[Justice-Chron] Squeeze play catches Bags in the middle

Right, if he can't play then there is no problem collecting the insurance. However, it is collective stupidity to try and force Bagwell into retirement when he obviously doesn't want to. One answer that solves the problem is for McLain to pony up an extra $20 mm to do whatever they would otherwise do with the insurance money. Sucks for him but he's got it and the alternative (forcing out Bags) is much worse.

 

I think exactly the opposite.

I think No Bagwell = insurance pays Bags all but a little = more money available for Roger

 

Situations like what? Waiting until spring training to see if you are physically able to start the season? You do understand, my friend, that an insurance policy is a contract between two parties, and I highly doubt that these types of policies are boiler plate set in stone. In other words, someone representing the Astros had to agree to that date. A definitive decision could be made by any agreed upon date.

 

Tough luck Astros' management ~ Bags has a contract and he's more than earned the right to give it a shot.

 

Astros haven't asked Bagwell to retire
First baseman's agent backs up team's claim
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com


HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros, however skeptical about Jeff Bagwell's chances to return to the field in 2006, have not formally asked him to retire.

Nor are they using Bagwell's meeting with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham on Thursday as a way to prove the first baseman's right shoulder is too damaged to be able to play a six-month Major League season.

General manager Tim Purpura reiterated on Wednesday that the meeting is nothing more than a way to get an evaluation and that he does not expect Dr. Andrews to make any sweeping claims in either direction.

But Purpura wants a medical opinion, something he has not been able to obtain throughout the winter.

"The intent of this is to find out where Jeff stands right now," Purpura said. "He's refused to visit with the team doctors this offseason. Until a doctor sees him, we don't know where he stands."

Bagwell has worked tirelessly this offseason to make a healthy return to the field in 2006, but he's done so feeling that the club he plays for is offering half-hearted support, at best.

The Astros, on the other hand, are insisting they have not written off the 15-year veteran. Recent headlines have suggested the Astros asked Bagwell to deem himself unable to play in '06, a perception both the Astros and Bagwell's agent, Barry Axelrod, refuted.

"Absolutely not, we've never said that," Purpura said.

"They have not done that," Axelrod said. "Have they hinted at it? Are we well aware they may want that to happen? Yes. But they said early on they're not going to try to press him into the situation."

The sticking point, and the recent perceived sense of urgency, is the deadline that the Astros must meet in order to have a chance to collect from the insurance company in the event Bagwell cannot play this year.

According to a report by the Houston Chronicle, the Astros must file a claim by Jan. 31 in order to possibly collect $15.6 million of the $17 million Bagwell is owed in '06. This date appears to be earlier than what was previously understood as the deadline.

According to Axelrod, he and Purpura met for an informal lunch during the Astros' road swing through southern California late last season, and the two discussed, among other topics, Bagwell's situation.

Purpura told Axelrod that in regard to the insurance policy, a decision regarding Bagwell's playing status would need to arrive during Spring Training.

"That date has changed," Axelrod said. "The timeline moved up as to when the claim has to be made."

A Jan. 31 deadline may make it difficult for Bagwell to use Spring Training to gauge whether he can play, in terms of the insurance aspect of this saga. Whether the Astros can file a claim on that date and then wait until Spring Training to find out if he can play is still to be determined.

The best-case scenario, of course, is that Bagwell finds out he can throw across the diamond and hit, and do the two on a consistent basis throughout the season.

But the worst-case scenario is much more complicated, especially with the money that's at stake. Axelrod emphasized that he sees why the Astros are exploring the insurance possibilities.

He also understands that the market has shifted downward, as much as 25 percent, since Bagwell signed his $85 million contract extension in December of 2000, and that a $17 million price tag, regardless of deferred money and backloaded agreements, is a tough pill to swallow.

"Would they want Jeff Bagwell now making $17 million, or opt for access to $15 million?" Axelrod said. "I can understand that. But he's under contract. Sometimes you have to live with it."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1294361&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

 

For 17 million I would w**** myself in the most decrepit ways imaginable.

