Jeff Bagwell News

Hall of Famer and all-time batting record holder Hank Aaron will share personal stories from his 23-year major league career during A Conversation With a Living Legend, an annual fundraising luncheon, Dec.

In 1996, Ken Caminiti had a career year, batting .326, hitting 40 home runs, and batting in 130 runs.

With 10 years of Major League service time under his belt, millions of dollars in the bank and his name at the top of the Astros' offensive records books alongside Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, slugger Lance Berkman's goal is pretty simple: win a World Series ring.

Jeff Bagwell is a name that resonates with the Houston Astros franchise. Growing up in Houston and being branded a die-hard Astros fan since birth, I remember watching in awe as Bagwell smoked balls out of the ballpark.

Branch Rickey always said it was better to deal a guy a year too early than a year too late.

One question, hundreds of answers: Which Astro had the greatest offensive season at his position? Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best-ever collection of stars.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Larry Dierker used to write a regular column for the Chronicle before he became the manager.

Astros center fielder Michael Bourn has followed up a terrific season on the field with a banner season off the field, winning two major awards in his second season roaming the spacious outfield at Minute Maid Park.

Astros icon Jeff Bagwell couldn't help but notice a large group of people lined up to get supplies outside a homeless shelter next to Minute Maid Park as he made his way to the ballpark on Saturday morning for a charity event.

So much so, in fact, that it irritated Bobby Valentine. "What exactly did Fergie tell him," the Rangers ' manager asked, "that we didn't?" Maybe it wasn't what Jenkins told Witt, I remember thinking, as much as who he was and how he said it.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, when he was managing the Indians, fought to keep CC Sabathia on the team in spring training of 2001.

Saying he wasn't satisfied with any of the candidates the Houston Astros interviewed, owner Drayton McLane will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. CST Wednesday to announce he's hiring himself as the team's manager.

And here's the full roster. This annotated week in baseball history: Oct. 18-Oct. 24, 1988 by Richard Barbieri October 22, 2009 On Oct.

Legendary Astros outfielder Jose Cruz was relieved of his first-base coaching duties last week after 13 seasons, but will remain with the organization in a role similar to Larry Dierker and Jimmy Wynn.

Jose Cruz is one of the most positive folks you'll ever meet in baseball. He loves the Astros, and I mean, LOVES, the Astros.

The Texas Rangers will emphasize situational hitting over slugging next season. That new approach will come from a new hitting coach, too.

You know: in the 1960s and 1970s there was The Carol Burnett Show and in an ongoing skit they'd do a spoof of the soap opera As The World Turns with As The Stomach Turns .

Some managers have nine lives, so why shouldn't Phil Garner have two with the Astros? Billy Martin had five with the Yankees.

Former Houston Astros manager Phil Garner confirmed Monday afternoon via a phone interview that he's one of 10 candidates for the Astros' managerial job, and will interview for the position on Saturday.

If I had a guess, I'd guess that Dave Clark isn't going to be the manager when the Astros go to Kississimmee in February.