It isn’t easy to be a Major League manager. Phil Garner knows it quite well. Time is running out and tough decisions must be made.

Seeing Ezequiel Astacio, and being patient with him, was becoming harder for us each and every time. He has talent, no doubt. But he couldn’t rise to expectations. That’s why he was put on waivers, and now we see the Rangers taking him.

Astacio wasn’t a strong contender by any chance for a rotation spot. That’s why we saw things being decided
between Wandy Rodriguez and Fernando Nieve, and it seems like Nieve will take the fifth spot in the end; all because Brian Moehler hasn’t been able t odeliver.

Chris Sampson might be the long reliever, after all; only confirming our suspicions. When it comes to the most established starters, Woody Williams is having mixed results in his outings. We hope he feels 100% in shape when the season starts. We are not so sure about that but I hope I’m wrong.

Will this experiment of Morgan Ensberg in the second lineup spot work? It would take a bit of pressure out of him since he wouldn’t be in crucial places in the order anymore. He’s had contact in his better moments. I hope it works, and if it doesn’t, don’t blame us for losing our patience with him.

Finally, we are sorry that Richard Hidalgo wasn’t able to capitalize on his Spring Training invitation. We can’t say he didn’t make his best effort. He truly deserved this chance; and it’s sad to see he couldn’t make the best out of it.

That’s today’s front page of the Sports Section from El Nacional, one of the biggest dailies in Venezuela. I spent four days without my Internet connection, so when I finally logged on, I found an amazing sample of great coverage from many papers in Caracas. Some of them sent reporters to Spring Training camps, and they’ve spent quite some time at Kissimmee, interviewing Richard Hidalgo, Luke Scott and Hector Gimenez, among others; and also sharing the remarkable story of bullpen assistant Javier Bracamonte. There’s a sample at a Web album we’ve created to share some of it. Enjoy.

I know this is not baseball-related but tomorrow is Oscar Night and I haven’t been able to stop laughing at Ellen DeGeneres and her parody of the Spaniard movie Volver, nominated for Best Foreign Language Movie. Volver is directed by Pedro Almodovar, and his movies are, well…. how to say it… artsy? incomprehensible for the mere mortal who is not a critic for The New York Times? So that’s why I find it even funnier. Watch.

Yesterday, we were invited once again to talk Astros baseball with Uri Berenguer in the Solamente Pelota show at XM Radio’s MLB en español. If you haven’t heard it yet, you should. Three hours a day, five days a week of nothing but baseball in Spanish. Those hours fly by, if you will.

We were there for half an hour, and to be honest, those questions Uri did to us didn’t fly away from our minds. 24 hours later, we still try to get to them. They look quite simple; although, the more you think about them, the tougher they become.

We’ve been reading the fine job Alyson Footer and Jim Molony are doing at astros.com; and Joshua at Crawfish Boxes (this picture is his, by the way). They give us an idea of the mood at Kissimmee (sometimes cold, ouch).

So in that same sprit, we take on those question Uri asked us yet again:

– Will Roy Oswalt rise to the occasion as new leader of the pitching staff?

I know what you’re thinking. It’s not just the consistency, which he already has. Not the numbers. He has showed them already. It’s something beyond his mere performance on the mound. It’s becoming mentor to those new kids on the block (eventually a Troy Patton, Matt Albers, Lincoln Holdzkom, etc), the new arrivals (Jason Jennings, Miguel Ascencio, Woody Williams) and those who sorta know their way around (Fernando Nieve, Ezequiel Astacio). Being the glue that holds it all together.

It’s not easy to think about Oswalt as such. He’s very reserved and private for that. Nothing wrong with being that way, but many of us, especially Latinos, have this image of the flamboyant and loud "team leader". He doesn’t have to bring a boom box to the clubhouse to do just that. But it is also true that Oswalt is a true pro and is quite conscious of his current state of being at the Astros. Who knows. Maybe we’ll be surprised.

– How do you see the rotation stacking up today?

Hold your horses here. It’s merely a few days since pitchers and catchers reported, with a level of expectation rarely seen, and do you want me to give you already who I think will be the starting five for Opening Week?

Not a chance. It wouldn’t be honest from me, and really, it’d be quite a waste if I try to come up with things out of nowhere. I don’t think anyone knows. No one has a sure place, except for Oswalt, at least for Week 1. It’d be quite logical to think of a rotation of Oswalt, Jennings, Williams and two prospects to be named later or two guys who know a thing or two (Nieve or Wandy).

Even worse yet: Maybe Jennings and Williams will not be there for that initial week. They will be for sure, but it’s uncertain that they’ll be there from the starting point. I talked to a friend yesterday and she agreed with me. No one has a sure place in this mix, for now. The rotation looks like an ever-changing work in progress, from what I see.

– A position player who will make the difference?

