He got a little screwed over because the organization really, actually prefers not to have him, and this is due in large part to the salary versus actual return...It's all about a relationship that has soured.
I dont care how long he keeps trying to come back. He can do whatever he wants, he deserves that much.
Yeah, me too. Very Very sad....it's not goign to be the same when I wear my Bagwell jersey to the games. I hope the best for you Baggy.
Best Astro EVER! If indeed you're gone this time, I want to thank you for the great ride and wonderful memories! Best of luck to you and your family.
I thought his surgery last year was "last resort". I hate to say it but it's over Baggy, it's not fair but it's over.
Look at that youngster. He had a sweet mullet when he was a rook. He had a great career. Too bad he was never able to make it to 500 HR's though.
It is more than fair. He's had a chance to do what very few people have ever achieved and he did it well for many years. This surgery is flat out pathetic. I understand the whole concept of wanting to play, but no surgery is going to help him at this point which he has already been told.
But he still gets his salary. In addition, the Astros would be in a better position with respect to the insurance had they NOT allowed him to play in September and in the playoffs and/or refused to allow him to come to Spring training. By allowing those events to occur, it will be more difficult to collect on the insurance.
The way I understand it, he will have to remain on the DL for the entire season for them to recoup his salary. Which is very possible the way things are looking now.
Damn, I want Bagwell in the lineup. I don't even care if he gives us a subpar year. I want to see Bags play one more time. The poor guy's worked so hard this spring.
Too bad he has to go out this way. My favorite astro of all time should gotten the 500. I'll never forget watching Bags in 94 as he absolutely murdered NL pitching to the tune of .368 and 39 taters. On the bright side, he at least got to the series, and there's nobody outside of Albert Pujols that I'd rather have, than Berkman taking over for the next decade.
"I'm going to be honest with myself," Bagwell said. "I'm going to be honest with the Astros. I'm out here in the condition where I can only play once every few days, and that's not what I'm out here to do." -------Jeff Bagwell http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...vLYF?slug=ap-astros-bagwell&prov=ap&type=lgns
I'm sad about this...but I feel like it's been coming for quite some time now. I do think he's in a bit of denial, but that's to be expected, perhaps. Hard to walk away from the game, to be sure.
And if they don't recoup his salary via the insurance policy, he still gets his entire salary (~17 million), therefore, I don't see how he is getting (or has been) screwed over by the organization as Roxran wrote.
To clear up some common misconceptions... the Astros are paying Jeff Bagwell his salary... regardless of his injury condition. Whether or not they'll get REIMBURSSED by the insurance company down the road (which may take years) is yet to be determined... but Jeff will be taken care of long before that. If Jeff is willing to go thru another horrid procedure (which all orthopedic-type surgeries are) just for a chance at getting another chance to play, I got to admire his dedication... but I just don't want him to end up tarnishing his legacy. In the end, however, its his decision.
Has this off-season etc tarnished, actually aided, or not affected Bags' legacy? It appears to me that he has received national notoriety he has lacked and may, therefore, benefit. I hope so. He has earned his place, his legacy -- beyond the Loop!
Somehow it just doesn't feel like the Astros without Bagwell around. Watching him launch shots like a cannon from that distinctive crouch / squat he had was one of my favorite sights in baseball, and is an indelible image in my memory. He was the heart and soul of the team for so many years, and he'll be missed, if this is it for him.
How about before acting like geniuses and assuming his career is completely over, you wait until after this surgery to speculate whether or not he returns. At least the surgery will (somewhat temporarily) "cure" him of his shoulder pain from the bone spurs.
