This spring, former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire has once again chosen to remain out of the spotlight, even as Tony La Russa continues to encourage him to return to the game. Now, his former manager has upped the ante on the heels of McGwire’s failed 2009 Hall of Fame candidacy and eroding voter support.
Knowing this story has not yet reached its conclusion, La Russa is now publicly advocating an approach to unlock the ex-slugger’s moribund Hall chances that I have pushed for years – speak up for yourself, Mark!
Having played the role of McGwire’s chief public defender since the player went underground following his embarrassing March 2005 Congressional testimony, La Russa has finally suggested the player answer questions about his past – precisely what Big Mac wouldn’t do four years ago.
Since then, the baseball landscape has changed with the Mitchell Report, enhanced testing and other players able to move on after admitting various PED-related activities in their pasts. Yet McGwire remains silent in his self-imposed purgatory.
Again this spring, La Russa invited McGwire to be a spring training coach, which would also offer the vehicle for McGwire to clear the air – the familiar and comfortable environment of the Cardinals complex in Jupiter, Florida, where access can be controlled.
In Monday’s New York Times, La Russa said this:
“I think if he came to spring training and was seen, so the writers and the fans could say, ‘There’s Mark,’ and answer whatever they want,” La Russa said, “I think that would go a long way, in my opinion.”
However, once again, McGwire has declined to come to Florida with the Cardinals in 2009. Undaunted, La Russa vowed to keep inviting him every year. With 12 more possible years on the HoF ballot, apparently McGwire is in no hurry.
Mac is still out there in the shadows. As recently as this past weekend’s Winter Warm-up fan fest, outfielder Skip Schumaker acknowledged his winter regimen includes hitting with McGwire in California. The ex-Cardinal told La Russa he is still in playing shape today, not that it matters anymore.
Big Mac’s long-time skipper reaffirmed his Hall support of his ex-player, noting the retired slugger’s numbers make him worthy.
“I believe this: His production, I think, is Hall of Fame quality,” La Russa asserted.
Of course, even Tony knows the real issue isn’t about numbers; it’s about refusing to discuss the past.
“If it’s a question of what did he do to make himself stronger that wasn’t legal, and that’s kind of a character-and-integrity issue,” La Russa said. “If it’s a character-and-integrity issue, how many guys do we know who did what Mark did?”
La Russa went on to cite the example of McGwire walking away from the game with money remaining on his contract as a character reference, as if that would somehow magically negate the steroid allegations.
Coach Dave McKay’s strength and conditioning programs were also again defended by the manager, asserting McKay ran a “100 percent straight” workout program in Oakland. Yet in what seems to be a moderation of past comments, La Russa admits lack of 24-hour supervision meant all may not have been known.
“Now, as José (Canseco) said, when you go to the toilet or you leave the ballpark, Dave didn’t control that,” La Russa said.
Previously, La Russa’s platform was that neither he nor his coaches saw any questionable activity by McGwire and because Mac said he was innocent, therefore he was. Instead, the above comment seems much more realistic, as any parent of teenagers might attest.
Speaking of control, there isn’t any more La Russa can do to control Hall of Fame voters to alter their lack of support of McGwire. With the exception of one or two comments perhaps, Tony has made these same points in defending McGwire many times.
For the first time in my recollection, and I have followed this story closely for some time, La Russa has publicly urged McGwire to clear the air.
I say “bravo” to that. McGwire belongs in the Hall, but it doesn’t look like he is going to get there unless he takes responsibility for change.
As they say, pride goeth before the fall. As was discussed in an earlier post, McGwire deserves to be in the Hall and the real question will come when Bonds is eligible. McGwire chose to take the 5th before Congress which is his right as an American. It is not an acknowledgment of guilt, anybody can invoke that right for any reason. To hold that against him seems not only wrong, but un-American.
