March 22, 2006
Bagwell Nears End
Jeff Bagwell keeps trying to convince himself that his shoulder will allow him to play, but he's sounding like a person in denial. Once again, he came out of a game early instead of playing five innings:
"I didn't feel that great today," Bagwell said. "I knew it was going to be a battle and it got to the point of 'What am I doing? What's the point?' Just to go out there and force it, there's no reason. I'm going to look at it as sometimes a day off doesn't do me well.
And:
"Obviously, it's not great," said Bagwell, who went 0-for-1 with a walk in the 10-7 loss. "I wish I could have been out there for six or seven innings, but that's not the way it was going to work today. We'll see what tomorrow brings."
Bagwell has played 16 innings at first base this spring but has yet to have to make an overhand throw in the field to test his shoulder. He made some throws in warmups, but never felt good.
This far into spring training I'd expect Bagwell to be doing better if he were going to make the team. It looks to me that the Astros were correct in filing the insurance claim. Will Bagwell realize that?
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Baggy is a prideful and determined man. Good qualities for the young and healthy, sad for the aged and broken down.
At least Jeff got his chance to find out if he could go. And the Astros should recoup some bad PR when they filed that insurance claim by allowing Bagwell to come to ST on his terms. Time to move on. Thanks for your great contributions Baggy.
i've watched baggy. it hurts to watch him try to throw, to try to hit.
i know he has had slow springs, but this ain't slow. this is he got only one shoulder that works and you can't play baseball.
i'm glad, VERY glad that mclane did the right thing and gave him a chance. because baggy deserved a chance. but truth is he just can't play baseball any more.
poor guy.
i think he knows it too, and i hope we give him the best thank you party ever.
He is one of the most underrated players in the game... Great career...
I am only 15 years old and thats about as long as baggs has been playing. i have grown up with him on the team he and biggo are the only two players I can remember that havent changed since my first game in 1995 (5 years old) I sall his stance and said WOW thats neat. I want to be just like him. Seeing him go made me break down and crie. All I can say Baggs is that there will NEVER BE ANOTHER LEADER OR PLAYER FOR THAT MATTER TO TAKE THE PLACE IN THE HEART OF THE ASTOS FANS EVERY WHERE WHEN THEY SAY FIRST BASE THEY WILL THINK BAGGS (what a better way to leave)