There was a time a couple of years ago when Lance Berkman could hardly wait for his Major League career to end. Those emotions came at a time when the Astros were losing and the clubhouse environment wasn’t the best. It was tough on him — and on Roy Oswalt, as well — to see a franchise that had been one of baseball’s smartest and most efficient come undone.

Berkman spoke of coaching the baseball team at the University of Texas, or maybe doing nothing at all for a couple of years. Regardless, he left little doubt that his time was almost up, and that he wouldn’t be letting the door hit him in the backside on the way out.

And then a couple of things happened.

via Richard Justice: Lance Berkman not ready for final chapter | MLB.com: News.