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*Marc* · 10-26-2009, 04:28 PM

Look who has crawled out of the shadows: Mark McGwire is joining the Cards as a hitting coach: Tony La Russa will return to St. Louis Cardinals in 2010 - ESPN

Good/bad move? As tarnished as his legacy is, steroids alone didn't make him hit all those homers. He was a very good player, too, and can help other hitters.

*Nate* · 10-26-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc

As tarnished as his legacy is, steroids alone didn't make him hit all those homers. He was a very good player, too, and can help other hitters.

Agreed. I don't see this as a bad moves and certainly think it's worth a try. It could be good for McGwire to get back in baseball's good graces if he does well.

*doublee* · 10-26-2009, 08:51 PM

I don't know. My only real reservation about McGwire is he never struck me as a guy who was a student of the game or bothered spending a lot of time watching tape. I wonder how much a .263 hitter who had almost as many strikeouts as he did base hits is going to be able to help struggling hitters.

Not saying he won't be good at it, I just wonder given he was not much of a hitter to begin with.

*catman* · 10-27-2009, 01:50 AM

He might be able to develop some of the Cards young hitters -- Ankiel, Rasmus.

*doublee* · 10-27-2009, 08:33 AM

Ankiel's a free agent and I doubt they bring him back, especially if they are serious about trying to keep Holliday.

*catman* · 10-27-2009, 01:16 PM

That's true. Bringing Mac in might help them keep Holliday, and Pujols.

bachslunch · 11-08-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublee

I don't know. My only real reservation about McGwire is he never struck me as a guy who was a student of the game or bothered spending a lot of time watching tape. I wonder how much a .263 hitter who had almost as many strikeouts as he did base hits is going to be able to help struggling hitters.

Not saying he won't be good at it, I just wonder given he was not much of a hitter to begin with.

One thing he certainly can teach hitters is patience at the plate. McGwire consistently had a high on-base percentage because he drew a lot of walks. Am thinking this would be very valuable to impart to younger hitters, and I've always been of the opinion that high OBP is a good thing in a hitter.

I'm also not sure why strikeouts are necessarily worse than other kinds of outs. McGwire's career actually looks similar to Harmon Killibrew's, and I have no problem with Killibrew being seen as a worthy player.

*doublee* · 11-09-2009, 11:39 AM

You did not exactly see teams lining up to hire Killebrew as a hitting instructor either.

I am not saying McGwire's career is without merit. I just reservations about a guy who struck out almost as many times as he got base hits is someone who is that astute at studying hitting.

His high walk totals can also be attributed to teams simply pitching around him as much as it does any plate discipline he had. It was pretty rare that you would see a McGwire at bat where he shortened his swing and went the other way just trying to get on base.

*catman* · 11-10-2009, 12:54 AM

Killebrew worked with the Twins' minor-leaguers for years. He was the guy the power hitters consulted to work on their swings.

10-26-2009, 04:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
Marc Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 22,365	Big Mac is back! Look who has crawled out of the shadows: Mark McGwire is joining the Cards as a hitting coach: Tony La Russa will return to St. Louis Cardinals in 2010 - ESPN Good/bad move? As tarnished as his legacy is, steroids alone didn't make him hit all those homers. He was a very good player, too, and can help other hitters. __________________ Marc James - SCMB Administrator \| Sports Central Managing Editor & Founder Teams: [Kentucky Wildcats] [Green Bay Packers] [Charlotte Bobcats] Follow on Twitter: @mnjames \| @sportcentral

10-26-2009, 08:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
doublee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 10,684	I don't know. My only real reservation about McGwire is he never struck me as a guy who was a student of the game or bothered spending a lot of time watching tape. I wonder how much a .263 hitter who had almost as many strikeouts as he did base hits is going to be able to help struggling hitters. Not saying he won't be good at it, I just wonder given he was not much of a hitter to begin with. __________________ Can I get an Amen from the bobbleheads? Hey I said pass the ketchup! I'm eatin' salad here! Oooh, there is so much I don't know about astrophysics. I wish I had read that book by that wheelchair guy. You SU-DIDDILY-UCK Flanders!!

10-27-2009, 01:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
catman Humble MLB Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 8,755	He might be able to develop some of the Cards young hitters -- Ankiel, Rasmus. __________________ "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...." John Lennon Catman Rest in Peace, Buck. You were truly a giant among men.

10-27-2009, 08:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
doublee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 10,684	Ankiel's a free agent and I doubt they bring him back, especially if they are serious about trying to keep Holliday. __________________ Can I get an Amen from the bobbleheads? Hey I said pass the ketchup! I'm eatin' salad here! Oooh, there is so much I don't know about astrophysics. I wish I had read that book by that wheelchair guy. You SU-DIDDILY-UCK Flanders!!

10-27-2009, 01:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
catman Humble MLB Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 8,755	That's true. Bringing Mac in might help them keep Holliday, and Pujols. __________________ "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...." John Lennon Catman Rest in Peace, Buck. You were truly a giant among men.

11-09-2009, 11:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
doublee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 10,684	You did not exactly see teams lining up to hire Killebrew as a hitting instructor either. I am not saying McGwire's career is without merit. I just reservations about a guy who struck out almost as many times as he got base hits is someone who is that astute at studying hitting. His high walk totals can also be attributed to teams simply pitching around him as much as it does any plate discipline he had. It was pretty rare that you would see a McGwire at bat where he shortened his swing and went the other way just trying to get on base. __________________ Can I get an Amen from the bobbleheads? Hey I said pass the ketchup! I'm eatin' salad here! Oooh, there is so much I don't know about astrophysics. I wish I had read that book by that wheelchair guy. You SU-DIDDILY-UCK Flanders!!

11-10-2009, 12:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
catman Humble MLB Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 8,755	Killebrew worked with the Twins' minor-leaguers for years. He was the guy the power hitters consulted to work on their swings. __________________ "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...." John Lennon Catman Rest in Peace, Buck. You were truly a giant among men.

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