By Gary Brooks
SportsLine Baseball Editor

It's not pretty but Bagwell gets the job done

Honor Roll Rankings

The average major-league player looks at Jeff Bagwell in the batter's box and wonders, "How does a guy hit better than .300 with a stance and swing like that?"

Jeff Bagwell is off to a hot start in 1999.(AP)

There aren't many aspiring professional hitters mimicking Bagwell's form at the plate. The Astros first baseman, and 1994 National League MVP, doesn't exhibit the smooth, artistic stroke of Tony Gwynn, Ken Griffey Jr. or John Olerud. Bagwell dons his battle gear and digs into the right-handed batter's box in a pronounced crouch, squatting at the knees while leaning his head and hands a bit over the inside corner.

IT DOESN'T LOOK COMFORTABLE, let alone effective.

Yet, when Bagwell explodes out of the crouch with a violent hack, he lashes balls all around the field and over fences.

His exceptional power and batting average are why he shows up in the SportsLine Honor Roll.

Through his first 18 games, Bagwell was hitting .359 with five home runs, 15 RBI and four stolen bases.

Bagwell's numbers have always been impressive. Last season, when he hit .304 with 34 home runs and 111 RBI, broke an six-year string of receiving votes for National League Most Valuable Player. Barry Bonds is the only player who has received MVP votes each year since Bagwell broke in in 1991 hitting .294 with 15 home runs and 82 RBI, winning Rookie of the Year honors.

BAGWELL'S PRODUCTIVITY COMES FROM an aggressive approach at the plate that is supplemented by a strong knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to not get himself out as pitchers would like.

"I tell people all the time that I'm the only guy in the league who walks 100 times but really wants to swing at every pitch," said Bagwell, who through Monday had 15 walks in 18 games. "I'm always looking to swing."

Until Ken Caminiti starts to punish pitchers from the Astros' cleanup spot, Bagwell, the first ever 30-30 first baseman last season, may watch his walk numbers balloon. He already has a 10-game hitting streak this season and his three home runs last Wednesday at Wrigley Field made him the Astros' career leader (244).

"We're not amazed anymore because you see it so much, you come to expect it," Houston manager Larry Dierker said after the three-homer game, also expressing that if he were an opposing manager he'd have a hard time justifying pitching to Bagwell.

Bagwell's approach at the plate has left him prone to periodic struggle. He certainly isn't in the group of players who make their success look easy.

THOUGH HE HAS HAD A GENERALLY good start, Bagwell already has admitted great frustrations with his performance at the plate. He's always tinkering with his stance and recently took a bit of the hitch out of his pre-swing movement.

The high-maintenance stance has led to some slow starts, but Bagwell has played in three All-Star games despite them. None would mean any more than the 1999 game if he were selected. The Midsummer Classic is at Fenway Park this season. Bagwell is a New England native and came up in the Red Sox system before being traded for Larry Anderson when the Red Sox were in need of bullpen help for a 1990 playoff run.

"It's no secret that I'd like to play in that game, and to play at Fenway Park would even make it more special for me," said Bagwell, one of four unanimous selections for NL MVP. "If I have that opportunity, I'd be very thankful. But the only person that can make that happen is me. I just have to play up to my ability and earn the right to play in the game."

The right may come a bit easier this season since Andres Galarraga is missing due to cancer treatment. Mark McGwire is certain to be voted in as the NL starter, but Bagwell could earn a reserve spot.

As long as fellow "Killer B's" Craig Biggio and Derek Bell get on base in front of him and allow Bagwell to be a big-time RBI machine, the All-Star spot and MVP candidacy will be assured.

"It's a long season," he said. "I've hit some slumps. I've hit some good times. All I know is if I stay healthy good things will happen."

Gary Brooks is the baseball editor at SportsLine.