Jeff Bagwell Named Astros Hitting Coach

The fact that there was no warning or rumors about this event, making it an apparent surprise to everyone, makes you wonder how it came about. Did Drayton watch and listen to Bagwell during last night’s telecast and impulsively make a move?

I’ve questioned Sean Berry for two years . My thoughts were to bring up the Round Rock batting coach, who seemed to prepareJason Castro and Chris Johnson well. After a few weeks with Sean Berry, both Castro and CJ’s production dropped to zilch. (In one thread I quizzically asked what would happen to CJ and Castro’s batting after few weeks with Sean Berry).

But i did not expect Jeff Bagwell showing up every day to work with batters. I hope this is the greatest baseball move ever made.

Justice, who has frequently commended Sean Berry in his columns, says this move “proves that the Astros’ franchise is a joke.” Among his bashing quotes:

Memo to Brad Mills and Brad Arnsberg and Jamie Quirk: Welcome to the Astros, boys. This is how we operate. They give you an impossible job, and then they fire you for not doing it. And the people who actually make all the mistakes keep their jobs.

Here’s who should go, Ed. You. And Tal. And Drayton. You’re the ones who ran the franchise into the ground.

and

All the hiring of Jeff Bagwell means is that Brad Mills won’t be the manager much longer. If Drayton can convince Bagwell to manage, then he’ll call a news conference and announce that things are fixed.

To repeat: Drayton doesn’t get it. He doesn’t get it today. He won’t get it tomorrow.

Thinking back on it now, Bagwell did seem to be critiquing the hitters a little more than usual last night.

I think the answer to the number question is a no-brainer: he’ll wear that #5.

I figured Berry would not make it through this season. In fact, I was a bit surprised he wasn’t let go during the last offseason when there was a major change in staff. I figured that he was retained, at least in part, out of compassion on Houston’s part…this time last year, he was recovering from kidney cancer.

him not wearing the #5… There is no rule against him wearing it, so I see no reason why he wouldn’t be able to… seeing him in anything other than 5 would very stupid.

I’m not saying Berry should still be the hitting coach, but he’s not the reason the Astros are hitting .235 as a team. They are hitting .235 as a team because of their talent. There are a few that are underperforming(Berkman, Lee, probably Pence etc), but when it comes down to it… It’s a lack of talent. Nobody in their right mind expected Feliz, Quintero, Manzella, Blum etc to be anything more than average at best. Berkman and Lee are both past the point of a hitting coach doing much for them. Keppinger has been a blessing this season, outperforming what I personally expected.. but nobody should have expected Bourn to hit .285 like last season(we could hope, but not expect it).

That being said, I’m happy Bagwell is back in uniform… just seeing him in the Astros uniform makes me happy. Like others has said, he has a dry sense of humor that will do well with the team… He also brings respect from every player in the league.. not saying Berry didn’t… but Bagwell does. I will miss him on Saturdays.. he’s been a real treat to listen to and I especially love his jabs at Ausmus throughout the season.

As for Bagwell coaching the team… I just don’t see it. Not saying it won’t happen, I just can’t see him as the coach. I think I could see Biggio as their coach before Bagwell(after Bidge finishes his high school coaching for his kids). I could also see Ausmus there 1st… Ausmus has always been seen as a future coatch.

“Not Pirates-related, but: Jeff Bagwell has been named the Astros’ new hitting coach, reminding us that, while the Bucs may be a disaster, at least we have Houston. Whenever the Astros have a problem, their solution is to call on a veteran. The hold Bagwell and Craig Biggio have had over the franchise is intense – remember Biggio’s embarrassing 3,000-hit legacy tour at the end of his career, when he couldn’t play anymore? Maybe Bagwell turns out to be a great coach – maybe Tommy Manzella starts doing the wide-legged Bagwell crouch stance until his thighs look like tree trunks, and suddenly starts hitting 30 homers a year – but I highly doubt it. This looks like a typical Astros decision – shortsighted and profoundly dull-minded. I’m sure the talk radio crowd will love it.”