The Royals and Pirates have had more success over the last 45 years
than the Astros had, it just hasn't been in the last 10 years.

They made the right decision on Miller, sure. But not on Luis
Gonzalez, Darryl Kile, Bobby Abreu, or Curt Schilling (though
admittedly those weren't medical moves). But I'm willing to give
Bagwell a shot - although I'm not sure if the insurance has to be
filed pre-season or not. Nonetheless, whether the team has a good
track record or not, ti's not 100%, medical or otherwise. You make
valid points, but it's no air tight.

And even then, I doubt very much that that $15 mil will be used to
better the team. McLane is a notorious penny pincher (though he has
gotten better the last year or two), and there are no big free
agents or recently rumoured trades left out there. That money will
be profit, nothing more. I'd rather show loyalty to Mr. Astros and
let him leave on his own terms than I would make another rich
businessman richer and happier.

It should also be pointed out that Bagwell, who thinks he can still
play, has said this has probably permanently damaged his
relationship with the team. We sure could have used him as a Minor
Leaguem manager or Major League bench coach, or perhaps a personal
services guy like Nolan Ryan. That's definently worth something, but
we've lost it.



--- In HoustonAstros@yahoogroups.com, HexDib@a... wrote:
>
>
> Not sure where this was ever stated as fact. Do you also realize
what it
> costs to insure these types of contracts and how much money in
insurance
> premiums are spent to cover just in case something like this
happens to a player
> with that type of contract? I'd encourage you to do some homework
on that as
> well. Let me also add that I believe you need to give the Astros
organization a
> little bit more credit than you do. Did they not produce a team
that went to
> the world series? Did they not make the right medical decision on
Wade
> Miller? You are way to critical of a successful franchise would
you feel better if
> you were a Pirates fan or a Royals fan or a host of other teams
that have had
> little or no success in the last decade or so?
>
>
> In a message dated 1/25/2006 8:37:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> texas_musician@y... writes:
>
> He believes, his agent believes, HIS doctor believes
> (albeit maybe not James Andrews, the best), and I believe that he
> will be ready by the season. The reasoning? He may not throw 90
feet,
> but he can throw farther than he could Dec. 25, when he could
throw
> farther than he could Nov. 25, when he could throw farther than
he
> could Oct. 25. There's no law or medical fact that says progress
> stops in late January.
>