Another toughie. It might be Carlos Lee. In fact, he was hired to do just that, help bring a new pace to an anemic offense. It might be Luke Scott, who arrived to camp in an improved, corrected Men’s Health version. Or Chris Burke. Richard Hidalgo came to give an intriguing twist to the case of the Congested Outfield. A man who returned to his best shape, maybe even better than when he hit jackpot with the Astros in 2000, looking for a new chance with a lot of hunger. It’s almost like American Idol, without the sadism and the lousy singing.

There’s so many out there we don’t know who will stay (or who could become trade bait). Even Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg are there for a chance. And this competitive Spring Training must bring the best in them. Or else. And this is what makes it fun.

– Prospects who could shine?

Holdzkom. Patton. Pence. Should I go on?

It’s pretty hard to complete this Astros puzzle. We’ll sure be having a lot to talk about for the next few days.

– Fernando Nieve started working out and says felt good, right after the injury that put him away from the Caribes de Anzoategui in Venezuela.

– Hector Gimenez and Humberto Quintero don’t have it any easy: either they make it or they will have to be put through waivers before landing in Triple-A. To be fair with them, they don’t have anything else to prove in the Minors. Thing is, Gimenez is ailing from a tendinitis and if he doesn’t show any improvements, he’ll be out of the race for the spot as Brad Ausmus’ backup.

– Phil Garner to his young hurlers: "I don’t want to be impressed". For the time being.

Pitchers and catchers have reported and worked out for the first time at Kissimmee this Friday. All of them except for one, RHP Jose Rodriguez, are practicing. Rodriguez has not been able to arrive to the US yet because of visa issues.

We can see plenty of new faces in the crew: Miguel Ascencio and Jason Jennings, who came here from Colorado. Jennings and Woody Williams are the biggest attention-grabbers so far, natch. Jennings should not be intimidated by his new home, Minute Maid Park, not a pitcher’s park by any chance; even less after being able to tame the beast that Coors Field represents for any pitcher.

There are plenty of youngsters who are worthy of your attention, as well. It’s true they are not likely to get into the big club right after Spring Training, but it’ll be great to see what are they up to and give us a glimpse into their potential. That is the case of guys such as Paul Estrada and Troy Patton.

Phil Garner is taking notes from Day One, and he wants to have an idea of how his rotation will be like; right behind Roy Oswalt and Company. They all have a shot, so they will try to make the best of it.

You can’t plan enough ahead. No one knows for sure what will be Roger Clemens’ decision in the end.

I apologize for not updating this blog recently. I have taken some time to attend some personal affairs; and I’m also taking a bit of a rest just before the season starts.

There’s been some free time for me after the Aragua Tigers became Venezuelan League Champions, and I’m trying to do many things. One of them (sorry) was not watching the Caribbean World Series, held in Puerto Rico.

I didn’t get a chance to cover it this year, and honestly, I thank God for not happening. I wouldn’t stand the way Venezuela played during the tournament, with such a sad performance. Terrible pitching, awful base running and a lack of clutch verging on the ridiculous.

The mood for fans at any Caribbean World Series is amazing. That’s how it’s been every time I’ve been able to cover it. And there’s so much temptation for partying and touristic activities around, so many ballplayers fall for it. There’s the perception among many that the Caribbean World Series is nothing but a paid vacation for baseball players. And I do believe that the one team that takes it as it should be taken, as strictly business, will win it.

That’s how it was in Caracas back in 2002 for the Mexico team. They were fully committed, never skipped practice, always showing up on time.

So when you read statements as those made by Venezuela manage Buddy Bailey, you cannot help but lower your head in shame: "There are plenty of reasons (for the downfall), but the most important one is lack of commitment. When you make trips such as this and you bring your family or any other kind of company with you, they will look forward to joining you in doing all sorts of things, and that takes things out of control. It’s obvious that when you go down to a resort people think they’re on vacation, but they’re not. This is the Caribbean World Series".

"I’m disappointed. To be honest with you, I’m seeing some guys that are not playing up to their full potential, the one I know they’re capable of bringing to the game".

Enough said. Err, I better change subjects.

There will be a quite interesting and competitive Spring Training for the Astros. Many people for so few spots on the final roster.

There’s plenty of non-roster invitees, such as Richard Hidalgo, who’s coming after his rebirth on the Venezuelan Winter League. Competition between him and guys such as Jason Lane is going to be fierce.

The Astros have not declined in signing men like Lane and Morgan Ensberg, who carry huge question marks on them. Will they stay? How will they do?

The possibilities (and speculation) are limitless.

Hunter Pence will be one of the guys to watch. After a sensational rise on the minor league system, and a breaking performance on the Arizona Fall League, his progress might have stalled after his DWI incident, which led him to face disciplinary measures from the organization. He must prove all of that is behind him and that he is truly hungry. There’s still a bit of development left for him but this is a good moment to see him.

