Former Astros GM explains what Jeff Bagwell needs to do to follow Nolan Ryan’s path

Could Astros legend and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell really become the team's next General Manager? His credentials as a player are obviously impeccable, and it's clear he has the trust and ear of team owner Jim Crane.

The question is this: does Bagwell have the drive and desire to grind like a general manager on a daily basis or does he prefer the comfort of remaining an advisor?

I spoke with former Astros GM Tim Purpura about what life as a GM is like, and he described what a typical day was like for him:

On days where we were playing on a homestand and playing at 7, I would get to the office no later than 8:30 AM. You check in with the various departments, what's going on in Latin America for example. You read over the game reports for all of the minor leagues and even the medical reports that the athletic trainers have to document each night. You go over the financials from the night before because it's all about the bottom line. If (former team owner) Drayton (McLane) was coming in that day, I'd have to be available to him. 

Anyone who is going to be the GM of the Astros is going to have to deal with a very hands-on owner in Jim Crane. Purpura explained that with the kind of money invested, an owner is going to be involved at a high level, and what his experiences were like in dealing with an owner who wanted to be involved:

The perspective that I've learned throughout the years, is that if I have something of value, it can be a house, a car, stocks, whatever, I own those assets and it would be a dereliction of duty (not to be involved). You have to keep your eye on it's like looking at your bank statement. Owners have millions of dollars of equity in things. They have to keep to their hands on it. I wouldn't ever behoove any owner in any sport from keeping an eye on things. Players are the most important asset that a baseball team has. You can't just hand over the keys to someone. 

I've only really worked for two owners. There was accountability with the Rangers and the Astros for what was going on with the ballclub. It wasn't just baseball operations; it was everything from ticket sales to media rights. I think back to Carlos Lee and his contract. His agent went behind my back and was negotiating with the owner. The same was true with Carlos Beltran which was surreal. I remember getting to the office extra early waiting for Scott Boras to call. I kept waiting and at 8pm, Drayton phones me and says he's spoke to Boras and here's where things are at. They have to be involved from a financial point of view, or they wouldn't be doing the right thing. 

Purpura went on to explain what his favorite part of the day in being a GM was:

That was usually around 330 in the afternoon. I would go down and check in with Phil Garner. I'd watch batting practice and answer any questions that the media had. I tried to be around the clubhouse as much as I could because everyone at some point has an issue that you need to deal with. That's what the job is, working through what the needs are. I would try to be clear of that by 6 so the players had their private space, but sometimes I'd be in Phil's office longer because we'd be discussing an injury situation. I'd then get ready for the game. By the time the game ends, I'd go back down to Phil's office to talk about the game, the strategy, results, and the players. I'd usually get out of there a little after 11 at night and then I'd go home and do it all over again. 

The Astros former GM then explained what life would be like for Astros legend and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell if he were to become the team's new GM.

After laying out what can only be explained as a very intensive schedule on a daily basis, I asked Purpura if that kind of life is something he could really see Bagwell wanting to do on a daily basis at this point in his life, and he had an interesting comparison:

Nolan Ryan did it when he took over the Rangers. He put in the time. Jeff, as a person, the answer is a flat out "yes".  Jeff and I had a great relationship, an open one, and we discussed everything. The thing about Jeff was that he was the best teammate I ever saw to every member of that clubhouse. He always asked lots of questions. I thought that was great. It's all how you structure it.   

I thought Nolan Ryan was a very interesting comparison, as both are Astros legends and Hall of Famers, and neither "needed the job" per se. Nolan is an old school baseball lifer and it's in his blood. Bagwell seems like he is the same way.

However, a first time GM is always going to have a learning curve, especially one who didn't ascend to the GM seat in the traditional way of starting as a scout or working in a front office department and working their way up. Purpura laid out the challenges of what a first time GM in today's MLB faces:

There's so much now in terms of analytics you have to choose and determine what you value the most. I went out to spring training a few years ago with the Pirates and sat in all of their player developmental meetings. They had analysts there with the coaches and it was interesting to see how many people the opportunity had to weigh in with their opinions. There are so many people that are involved because there's so much data. If chooses to become GM, he'll have to select somebody to interpret some of the stuff and determine what they value and what they don't value.    

Tim Purpura was named GM of the Houston Astros on November 1, 2004, and held the position until August 27, 2007. Houston went to it's first World Series in 2005 under Purpura.

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