I agree Chris. Mark should be in the Hall, and I think we have shone him and injustice for simply doing what many have done, take the 5th , for more serious reasons with less criticism.That being said, he would be better served to to do as Tony has suggested and face it head on, and clear the air.
Linked below is what Fox News once reported from a respected pediatrician. Its expert perspective and powerful.
http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/601884.html
I’m not a fan of Deadspin, especially after they had to recant their steroid accusations against Albert Pujols’ trainer and therefore Albert. They have another Cards-related ‘roids story – this one about McGwire’s brother’s new book. Estranged little brother Jay seems to be in a debate with Canseco over who injected Big Mac first. Sad what people will do for money…
http://deadspin.com/5136177/mark-mcgwires-one+eyed-baby-brother-reveals-the-not+so+startling-truth
Some of this story has plausibility. If the kid brother was a weight-lifter, who like so many others used steroids, then he would be a family member who could advise Mark how to use steroids to strengthen (without bulking up so much as to be counterproductive for baseball). Maybe one reason Mark did not want to talk about the topic is it would lead to family.
The brother claims Mark does not care about campaigning for membership in the Hall of Fame; sounds possible.
Body-building for prizes may be a form of narciscism (sp). If so, it seems apt to rat out your vastly more famous brother in order to selfishly make a few bucks from selling a book. Grounds for estrangement are understandable.
In a nice essay below by David Brooks is a quote from Ryne Sandberg that reminds me, faintly, of MMcGwire. Sandberg mentions that he did not play the game in order to be validated by the Hall of Fame, rather out of respect for his profession.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/opinion/27brooks.html?ref=opinion
Some seem to assume that unless McGwire begs for entry into the Hall of Fame, the quality of his working life has not been validated. McGwire is either too proud, they assume. Or too ashamed of his choices. Maybe this is so.
Yet there are other possible explanations for what McGwire’s silence may connote. For instance, he could feel like he gave his utmost when he played. He could feel, like Sandberg, he did not play for personal acclaim like the HoF, but with respect for his craft. The petty world of baseball has become besotted about PEDs, such that there is not a respectful environment for McGwire. He does not owe fans anymore. They can engage in their speculations. He is getting on with the rest of his life. If so, good for him.
Judging by the number of players that come to his area to work out during the off-season, the rest of Mac’s life seems to still have baseball in a prominent location.
As you noted, Jay McGwire speculates that Mark does not care about the HoF. Who knows other than the player himself how he really feels.
The “respect for the game” line of thinking is interesting, but I don’t buy it, at least in McGwire’s context. Forget the issue of whether or not PED use is considered cheating and therefore disrespectful of the game. He grew up under La Russa, who does feel very strongly about respecting the game. The most recent example I recall was his underplaying of the Kenny Rogers pine tar incident in G2 of the 2006 World Series. I don’t see any way PED use can be linked to respect for the game in a positive manner, however.
I do wonder if La Russa was internally conflicted by seeing his players get larger and larger while McKay ran a clean program. Later when he asked McGwire, he accepted Mark’s answer and that was that. Seems pretty naive, like a parent refusing to admit their underage kid is smoking or drinking beer or worse, but part of respecting the game is definitely supporting your players.
I pulled this passage out of “Three Nights in August”. While it is Buzz Bissinger, not Tony speaking and the specific section was about hit batters, it is Tony’s general philosophy.
We may never know, because Mac will surely outlive Tony and I doubt he’d ever openly discuss it anyway, but I would love to know what Tony has REALLY thought all along. He has to realize he has undermined his own public credibility by continuing to support McGwire so aggressively, remaining his most solid defender even as the evidence on the other side of the scale mounted. Perhaps he viewed a major scandal would be a worse disrespect of the game and was concerned about breaking his code of respect for his players. Above it all, his personal Hall of Fame legacy remains safe. I would put pretty high odds on that being very important to Tony.
The subtle change in TLRs stance regarding McGwire that I called out above was seemingly missed by others.