Jeff Bagwell
Jeff Bagwell
Jeffrey Robert Bagwellis an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire fifteen-year Major League Baseballplaying career with the Houston Astros. Originally, the Boston Red Sox selected him from the University of Hartford as a third baseman in the fourth round of the 1989 amateur draft. The Red Sox traded Bagwell to the Astros in 1990; the next season he made his MLB debut and was named the National LeagueRookie of the Year. The NL Most...
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth27 May 1968
CityBoston, MA
Second guess all you want. I think that's easy to do in that situation, but I think it's a little unfair, too. I feel like I can help the team, I really do. I feel like I'm going to give a good at-bat. I'm a lot stronger now.
Oh, yeah, he made those great plays. What would have been if those balls got through?
I have a chance to go to the World Series toward the end of my career and I'm ecstatic.
If I'm going to do this thing and try and come back and play, then I've got to be a little smarter.
I felt all right. (Today) will be a good (gauge) of how I feel. With the adrenaline, it's tough to tell what your pain level is, but it wasn't too bad. Physically, I didn't go to my knees in pain, so it's all good so far.
I feel good enough to where I could do something. But this is not about me. It's about the other 24 guys and what's best for the team.
I can't just go away. That's not in my nature.
When you come in here, it's no different from anybody else, ... except when the game starts.
Maybe (Billy) Wagner, ... I can't think of anybody else.
It's just a natural progression right now. I'm throwing a little bit between innings and getting my at-bats.
It's going to come to an end. We know that. We're not talking about a 23-year-old rookie. We're talking about a 43-year-old guy who has been there, done that. Eventually -- whether it's the next two weeks or the next two years -- this thing is going to end. So I'm just grateful I had the opportunity to play baseball with him. As a kid who grew up as a Boston Red Sox fan to where I am today, it's been an honor.
It's great for me, but it goes way beyond that, ... It's big for the team. We needed to win this game. Everybody knows how important every single game is, and tonight is no exception.
You don't want everyone to think you're soft or that it's an excuse. It's tough on younger players.
I told Phil I don't want this to be a charity case or sentimental pick. That's not what Phil is about. He's a standup guy and he's going to be honest with me. This is what he wanted. He wanted me to be here and he wanted me to get an opportunity to play, because he thinks I can do something.