Comments on: Mark McGwire and the MLB Network http://www.codball.com/2010/01/12/mark-mcgwire-and-the-mlb-network/ Unofficial Blog of the Cape Cod Baseball League Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:04:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://www.codball.com/2010/01/12/mark-mcgwire-and-the-mlb-network/comment-page-1/#comment-46965 Andrew Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:13:58 +0000 http://www.codball.com/?p=2494#comment-46965 @Dave Agreed. Here's a story that interviewed a doctor of sports medicine regarding McGwire's claim that he used steroids to fight off injuries: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/01/steroid_mcgwire_and_injuries.html @Dave Agreed.

Here’s a story that interviewed a doctor of sports medicine regarding McGwire’s claim that he used steroids to fight off injuries:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/01/steroid_mcgwire_and_injuries.html

]]> By: Dave http://www.codball.com/2010/01/12/mark-mcgwire-and-the-mlb-network/comment-page-1/#comment-46930 Dave Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:27:30 +0000 http://www.codball.com/?p=2494#comment-46930 I should not have said McGwire "seemed a bit disingenuous." McGwire is outright delusional if he believes that he would have hit 70 homeruns at the age of 35. Also, let's not forget that he has been greatly assisted in his delusional ways by a manager who was found inebriated and asleep at the wheel of his vehicle which was idling, but still in drive, at the time. I should not have said McGwire “seemed a bit disingenuous.” McGwire is outright delusional if he believes that he would have hit 70 homeruns at the age of 35. Also, let’s not forget that he has been greatly assisted in his delusional ways by a manager who was found inebriated and asleep at the wheel of his vehicle which was idling, but still in drive, at the time.

]]> By: Dave http://www.codball.com/2010/01/12/mark-mcgwire-and-the-mlb-network/comment-page-1/#comment-46929 Dave Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:47:17 +0000 http://www.codball.com/?p=2494#comment-46929 McGwire had to make the decision to go public before he signed on as a coach with the Cardinals. Certainly he knew there would be a media circus awaiting him in every city the Cards visited. McGwire seems a bit disingenuous when he refuses to say much about how his use of steroids affected his homerun totals. In general, Americans are a very forgiving people... even if the apology doesn't come in a timely manner. When Andy Pettitte came clean, he saved himself a lot of scrutiny. Roger Clemens would have done well to follow Pettitte's lead. McGwire had to make the decision to go public before he signed on as a coach with the Cardinals. Certainly he knew there would be a media circus awaiting him in every city the Cards visited.

McGwire seems a bit disingenuous when he refuses to say much about how his use of steroids affected his homerun totals.

In general, Americans are a very forgiving people… even if the apology doesn’t come in a timely manner. When Andy Pettitte came clean, he saved himself a lot of scrutiny. Roger Clemens would have done well to follow Pettitte’s lead.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.codball.com/2010/01/12/mark-mcgwire-and-the-mlb-network/comment-page-1/#comment-46924 Andrew Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:30:15 +0000 http://www.codball.com/?p=2494#comment-46924 Good for him. He did this at the right time, when the hot stove is mostly cooled and the Hall of Fame voting is over. However, like most people, I don't think he was entirely honest. I think honesty is a key part of curtailing steroid use in baseball. Before MLB (at USC, Team USA, and in the Alaska Baseball League), McGwire hit for average and power. In MLB, he maybe had 5 out of his 16 seasons where he ended the year with a respectable average ('87, '92, '96, '98, '99). But, 11 out of his 16 seasons had high HR totals. The other seasons were compromised due to injuries. He mentioned taking steroids in small doses, and didn't correlate the usage to his HR totals or his injuries. I'd like for him to do that, and to partner with other steroid users to speak openly to young athletes. It doesn't have to be public, and it would certainly change his image. I think he'll make a great hitting coach. But, there's nothing he can do to get into the Hall of Fame. Good for him. He did this at the right time, when the hot stove is mostly cooled and the Hall of Fame voting is over.

However, like most people, I don’t think he was entirely honest. I think honesty is a key part of curtailing steroid use in baseball. Before MLB (at USC, Team USA, and in the Alaska Baseball League), McGwire hit for average and power. In MLB, he maybe had 5 out of his 16 seasons where he ended the year with a respectable average (’87, ’92, ’96, ’98, ’99). But, 11 out of his 16 seasons had high HR totals. The other seasons were compromised due to injuries.

He mentioned taking steroids in small doses, and didn’t correlate the usage to his HR totals or his injuries. I’d like for him to do that, and to partner with other steroid users to speak openly to young athletes. It doesn’t have to be public, and it would certainly change his image.

I think he’ll make a great hitting coach. But, there’s nothing he can do to get into the Hall of Fame.

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