Bagwell adjusts to realities of coaching

HOUSTON — Lance Berkman couldn’t wait to find Jeff Bagwell on Friday. The Astros first baseman, and resident jokester, wanted to rib his former teammate and good friend. He had reason to.

Berkman tracked down Bagwell in the clubhouse and pointed out he has only one hit since Bagwell took over as Houston’s hitting coach a week ago.

Bagwell chuckled, but only for a moment. Berkman’s jibe, while good-humored, reminded Bagwell of just how tough his new profession can be.

The first-year coach and 42-year-old could only wonder: Is there something I can do? Am I doing my job right? If Berkman, a five-time All-Star, is struggling, what does that mean for the other 13 guys I need to help?

“There’s a lot that goes into coaching that most people don’t realize,” Bagwell said. “It’s not easy.”

Bagwell is finding that out firsthand, day by day, lesson by lesson, hour by hour.

On Friday, he arrived at the ballpark at 2 p.m. He dressed and stretched. He then watched the Astros’ recent call-ups play a simulated game.

After a 20-minute break, Bagwell, with red eyes, emerged from the clubhouse to the Minute Maid Park field for batting practice. He watched each player, each pitch and each hit. It was as if his head was on a swivel, incessantly going back and forth between mound and batting cage.

The only interruption in 60 minutes came from his bubble gum chomping, changing positions around home plate to gain a better vantage point and three brief conversations with rookie Jason Castro, outfielder Hunter Pence and Berkman.

“It’s just time,” Bagwell said. “It’s a lot of time.”

It’s one thing to play 162 games as a player, focusing on one’s own ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses. Bagwell proved one of the best in Astros history, leading the club all-time in home runs, RBIs and walks while collecting one Most Valuable Player trophy and a Rookie of the Year award.

Yet it’s another to monitor, track and take care of 14 other players. Many of whom have distinct needs, talents and personalities.

“It’s different,” Bagwell said. “I get here early, which isn’t easy every day. Then, I worry about 14 different kids.”

Coaching, especially a skill as fickle and inexact as hitting, requires a balancing act and grind many don’t master.

For someone like Bagwell, a retired player who spent five years away from the game between a home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and a timeshare in Aspen, Colo., it’s a reality check.

“Your heart and dedication really has to be there,” Bagwell said.

Yet Bagwell knows hitting, even if his unorthodox crouching stance made some purists scratch their collective heads. Though it’s been just six games, the Astros have scored 31 times under Bagwell to move out of last place in the National League in runs scored.

Pence, who struggled the first half of the year, has raised his batting average 10 points since Bagwell took over. Rookie Chris Johnson is hitting over .300 and making a case as future third baseman. Castro, a 2008 draft pick, has increased his slugging percentage 31 points.

“He definitely knows his stuff,” Castro said. “I watched him growing up, but he’s so easy to talk to. I’ve learned some things already.”

Still, Bagwell remains noncommittal about his future as a hitting instructor — or any kind of coach. He called this experience a 21/2-month experiment.

The time away from family makes it harder. His two daughters have started to increase their text messaging in the last few days, sending pictures and asking about their dad.

In his 21/2-minute interview, Bagwell used the words enjoy and like once. He opted for adjectives like different, desire and time-consuming multiple times.

“I don’t know,” Bagwell said of the future. “It’s a trial, and we’ll see if I like it, if it’s something I want to continue to do.”