All of this in mind, and there’s so little time until the moment pitchers and catchers report. How many things to watch. One thing that will keep me busy is to see how much progress catchers Hector Gimenez and Humberto Quintero have made, so one of them can be Brad Ausmus’ backup guy. They won’t be alone in that competition, though. Kevin Davidson and Louis Santangelo will also be there.

What’s your favorite Spring Training storyline for this year?

There are moments for which you prepare yourself mentally for a while; but that didn’t help us at all today. When you deal with a situation as emotional as Jeff Bagwell announcing his retirement, all the words you had prepared for it suddenly are erased and you are left speechless.

It isn’t enough just to thank him for the class, respect for the fans and the fine way he behaved on and off the field. Just to think that a ballplayer was able to stay throughout his whole career with a single ball club, in these times of free agency and inflated markets. He did not just manage to stay there, but also become a franchise symbol.

There is no doubt in our mind that Jeff Bagwell is one of the great baseball players of all time. Five years from now, we shouldn’t be having a lot of discussions regarding his merits for a Hall of Fame berth. He sure has them. In the meantime, we’re glad to see he’ll remain in the organization in an active role.

And it couldn’t be any other way. He IS the Houston Astros. His image will always be synonymous with this organization. And those who are involved in any way with the Astros thank him for becoming such a huge example and a blueprint for the way we do things. He showed us that great things can be done with hard work, a lot of effort and class along the way.

Thank you so much, Jeff.

Former MVP, Rookie of the Year hit 449 home runs for Houston franchise

HOUSTON, TX ? In a press conference held this morning at Minute Maid Park, longtime Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell announced his retirement.

The Astros also announced an ongoing personal services contract between the club and Bagwell, through the 2009 season.  As part of the agreement, Bagwell will assist the club?s Major League baseball operations staff with its Major and minor league player development programs, the Astros hitting development program, the amateur draft, scouting and minor league team operations and evaluations.  He will also spend time with the club in Spring Training, providing instruction to players and staff and evaluating both Major and minor league players.

Additionally, the annual Astros Jeff Bagwell Elite Hitters Camp in late January will be an opportunity for the club?s young hitters, including some with Major League experience, to refine and work on their game before Spring Training.  The camp will be held at Minute Maid Park each year in conjunction with the Astros Nolan Ryan Elite Pitchers Camp.

Bagwell will also travel with the Major League club on selected road trips and will observe the organization?s minor league clubs during the regular season.  He will also make various promotional appearances during the year, including the annual Astros FanFest and Winter Caravan.

The 38-year-old Bagwell finishes his career as the Houston franchise?s all-time leader in home runs, runs batted in and walks.  A four-time All-Star, Bagwell played in 15 Major League seasons from 1991-2005, winning the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1994 and the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1991.  He is one of only nine players in NL history to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in a career.

Bagwell played in 2,150 games during his Astros career, trailing only Craig Biggio (2,709) in franchise history.  He hit .297 (2314×7797) with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBI.  Bagwell also hit 488 doubles and 32 triples in his career while stealing 202 bases and scoring 1,517 runs.  He is one of only 10 players all-time with more than 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases and the only first baseman.  Additionally, Bagwell is also one of only six first basemen all-time with 1,500 runs batted in and runs scored.

In 1994, Bagwell was a unanimous choice as the National League MVP after hitting .368 (147×400) with 39 home runs and a league-leading 116 RBI.  He also led the league with 104 runs scored and became the first player to finish first or second in the league in average, runs, RBI and home runs since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.

During his rookie season of 1991, Bagwell became the first Houston player to earn Rookie of the Year honors after hitting .294 (163×554) with 15 home runs and 82 RBI in 156 games.

Additionally, Bagwell joins Cal Ripken as the only players to join the Majors after 1972 and hit 400 home runs while playing their entire career with the same franchise.

Bagwell joins Barry Bonds as the only players to record as many as two seasons of 40 or more home runs with 30 or more stolen bases.  Bagwell hit 43 HR with 30 steals in 1997, and his 42-homer campaign in 1999 also included 30 steals.  Bonds accomplished the feat in both 1996 (42 HR, 40 SB) and 1997 (40 HR, 37 SB).  There have been only 10 instances all-time of players recording a 40 HR/30 SB season.  Bagwell?s 1997 season also represents the only season of at least 30 homers and 30 steals for a first baseman in Major League history.

The last Major League game played by Bagwell was Game 4 of the 2005 World Series, the first Fall Classic for the Astros in franchise history.  Bagwell contributed a key pinch-hit single in Game 2 of the Fall Classic at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox, scoring on a pinch-hit single by Jose Vizcaino that also scored Chris Burke to tie the score in the ninth inning.

Bagwell earned three NL Silver Slugger Awards at first base (1994, 1997, 1999) and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 1994 for the Astros.  He collected 30 homers, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored in six consecutive seasons from 1996-2001, and at the time, he joined Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth as the only players all-time to accomplish that feat