Stating the case for Jim Crane to make this impact GM hiring for Astros

We've seen it across the full sports spectrum.     Legendary athletes trading in their field credentials for front office roles.     Ozzie Newsome and John Elway immediately come to mind.     Each enshrined in Canton as players, they also orchestrated Super Bowl victories as master architects for the Ravens and Broncos respectfully, wearing suits.        

The late Jerry West might arguably be the greatest executive of all-time.     His fusing together of talent across decades was the stuff of legends, from the showtime Lakers to the Kobe & Shaq Lakers that ushered in a new millennium.     Even the likes of Danny Ainge from the rival Celtics got in on that party.    Ainge pulled off deals for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett which brought Boston a title in 2008.   

Often, it's a shrewd combination of executing a blockbuster trade, with the fusion of draft picks who make immediate impacts.    John Elway merged the two seamlessly.     With one hand he lured Peyton Manning out of retirement, with the other he drafted Von Miller.    One would anchor the offense, the other became the face of the defense and together, the Broncos would win SB 50.        

Ozzie assembled his core quickly in Baltimore.    Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in his first draft of 1996 set the template.    Future years would bring the likes of Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs.    That core won and they won often.    

Yet it seems so many people are steadfastly opposed to the idea of Jeff Bagwell becoming the Astros new GM.

When I hear objections to the notion of appointing Bagwell to GM, it usually boils down to three areas: budget, meddling and commitment.  The Astros had a core and it brought championships.    Altuve was the anchor.   Springer, Correa and Bregman later joined to form the quartet.    Throw in deals for Verlander & Ryan Pressley and you've got the nucleus.     The question is who will be the next GM to craft the next era of dominance?     

Why not Jeff Bagwell as GM?     The argument of Houston being "handcuffed to a budget" doesn't hold water.     The Tampa Bay Rays might reach the World Series in several weeks and they rank 28th with their payroll.     The low-spending Marlins could very well get back into a Wild Card spot.    Miami is dead last in payroll, spending 82 million.     It can be done without inflating the enterprise like the Dodgers, Mets & Yankees, who lack any semblance of fiscal responsibility.      The Astros have struggled this season not only due to injuries but because their projections on a variety of pitchers were dead wrong.     

Owner meddling.     You show me an owner in professional sports who doesn't meddle and I'll show you a franchise stuck in the dark ages.     When Brian Cashman assumed the reigns in the Bronx, most observers felt he'd last only a few seasons as GM under George Steinbrenner.     He's been on the job since 1998 and New York is always a title contender when spring training breaks.     At the heart of a GM role is "trust" between ownership and front office.     There might not be a tighter relationship in the entire fabric of the Astros organization than that of Jeff Bagwell and Jim Crane.    The 2017 Championship run got Jeff sober and he's remained as such while building a tremendous relationship with Crane, to whom he feels indebted to for helping him through his personal issues.      Working relationship is everything.      

Respect.   I cannot envision a scenario where Bagwell's credentials of 449 homeruns and a permanent plaque in Cooperstown for eternity wouldn't resonate when making the final determination from scout's intel.     

It's been 3 1/2 years since Bagwell became a Senior Advisor to baseball ops.     At the time, skeptics believed it was a ceremonially victory lap and he'd be one and done.     Not only is Jeff here, in my estimation, he's the leader in the clubhouse to become next GM.      Respected by ownership, players and scouts alike.    That's the winning formula, and it doesn't appear he's leaving the building anytime soon.    

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