielder while Wilson is seen as either a left or center fielder. If Bagwell plays, Taveras would probably be the odd man out, assuming that Wilson can play center. I'm sure with injuries, resting players and defensive switches, Tavares would still get a sizable amount of PT.

 

As far as how good of a hitter Bagwell can be in 2006, who knows? His 100 ABs last year were pretty bad but so was his shoulder, which effected more than his throwing. His agent claims his strength and conditioning are the best they have been in the past four years. I'll take his 2003 or 2004 numbers.

 

If Jeff is healthy, displacing Tavares to the bench, Everett would probably hit in the 2 hole. Not particularly appealing but a 3-4-5-6-7 of Berkman, Ensberg, Wilson, Bagwell and Lane would be pretty productive.

 

With all of that said, I'm skeptical that Bagwell will be able to play the field. If he proves that he can hit in spring training, I wouldn't be suprised if he's traded to the AL.

[1908]

If he proves that he can hit in spring training, I wouldn't be suprised if he's traded to the AL.

Jeff has to have 5 and 10 rights, correct?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If he proves that he can hit in spring training, I wouldn't be suprised if he's traded to the AL.

Jeff has to have 5 and 10 rights, correct?

 

Yep, 14 years with the 'Stros.

[Mike Scott]

If he proves that he can hit in spring training, I wouldn't be suprised if he's traded to the AL.

Jeff has to have 5 and 10 rights, correct?

 

If he can hit, I'd be suprised if he would pass up the chance to get to 500 HRs. Who knows. Complete conjecture.

[radarluv1]

has bagwell reported to camp? when are the 'stros position guys due at ST?

[Mike Scott]

has bagwell reported to camp? when are the 'stros position guys due at ST?

 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- When Jeff Bagwell joins his team on Feb. 24 for the first full-squad workout, he will begin a crucial period of evaluating where he stands physically and whether his right shoulder can endure the strain brought on by hitting and throwing.

 

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060219&content_id=1315759&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[treebird]

today's the big day!

 

let's all hope baggy is well enough to play but not well enough to play well

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

today's the big day!

 

let's all hope baggy is well enough to play but not well enough to play well

 

Sounds good to me.

[BigbadB]

has bagwell reported to camp? when are the 'stros position guys due at ST?

 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- When Jeff Bagwell joins his team on Feb. 24 for the first full-squad workout, he will begin a crucial period of evaluating where he stands physically and whether his right shoulder can endure the strain brought on by hitting and throwing.

 

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060219&content_id=1315759&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

 

We're all cheering for you, Bags!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I heard an interview on XM 175. Bagwell did report. He apparently shook hands with McLain. There's supposedly a press conference later today.

 

Bagwell says he can still hit and did try to throw the ball. Apparently Ausmus and Biggio made fun of him and said he looked like he was throwing a shot put. Bagwell says the shoulder still bothers him when he throws but believes it is better than it was a year ago.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Will Carroll offers this on the Bagwell scenario:

 

Jeff Bagwell is in camp and Drayton McLane is hoping and praying that Bagwell’s pride takes over before the insurance claim is denied. It comes down to the structure of the insurance, designed to protect the team from the monetary loss of a devastating injury to one of their top players. It’s best-called “hit by a bus” insurance, used only in the case of clear inability to play. That’s why it had the odd January 31 expiration. Bagwell does deserve better. There’s more reason to watch this situation; Lance Berkman would be a lot better off, healthwise, at 1B.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Will Carroll chimes in on Bagwell and the Astros injury claim.

 

Insurance executives cheered the sight of Jeff Bagwell taking cuts in an exhibition game. While the claim is not completely dead, you don’t have to be able to quote The Princess Bride to know it’s mostly dead. The question now is what the Astros are going to be able to get out of Jeff Bagwell and, more importantly, whether the relationship between the team and the face of the team can be saved. The Astros are a well-run and loyal organization, things that can cut both ways in baseball. If everyone ignores the money and focuses on figuring out how Bagwell can add value to the team, on and off the field, everyone will come out okay. Our Houston sources tell us that Bagwell is not interested in being traded to the AL. He wants to end his career in Houston, one way or the other.

 

Link

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Update

 

Bagwell played firstbase for the first time this spring, but he didn't have a chance to test the shoulder as he didn't have to throw any during his four innings.

 

To me, this is likely the death knell of the insurance claim.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bagwell played first again today. While he may not be productive, he hardly seems disabled. I can't imagine the insurance claim holding up under these circumstances.

[XZero771679666304]

Bagwell played first again today. While he may not be productive, he hardly seems disabled. I can't imagine the insurance claim holding up under these circumstances.

 

Poor Drayton, having one of those backloaded contracts coming back to bite him in the arse.

[frostwyrm]

Say we have Pierre on 2nd and a runner on 1st. Would a pitcher even consider throwing to 1st? Pierre would just trot over to 3rd. I think we'll see some games where runners on first take a hilariously huge lead.

[sweetpeteman]

With less than two outs and Pierre, Hairston, or Lee on Second, anybody on first should be taking a rather large lead hoping that the pitcher would be dumb enough to try.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Say we have Pierre on 2nd and a runner on 1st. Would a pitcher even consider throwing to 1st? Pierre would just trot over to 3rd. I think we'll see some games where runners on first take a hilariously huge lead.

 

My guess is even if he is healthy enough to be on the roster, he won't be a starter.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Rosenthal thinks Bagwell's days are numbered.

 

Link.

 

"It's hard for him to throw groundballs to the infielders between innings," a rival executive says. "And the ball does nothing off his bat."

 

Bagwell, 37, has played 14 innings on defense this spring without making an overhand throw. He is 6-for-23 with one double and one RBI.

 

The Astros filed an insurance claim in January in an attempt to recoup $15.6 million of Bagwell's $17 million salary. They can not collect insurance if Bagwell remains on the active roster. It is unclear whether his appearances in Grapefruit League games this spring would affect their claim.

[CubinNY]

Rosenthal thinks Bagwell's days are numbered.

 

Link.

 

"It's hard for him to throw groundballs to the infielders between innings," a rival executive says. "And the ball does nothing off his bat."

 

Bagwell, 37, has played 14 innings on defense this spring without making an overhand throw. He is 6-for-23 with one double and one RBI.

 

The Astros filed an insurance claim in January in an attempt to recoup $15.6 million of Bagwell's $17 million salary. They can not collect insurance if Bagwell remains on the active roster. It is unclear whether his appearances in Grapefruit League games this spring would affect their claim.

 

If I'm making 17 million this year I'd hire the batboy to throw the balls between innings.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bagwell left Tuesday night's game earlier than expected due to shoulder soreness.

 

Link

 

"If I didn't get out [to hit in the third] I would have gone out there for another inning," Bagwell said. "Obviously it's not great, I wish I could have been out there for six or seven innings, [but] that's just not the way it was going to work today. We'll see what tomorrow brings."

 

Bagwell, who plans to be at first base Wednesday night when the Astros face the Cleveland Indians, said his slide safely into home in the third inning had no impact on his condition.

 

"No, just on the score," he said, smiling.

[Derwood]

Hilarious (but NSFW language)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hilarious (but NSFW language)

 

How is that NSFW language? The most profane word in there is" nuts".

[Derwood]

Hilarious (but NSFW language)

 

How is that NSFW language? The most profane word in there is" nuts".

 

other chats on the site have strong language