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View Full Version : Mark McGwire returns to MLB

Mr Mo
10-27-09, 03:19 PM
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u34/zia29112/MM%20Images/markm.jpgAs St. Louis Cardinals' new hitting instructor.

The Cards were third in the NL in hitting this year. The man McGwire replaces, Hal McRae, will almost certainly be highly sought after by other clubs.

The timing of this move is also very odd. Almost as if the Cards want this to go down with as little media attention as possible. The larger timing is interesting too, as this year Manny Ramirez served a 50 game suspension for performance-enhancers, and Alex Rodriguez confessed to using steroids while with the Texas Rangers.

Source (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/279423-mcgwire-hired-as-new-cardinals-hitting-coach)
TheBigCat
10-27-09, 03:32 PM
I have to admit I was perplexed when I heard this on ESPN. Just what sort of hitting instruction could "Mr Andro" provide for the Cards? The secret to his success is illegal now.
Ltrain
10-27-09, 04:57 PM
I have to admit I was perplexed when I heard this on ESPN. Just what sort of hitting instruction could "Mr Andro" provide for the Cards? The secret to his success is illegal now.

Same here I am still confused, usually your hitting instructor knows something about hitting? I talked about this with my father and we both wondered how a career .263 hitter could be your hitting coach. Maybe this was a mercy hiring?
Mr Mo
10-27-09, 05:13 PM
It doesn't make sense. How do you let go of Hal McRae for a guy with no experience as a teacher? Hitting instruction primarily involves mechanics and discipline. I remember McGwire as a patient hitter, who looked at a good number of pitches. I think he understands hitting well enough, but who knows if he'll be any good at teaching it?

I can't imagine that Tony LaRussa is at all happy about this. He just last week verbally committed to manage at least one more year and not retire, which is another thing that makes the timing of this seem odd to me. If he didn't know that the organization was going to do this, he's not the kind of guy to come out and complain to the media about it.

If Hal McRae wants to coach for the Yankees, i'd be thrilled to see him on their bench wearing pinstripes.

ETA: LaRussa is claiming that he loves it. *sigh* He's such a good team guy. I knew he wouldn't publicly whine.