Thoughts on the Bagwell dilemma

if the astros screw him over i hope he goes to another team and destroys the astros in some way and then wins a world series. I hate it when crap like this happens. i know its part of the sport and all, but it just makes it seem so much less like a game.

 

So if Bagwell checks out okay with the insurance doctor, doesn't that kill any type of relationship w/ the Astros?

It's like Purpura and McLane are routing for him to not recover.

 

Exactly, except I agree with them. Berkman needs to play first so we can move on. Whether the claim is denied or not, my guess is the chances of Bags going to Spring Training are slim, unless the insurance claim negotiations demand it. But the whole issue could be cancerous to the team by then. I think the relationship betweeen Bags and the Stros is over.

 

God, the Astros are so pathetic. Could they screw up this offseason any more? Run off the heart and soul of the team, to save 15 mil that will go to the bottom line and not to improve the club, ****ing morons.

 

I'm not too worried about anything, because one thing will always remain constant.

Insurance companies are evil.

That's what this is coming down to, an insurance company's decision. An insurance company has to decide whether Jeff Bagwell can play or not. Insurance companies take and take and take, but when it comes down to actually paying out a claim, they'll use every loophole and caveat possible to avoid paying. Trust me, this insurance company will find someway, somehow to avoid paying out.

Bagwell can't throw a baseball? OK Jeff, toss the ball to that guy standing ten feet away from you....Well, he can play...oh, that's right, Mr. McClane, the policy didn't specify how FAR he had to throw the baseball.

McClane will be FORCED to let Jeff play this upcoming season, because he put all his eggs in the insurance company's basket.

 

Considering they have been paying the insurance premium on his contract for this type of eventuality, it makes perfect bisiness sense to pursue this.

If they don't start the process prior to the apparent cutoff date and he cannot play then what's the point of insuring contracts and paying the premium? One way or another Bagwell will get paid the remainder of his contract, the only question is whose pocket it will come out of.

The Astros and Bagwell have each showed a remarkable amount of loyalty to each other. The Astros have paid him tremendously well and Bagwell has performed at an incredible level and been the consummate professional on and off the field. Garner even rewarded Bagwell by choosing him to DH in the World Series even though it may have been strategically better to sit him.

The only fault I see in all of this is getting an insurance policy in which a decision must be made before the start of spring training. I suspect this will be a lesson to ALL teams that have these types of policies.

 

eh, I don't think any team is gonna pay $15 mil for an average DH.

 

The Astros aren't showing any loyalty now. Bags has earned the right to try to come back. Hell, I went to games in 2004 where he couldn't throw across the diamond, watching him in warmups was sad. But he still helped us out with his bat big time.

God, some of you have blinders on when it comes to the Astros. I wish I could screw up my job like they have at every juncture this offseason and still have people defend me like y'all do the Astros. This offseason has been a disaster but you don't hear much about it from the average fan.

 

While offseason trades and free agency are certainly exciting to discuss, they don't mean a thing if the team performs poorly or if injuries arise (just ask the Rockets). I mainly judge the team by their competitiveness and they have rarely let me down over the past 12 years. I don't judge them by who they acquire in December or January.

I think that many fans would have labelled last offseason a disaster as well. Geez, they lost Beltran and Kent and effectively replaced them with nobody. Berkman was out for at least the first 4-6 weeks of the season and no one could predict how he would play at all. Again, there was no contingency to replace him. The only positive from last season was the re-signing of Clemens. The bottom line was - who cared? The end result is what matters.

I don't get too excited or too disappointed in December, January or February. I don't label the season a success or failure or something in between until September.

 

I didn't label last offseason a disaster at all. We retained all our great pitchers last year, and you see where it got us. Pitching is a hell of alot more important than hitting.

This year the Astros have:

1) Cut loose the greatest pitcher in baseball by denying him the time he needed to choose to retire or to play, so they wouldn't have to risk paying him fair market value. (You will find out how important Clemens was this year when we don't have him)
2) Inexplicably fired a popular and improving broadcaster.
3) Attempted to trade one of the best closers in the game for an offensive shortstop. (Pretty stupid to sacrifice pitching for hitting, expecially when you see what how important pitching has been for this team the last two years)
4) Classlessly tried to shame the greatest player in Astros history into retirement, so that they can add 15 mill to their bottom line.

I'm quite suprised with all these so-called Astros fans that are mindlessly oblivious to how they have botched things this offseason.

 

There is $15 million bucks up grabs. The lawyers will get their share, they always do.

I wouldn't be surprised if something works out like the insurance company makes a partial settlement that the Astros use to pay down Jeff's salary and buyout and Jeff goes to an AL team of his choice to rage against father time.

Nobody loses everything, everybody loses something.

 

I do believe you may be the only one who thinks this was the wrong move. Even Clemens said he understood the move considering he said himself it would be until late-January/early-February before making a decision. Also, there's no guarantee that Clemens won't be back with the Astros and if he does comeback, not pitching the first month or so will hopefully make it less likely that he doesn't breakdown in September for the third year in a row.

Imagine me giving the biggest yawn ever. Talk about much whining about nothing. He was a mediocre play-by-play guy at best and he admittedly forced the Astros hand.

It's not stupid to sacrifice pitching for hitting when you have two other relievers who could fill that role. Not to mention Tejada's one of the best players in the game at a position where offensive talent is scarce. You have to trade talent to get talent in many cases. Had we made that rumored deal, we would be the favorites in the Central.

The only person who has said this is Dick Justice. The Astros and Bagwell's agent have both said the Astros have not tried to shame Bagwell into retirement.

 

Perhas you're just wrong? Or perhaps there's more than one possible scenario? Oh, wait--you've been privy to everything that's gone on behind the scenes so you know, right?

I'm looking forward to your next four-point list and obligatory insult here in the next couple of days in which you say the same damn thing yet again.

so-called, mindlessly oblivious, yadah, yadah, yadah.

You just can't handle being disagreed with, can you? And your points have been addressed over and over quite reasonably and all you've done is sidestep the relevant counterpoints and repeat the same drivel. Now, that's mindless. Or, at the very least, poor argumentation.

You're wrong.

 

You are sheep.

Wow, the Astros have it great. They can focus on saving money and not putting out the best product, and get praised for it. Amazing.

 

Once again, I've got to remind myself not to argue with the clueless. All it does it raise my blood pressure. Just keep telling yourself the Stros have done great.

 

Yeah, we clueless sheep will be happy with 11 seasons in the past 12 of contending baseball, racking up one of the best winning percentages over that entire time, not to mention our first World Series appearance. Silly us.

Do us all a favor and just stop posting. We clueless sheep would really hate to be the cause of your heart attack or stroke.

 

Who said they've done great?

* If they file that insurance claim, I disagree with that move. But only Dick Justice has said that. I'll believe it when I see it. Guess that makes me a "sheep".
* Your stupid Clemens rant has been dismantled over and over with sound logic, which you *ignore*, and your only response is "you are sheep, I can't argue with the clueless." Again, your statements here seem more "clueless" and "mindless" than those of others.
* If the Astros were truly "focused on not putting out the best product," how in the hell did they just play in the World Series?

I think you're mindlessly following the voices in your head.

If your blood pressure is raised because your stupid foundless takes don't have much following among people who think for themselves, I'm very sorry. Perhaps you *should* push away from the keyboard and go get some fresh air.

Oh, and...

baa... baa...

 

Welcome to the bright side, NJ Rocket.