McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Why? Cardinals Why?

Won't this be a distraction? The questions are still going to be asked about steroids because they were never answered.

What can McGwire possibly bring to the table. Is going to help Pujols how to avoid the steroid issue when you get caught?

I think this is just a mater of friend giving a friend a job.

Not only will this move help in signing holliday but it is a great chance for McGwire to get back in the game. Hopefully he will address the issues needed early and it will have calmed down by season start. McGwire has helped several hitters already during offseason and west coast trips. He was highly regarded as a teacher of the game during his playing days like Greg Maddux is for pitching. McGwire helped mentor a young Pujols in 2001. He has respect that far surpasses a guy like Hal Mcrae. This is a good move for the cardinals and baseball as long as it gets handled the right way. Big Mac helped save the game now stop hating and give it a chance.

[bigtruck260]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

I am going to cover some of the concerns brought up by the posts I have seen about Mark becoming hitting coach:

Big Mac's career batting average has nothing to do with his ability to coach and help players. McGwire's approach as a player was not to put the ball in play with 2 strikes...He was paid to hit homeruns and that is exactly what he did...he hit a hr once every 10 at bats. This is an incredible statistic. Although this was his personal approach this doesn't mean he applies that to everyone else. McGwire teaches mental focus..if you remember watching mcgwire on deck he would close his eyes and invision his at bat. He teaches seeing and picturing mentally what you will take into your at bat. McGwire thought about pitching situations, tendencies of the pitchers, what he would do with each type of pitch. He passes that on along with hitting techniques such as balance( mcgwire maintained tremendous balance in his hitting). Mcgwire has a talent for teaching hitting both the mental aspects and recognizing physical aspects as well. I think the average thinks "oh mcgwire just hits Hr's he don't know nothing else"....when really there is much more that goes into the game. A great example of this is "tipped pitching". The pitcher giving indication of what he will throw by small movements such as change of grip, small flare of the glove. The people that can recognize this will always have a job in baseball even if they can't hit a pitch to save their life, him telling others that can use it makes all the difference in the world. I know several who had this ability who kept jobs on teams that otherwise would have had nothing. Throw any numbers to the side when discussing coaching. Great players can be horrible coaches....it's about the talent to teach.

2.) McGwire has not been proven guilty of anything....we can assume all we want but the fact is you are innocent until proven guilty. Or did we change that? Sure seems like it. I'll be the first to say I think he did. Truth is we can do that for anyone. If McGwire comes out and spills his guts about what happened it would probably be best for his reputation. McGwire is less worried about him he doesn't want to be asked about others...he knows teammates that did and many involved. He is the opposite of canseco wants no part in involving others. For this reason he has chosen to not talk at all. You know what he doesn't have to, there is no evidence to even discuss.

3.) Like him or not he was a huge part of bringing baseball back. As baseball fans we should move past the steroid controversy...we all love the game and it most likely would not be here the way it is today without big mac...

I was here in 1998 when the world was riding on Mac's jock strap, hounding and harrassing him every step of the way. People KNEW back then that he was probably taking steroids, and it was reported DURING the record season.

However, we forgave it for his HR chase (most of us). All of a sudden after his career has ended, people want to come out and riun the dude for a mistake he made - if he made one at all.

At his best, he was one of the premier power hitters in the game, a legend. Not many of us can say that we are one of the best in the whole world at the job we do...just as not many of us can say we have never done something we regretted at one time or another.

He obviously still has a passion for the game - and if that's the case, maybe he can use his great baseball mind to teach the next generation of great players what to do - and what NOT to do.

He has guts to come back and face the music in STL.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

I was here in 1998 when the world was riding on Mac's jock strap, hounding and harrassing him every step of the way. People KNEW back then that he was probably taking steroids, and it was reported DURING the record season.

However, we forgave it for his HR chase (most of us). All of a sudden after his career has ended, people want to come out and riun the dude for a mistake he made - if he made one at all.

At his best, he was one of the premier power hitters in the game, a legend. Not many of us can say that we are one of the best in the whole world at the job we do...just as not many of us can say we have never done something we regretted at one time or another.

He obviously still has a passion for the game - and if that's the case, maybe he can use his great baseball mind to teach the next generation of great players what to do - and what NOT to do.

He has guts to come back and face the music in STL.

Everyone is quick to judge and belittle a guy who resurrected the game. Everyone has made mistakes and while we assume Mcgwire made the mistaking of using roids among many of the games best from the generation we still don't know. Nobody has a positive test nor records that are damning. As a baseball fan I welcome him back and as a Cardinal fan I am very happy to see he his back contributing to this organization.

