RyanCampbell
Prospect
Registered: 10/08/09
Posts: 27
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #1 |
Johanna covered this is a post yesterday, and I agree that this is hopefully a bookend to the end of the steroid era.
I also think that it is a sign that it was the media and feds that cared more about PED's, not the fans. Would the Cards risk the fan backlash of hiring McGwire if they thought people would be angry? I personally did not have a problem with the steroid era. I would rather have either a majority of players doing it or none at all, so the playing field is at least somewhat balanced. It is when 10-15% of players are doing something illegal and gaining advantage that I have a problem.
However, the weirdest thing about the whole McGwire situation is the fact that it is Mark McGwire the hitter (not the steroid king) being hired as a hitting coach. As Johanna already pointed out, he had lacklustre walk totals other than the years when he was hitting 60+ home runs. He also had a mediocre batting average and was essentially a pure power hitter. How is he supposed to teach the young players to be patient at the plate, or teach guys how to hit who do not have natural home run power? If you look at a list of all the hitting coaches in baseball, Don Mattingly is the only one that really sticks out as a household name, and I think that is just a stepping stone for him to get a job as a manager. Most hitting coaches were career minor leaguers or average major leaguers at best, because they know what it takes for average players to stay in the league (that was them once upon a time).
As the old adage goes, the best players make the worst coaches.
What do you think?
|
| |
soxfan1
Veteran
Registered: 03/15/08
Posts: 258
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #2 |
I view this signing as a kind of publicity stunt by Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals. Tony is just trying to get McGwire back into the good graces of the fans. He hopes that people will see that Mark is a good guy and then will forgive his steroid use. I think it might backfire. If Mark does not come clean early in spring training with a confession and apology, he will be hounded all year in every city he goes to. Can he be an effective hitting coach? Maybe, but that is secondary to what is really going on. |
| |
jwagner
Moderator
Registered: 07/02/04
Posts: 718
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #3 |
I don't think its honestly as much of a publicity stunt, as it is one friend trying to redeem another. The Cardinals shoudl make the playoffs, or at least be in the hunt for a few years to come, its doubtful that they would risk that if they didn't think McGwire could actually help. But I wonder how much of this hiring is aimed at retaining Matt Holliday who did indeed work with McGwire in the off-season, as well as Cardinals hitter Skip Shumaker. Sounds like he has actually been a bit of a batting coach already for the Cards.
My bet is he won't be working with Albert too much, just with the younger guys and Holliday. Its interesting.
I agree he has to come out with a public statement early, or you are correct, there will be people screaming horrible things at every road game all year.
|
| |
bromer
Starter
Registered: 04/16/07
Posts: 175
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #4 |
Wags, i agree with you, seems like the buddy system here to me too,,, I think this his attempt to get Mark back into the league maybe to change some of minds of the HOF voters....I'm sure LaRussa had better options them Mark.. |
| |
