Imagine the look Bags would've given him.
In game six of the NLCS in St. Louis, Baggs was stoically watching the last few outs being recorded by Dan "The Wrecking Ball" Wheeler. This was the biggest day in Astros history, a day that all Astros fans, players and most especially the arguably greatest Astros player ever waited for. And there the man was, stoically watching the whole thing unfold. Gyrating next to him was one Brandon Backe, jumping up and down for every pitch thrown, yelling at every second, every minute, every good thing happening. Backe is a longtime Astros fan, a fan of the very man standing next to him. Before the very last out was recorded, Baggs turns over to Backe as he is now doing a jumping bean routine because he cannot hold back the huge excitement he was feeling as most of us were that night as fans.
Baggs motions not in an eggszaggerated manner, but subtle, to Backe and as quickly as he began the celebration ritual, Brandon stopped. Dead. In. His. Tracks. For the next few minutes as the last out was recorded, Backe was motionless as his idol wanted to keep dignity in the moment. His type of professional dignity and he had earned the right to expect it and demand it from his teammates. Backe granted the wish of the team leader and waited until the ball landed in Jason Lane's glove to explode out into the field, the first guy out to thump his chest, and jump on anyone he could find. He almost beat Brad Ausmus out to the mound to celebrate with Dan Wheeler. Ausmus is still fast for a catcher and that is the only reason Backe wasn't the first one to arrive.
Bagwell? When Lane made the final out, Baggy thumped his fist into the towel and that was it in terms of celebration. One thump into a towel. Pure Bagwell.