 

So, Justice was just trying to stir up ****? Color me shocked.

 

Why would the Astros not be the happiest people in baseball to see him pronounced fit to play and be able to add his 30 HR's and 90 plus RBI's to the offense. But if the guy cannot play defense and ends up playing a month or so before going to the bench/DL then who wins. I do not want Bags to end his career with a whimper or a whine. Trade him and Lane to Boston for Ramirez or Clements. Win /win for everyone. Boston gets rid of salary and an unhappy player gets a prodigal son returning home to finish his career as a big time DH and we get a bat to replace Bags, which by the way has to make us look pretty good to Clemens.

 

Period.

 

in all seriousness...what an ass. if there's not a story...make one up. he's been doing that for so long i'm not sure how anyone can take him seriously.

 

Buck and I were discussing this last night. He's obviously doing this to make a name for himself and based on his increased appearances on ESPN, it's working. Not to mention, he knows there's a vocal group of people in this town that will absolutely pounce on the owner at any semblence of negative information. He clearly panders to them.

We really need a new paper in this town.

 

wow, i think you hit the nail on the head. there are a few who will knee-jerk and assume that his "speculative" writing is true.

hell, even when he comes on the radio he's usually just talking about his "hunches." hell, i have hunches...put my ass on the radio, Chance!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! every caller who calls in every day has a hunch...none of them are getting paid for it!

 

The anticlimatic followup:

No answers from Bagwell
Examination reveals little about status of shoulder for player, Astros


By BRIAN MCTAGGART
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell said Thursday night that he doesn't believe the tests he was put through early that day will necessarily give the club the answers it seeks about his surgically repaired right shoulder.

Bagwell, 37, flew to Birmingham, Ala., to work out at the American Sports Medicine Institute, which was founded by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Bagwell also was examined by Andrews, who is in the hospital recovering from a heart attack.

The trip was at the request of the Astros, who are trying to get a better idea on the status of Bagwell's shoulder. Bagwell underwent capsular release surgery in June and missed 115 games last season.

"I threw 20 balls and took about 15 swings on videotape and went and saw Dr. Andrews, who was a heck of a trouper for seeing me in his hospital bed after a heart attack," Bagwell said. "We had a good conversation. He examined me, and that's about the extent of it right now."

The Astros face a Jan. 31 deadline for filing an insurance claim that would pay the club about $15.6 million if Bagwell decides he can't play. Bagwell is scheduled to make about $17 million this year and insists he will to try to play.

"They want to make a decision on me quickly, and I don't know if I'm ready to make that decision," he said. "It's tough at this point in my rehab and this point in my offseason to go 'Oh, OK, I'm done.' I just don't think that's fair, but they need to know for their insurance policy."

Bagwell, who has battled shoulder problems since 2001, said Thursday marked only the fourth time he has thrown a baseball since the end of the World Series.

"It didn't look great, but then again for three years-plus at this point during the offseason I couldn't throw the ball five feet," he said. "That's not what I was trying to gear up to do. I was trying to gear up to play on April 1 or whenever opening day was.

"Apparently, the Astros wanted something now. It's very easy to say now 'Oh, it doesn't look like he can play.' I've never looked like I could play (at this point) in the last four years."

Bagwell's throwing and hitting motions were recorded using motion analysis software that required him to put dozens of sensors on his body. Astros general manager Tim Purpura expects to have some findings in a few days.

"From a getting-it-done point of view, he got it done," Purpura said. "Now we'll await the results."

 

Bend over Uncle Drayton...

 

Squeezing Bags is down right silly. QED.

This is so ridiculous I am gravely irritated. Give the man his due respect and let him exit gracefully on his own terms. It is a contract both sides agreed tio for goodness Drayt. Jeez what is up with these guys. The last thing we want is the cause of Baggy to hunt us for the next 100 years.

Yeah I am willing NOT to have Clemens back if keeping Bags forces that scenario. Bags (healthy or not) is still more valuable to me than Clemens.