[Rboitano]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Who cares what he did or didnt do, he made the game exciting again. Brought a lot of interest back to the game. Im glad to see him back, I hope he does the annual Winter Warmup.

[whatupyos]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

You got your time frame wrong. McGwire hepled Holliday in the off season as well as Bobby Crosby. Holliday slumped badly to start the season while trying to use the points that McGwire gave him. Holliday only started to hit once he went back to his old Colorado hitting approach.

Where do you get your faulty info brotha? The Obama admin? As I stated earlier Mac has been helping Holliday since 2006.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Happy-Holliday-helped-by-Big-Mac?urn=mlb,45897

[bigtruck260]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Where do you get your faulty info brotha? The Obama admin? As I stated earlier Mac has been helping Holliday since 2006.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/p...?urn=mlb,45897

Mac added the leg kick? Wow - that seems to be a big part of his swing right now. Doesn't look like he's stopped using that (leg kick) one bit.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Mac added the leg kick? Wow - that seems to be a big part of his swing right now. Doesn't look like he's stopped using that (leg kick) one bit.

Big Mac wanted to change a few things in Hollidays swing to make him more balanced. He wanted him to change the high leg kick because it is not a great way to maintain balance. No hitting coach would teach it. But ultimately Holliday went back to the high leg kick because he felt comfortable doing it. Some habits are tough to break and they just end up going back to them. It happens a lot....Mac just wanted to see him change because it would lead to more consistent balance. Look at a guy like Pujols, picks the foot up puts it back down. This allows him to sit back on offspeed. So to answer any questions Mac tried to change the leg kick but ultimately holliday went back to it.

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

I hope he comes back. I can't wait!! He's helped Holliday and Skip Schumaker (sp?). They're both over .300 hitters. He was a great mental student of the game. Just because he wasn't a .300 hitter doesn't mean he can't teach it to others. I would love to see my boy back in the game. I hope he comes back and he's treated fairly.

Aaron

he also worked with Bobby Crosby and being an A's fan you should be painfully aware how well that worked out

Good riddance, have fun in Japan cause I am pretty sure thats the only place thats gonna offer him money to play next year.

Back on topic, I personally think its a bunch of cr@p that he just gets a job handed to him. There are tons of guys busting their butts working their way up through the ranks and Mac just gets a job handed to him because of his name thats BS IMHO.

[Rboitano]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Should have spent less time in the batting cage and more time shagging fly balls for Holliday. He is a future first baseman, got to be one of the worst fielding outfielders in the game today.

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Should have spent less time in the batting cage and more time shagging fly balls for Holliday. He is a future first baseman, got to be one of the worst fielding outfielders in the game today.

+10000000000000000

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Should have spent less time in the batting cage and more time shagging fly balls for Holliday. He is a future first baseman, got to be one of the worst fielding outfielders in the game today.

I believe that was his first error with the cardinals(the infamous play). He actually is considered a very solid fielder in baseball. He doesn't have a flashy glove but is very solid with a good throwing arm.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

he also worked with Bobby Crosby and being an A's fan you should be painfully aware how well that worked out

Good riddance, have fun in Japan cause I am pretty sure thats the only place thats gonna offer him money to play next year.

Back on topic, I personally think its a bunch of cr@p that he just gets a job handed to him. There are tons of guys busting their butts working their way up through the ranks and Mac just gets a job handed to him because of his name thats BS IMHO.

Here's the thing...no he does not have experience and others have worked hard, but you have obviously never worked with a big league hitter . McGwire has repect among those players that no one else "working their butts off" have. Joe Schmo who worked in the minors for 12 years just has no credibilty with someone like mmhhmmm Albert Pujols. McGwire can approach anybody in that dugout and offer advance to an attentive listener...very tough to find. Rudy Jaramillo has that respect, few others..Add Mark to that list now.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

he also worked with Bobby Crosby and being an A's fan you should be painfully aware how well that worked out

Good riddance, have fun in Japan cause I am pretty sure thats the only place thats gonna offer him money to play next year.

Back on topic, I personally think its a bunch of cr@p that he just gets a job handed to him. There are tons of guys busting their butts working their way up through the ranks and Mac just gets a job handed to him because of his name thats BS IMHO.

Well, it may be BS.....But what it really is is yet another flagrant indication of why I can't stand Tony LaRussa. The guy is twisted between the ears.

He has made a living managing teams loaded with some of the most juiced players in the history of the game. McGwire, who I have already stated that I just can't help like because of the 1998 spectacle with Sosa (it was a shot in the arm for baseball.....unfortunately more literally than figuratively), not to mention his great personality and disposition, is his boy. Now? LaRussa comes out now and says that he still believes Mark is "The product of hard work. He's as big as ever, he works out everyday."

