Jeff Bagwell has been one of my favorite players since coming up in his rookie year. I know most people know him as great power hitter over they years. God only knows how many homeruns he would have if he played his whole career at Minute Maid Park instead most of it in the Canyon Like Astrodome. I bet he would be a sure thing for the Hall of Fame if played only in the Juice Box. If Dr. Howard from Memorial would call in on the local talk shows I would want to throw my radio. (Most notably at him if he were in my room!) I have never seen a self-proclaimed fan be so wrong about this icon of Houston Sports.

The thing I loved about Bagwell wasn’t the fact he was a great hitter, but his overall knowledge of the game. There are few players in the game that played the game as intelligently as him. Jeff could run the bases better than any other first baseman. He would steal a base when the pitcher wasn’t looking. (Some of these being Home Plate!) According to Richard Justice, Bags gave Tony La Russa fits when we played St. Louis.

The hoopla over the off-season about the Astros seeking the insurance money is understandable. This is such a tough thing! Jeff Bagwell is arguably the best player in Astros History. He should be given every chance to end his career on his terms. However, I can see the Astros point as well. We don’t know if he can make the throw to third if a runner is trying to stretch a double into a triple. Or even the shorter throw to Home to stop a run from scoring. This is the only time I could ever think of how sad it is that the NL doesn’t have the DH! Oh Heaven Forbid!!!!!!! (What am I saying????)

However this plays out during Spring Training, I do hope the best for Jeff Bagwell and the Astros. Dr. Howard be Damned!

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