The New York Times was able to secure the unthinkable – an interview with exiled slugger Mark McGwire, something the Californian had declined previously. Of course the ground rules were that there was to be no discussion about the past.
The focus was the former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman’s new life as a hitting instructor, a doctor of swings. One of his prize students, Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan, is enjoying an especially strong spring to date.
The article, which I encourage you to read, offered several interesting tidbits.
- McGwire agreed to assist the Cardinals as a spring training instructor in 2008, but had to back out at the last moment due to a family matter.
- Big Mac left the door open to it in the future if it didn’t interfere with his family life, but as previously reported, did not accept Tony La Russa’s offer this spring.
- McGwire shrugged off the steroids controversy surrounding him by saying, “I’m such an easygoing guy. I don’t need to sweep away any bitterness.”
- His four students this winter were Matt Holliday and Bobby Crosby of the Oakland Athletics, along with Duncan and Skip Schumaker of the Cardinals.
It was known that Holliday moved to Southern California to work out with McGwire at the University of California at Irvine and Schumaker is from the area. A June, 2008 USA Today article also notes McGwire often appears at Total Baseball in Huntington Beach, California.
Though they’re from Arizona, Chris Duncan’s brother Shelly of the New York Yankees also spent a week getting pointers from McGwire in October, 2006.
The weighting of the various possible causes for Chris Duncan’s encouraging rebirth this spring cannot be simply determined, but the results speak for themselves. Through 12 games and 30 at-bats, just three off the team lead, the 27-year-old is smacking the ball all over Florida parks.
His line is a most impressive and mathematically pure .333/.400/.600, for an OPS of 1.000. That includes three extra base hits, a triple and two home runs. Duncan’s RBI total of ten only trails Joe Mather’s 13 among Cardinals.
In addition to the offensive results, Duncan’s defense at his natural position, first base, was praised by Cardinals radio broadcasters John Rooney and Mike Shannon on Thursday. Duncan was given a start there in place of resting Albert Pujols.
Following the removal of a herniated cervical disc in his neck with a titanium replacement inserted last August, Duncan is apparently healthy for the first time since 2007. The first-ever type surgery for a professional athlete seems to have been entirely successful.
As such, an already crowded St. Louis outfield derby is getting even tighter.
Duncan could be another Cardinals player hoping that Schumaker will succeed in his difficult attempt to convert to a second baseman. Though different kinds of players, both are left-handed hitting outfielders capable of starting in the one remaining outfield position up for grabs on the 2009 Cardinals.
Along with Schumaker at the top of the lineup, La Russa has often discussed his desire for “danger” in the number two spot in his batting order in front of Pujols. Duncan has been tried in that spot before and could be placed there again once the season begins.
If Chris Duncan is truly back, he certainly would have reason to thank his doctors – Dr. Daniel Riew, the surgeon who repaired his neck, along with his swing doctor, Mark McGwire.
Duncan also narrowly missed two more home runs that were blown back during the first week. What a turnaround. Okay, Boss, what now? Lots of outfielders who look like major leaguers. I think Rasmus will really have to clobber the ball the next two weeks to put his name back in the conversation. Meantime, Mo better get cracking and find us a trade partner. Besides second, though, honestly the only weakness the team has right now is at No. 5 pitcher.
I’ve always thought Duncan had the best swing on the team. Problem is, this crap about a dangerous hitter in front of Pujols. It would be so much healthier for the team if he could hit 4th, start hitting off field and embellish Albert’s at bats. Tony knows he isn’t that type of hitter, mentally. Ankiel, once the scouts zone in, and he fatigues a bit, isn’t a good 4th either. Like last year, arriving at the truth of this, you delay Ludwick filling the roll or maybe encouraging Glaus to step up. Tactically, to create a positive environment for Chris, and ignoring the need to have Albert lead in solving this problem, by hitting 4th, we will again arrive at the 08 stalemate. Rick is still over swinging, Duncan’s cover will be blown as soon as the money is down. We really haven’t solved this problem yet. Someone upstairs is going to shake this up, one way or another.
Red, Joel has pitched once, light out. Let out a little slack until he augers.
It is easy to forget that when Duncan was healthy he was hitting home runs at an Albert like pace. If he stays healthy there is little logic to the thought that his spring performance so far is something beyond the norm.
Tony is very good at keeping players sharp so I expect him to get a lot out of Duncan and even enhance his performance by using someone like Mather to reduce his exposure to tough lefties and late inning defensive situations while keeping both of them sharp.
Also I think Mather is going to create pressure on the Cardinals to find him another place to play once Glaus is returned. From what I can glean from the broadcasts, not only is his production higher than last year but his approach at the plate is significantly better.
Sooner, I agree with you on both of your observations. Mather seems like the classic example of a guy that has figured it out. Just look at his progression since 2006 when he started to turn it around. His numbers at Memphis last year were comparable to Ludwick’s 2007 numbers there. Duncan did the same thing, but was derailed by injuries.
Yeah, I’m a glass half full kind of guy but (IMO) we have a couple of studs in those two guys.
If Duncan keeps raking Sooner, or even just takes responsible “situational at bats”, I’m a fan. He would be a fine platoon player, off the bench. The problem is this, he is one the pawns in this contest, along with Shu and Ludwick and Thurston, all about Colby, who is DeWitts “Flagship of the new Era”, between Tony and BD. Anything might happen, surrounding these guys.
When Mo suggested trying Shu at second base, to relieve the log jam for Colby in the outfield, Tony explained that he wouldn’t have a chance in a competition with Kennedy. He said they would have to release Kennedy to even have a chance for that to work. I think, to Tony’s surprise, and everyone else’s, they did. They left it to no ones imagination who’s idea it was. Tony cops to it because he is game, and see that he actually might get another second baseman out of it. Thats where we are today. Tony has leverage in his grooming, Mo/BD can move bodies, and make bodies. Colby is the shuttlecock. The fall guy here could be Shu, or any of the above mentioned. If Colby keeps limping around, nothing good comes of this.
Todays lineup is very interesting, pertaining to above topics.
2B Skip Schumaker
DH Rick Ankiel
1B Albert Pujols
LF Chris Duncan
RF Ryan Ludwick
SS Tyler Greene
3B Joe Mather
C Jason La Rue
CF Colby Rasmus
I wonder what Oquendo really thinks of Lopez.
Brian: Thanks for the linked article with McGwire. He seems content focused on things that matter to him in life: being a father; imparting knowledge to colleagues within the game. “No bitterness” he says. Good for him.