Are you KIDDING me LaRussa? I mean, is this guy really fooling anyone? I don't think anyone in the world believes LaRussa is truly that ignorant. The FBI has obtained documented proof that McGwire was using steroids way back in the early '90s, so what's LaRussa doing playing dumb in 2009??

Because McGwire is his boy. Some things never change. And all this does, his standing up for Mark, coupled with the continued avoidance of addressing the issue that everyone already knows happened, just makes them both look selfish, silly, and less appealing to fans that would like to just see the burial of the steroid issue. God, I wish Mark would just come out already and get it off his chest.....tell everybody the truth, what he used, why he did it (to recover from chronic injuries, etc.) I personally don't believe McGwire did steroids for the sole intention of "cheating". He would have a much better chance of making the Hall if he would come clean. As it stands now, he has NO chance.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Well, it may be BS.....But what it really is is yet another flagrant indication of why I can't stand Tony LaRussa. The guy is twisted between the ears.

He has made a living managing teams loaded with some of the most juiced players in the history of the game. McGwire, who I have already stated that I just can't help like because of the 1998 spectacle with Sosa (it was a shot in the arm for baseball.....unfortunately more literally than figuratively), not to mention his great personality and disposition, is his boy. Now? LaRussa comes out now and says that he still believes Mark is "The product of hard work. He's as big as ever, he works out everyday."

Are you KIDDING me LaRussa? I mean, is this guy really fooling anyone? I don't think anyone in the world believes LaRussa is truly that ignorant. The FBI has obtained documented proof that McGwire was using steroids way back in the early '90s, so what's LaRussa doing playing dumb in 2009??

Because McGwire is his boy. Some things never change. And all this does, his standing up for Mark, coupled with the continued avoidance of addressing the issue that everyone already knows happened, just makes them both look selfish, silly, and less appealing to fans that would like to just see the burial of the steroid issue. God, I wish Mark would just come out already and get it off his chest.....tell everybody the truth, what he used, why he did it (to recover from chronic injuries, etc.) I personally don't believe McGwire did steroids for the sole intention of "cheating". He would have a much better chance of making the Hall if he would come clean. As it stands now, he has NO chance.

We will see how he handles it. I think we can all agree him coming clean would be best for him. As far as Larussa's comments....I think what he means is that McGwire worked his ass off and is still big to this day ( showing that he was going to be built steroids or not with his work ethic). McGwire was among the first to work in the weight room and practically lived in there. With him saying he his a Product of hardwork its a way of saying it wasn't the steroids that made him what he his. He knows what took place but Mac hasn't talked about it so this was a way for him to show support for McGwire. Love or hate Tony he has a hall of fame body of work. He had guys that used steroids and so did every other manager in the league at some point.

[whatupyos]

Re: McGwire to be Cards new hitting coach??

Well, it may be BS.....But what it really is is yet another flagrant indication of why I can't stand Tony LaRussa. The guy is twisted between the ears.

He has made a living managing teams loaded with some of the most juiced players in the history of the game. McGwire, who I have already stated that I just can't help like because of the 1998 spectacle with Sosa (it was a shot in the arm for baseball.....unfortunately more literally than figuratively), not to mention his great personality and disposition, is his boy. Now? LaRussa comes out now and says that he still believes Mark is "The product of hard work. He's as big as ever, he works out everyday."

Are you KIDDING me LaRussa? I mean, is this guy really fooling anyone? I don't think anyone in the world believes LaRussa is truly that ignorant. The FBI has obtained documented proof that McGwire was using steroids way back in the early '90s, so what's LaRussa doing playing dumb in 2009??

Because McGwire is his boy. Some things never change. And all this does, his standing up for Mark, coupled with the continued avoidance of addressing the issue that everyone already knows happened, just makes them both look selfish, silly, and less appealing to fans that would like to just see the burial of the steroid issue. God, I wish Mark would just come out already and get it off his chest.....tell everybody the truth, what he used, why he did it (to recover from chronic injuries, etc.) I personally don't believe McGwire did steroids for the sole intention of "cheating". He would have a much better chance of making the Hall if he would come clean. As it stands now, he has NO chance.

Steve-

I respect your opinion. To be fair, they're both (McGwire and LaRussa) stand up guys in most peoples opinion. I had the priviledge of meeting both of them at different times. I have endless stories of how humble they are. What's wrong with La Russa sticking up for his boy? I stick up for mine, at any cost, unless it involves murder or some sick disgusting deed. Say as just an example, you had a son who did something others didn't approve of. You'd get his back. That's all Tony is doing. We all make mistakes, some more than others, some not so harmful, others more.

Aaron