More Juice, Please

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I waited a day to blog about the Cardinals new hitting coach for a number of reasons.  We in the media are generally quick to shoot from the hip and worry about the fall out later.  On this topic I wanted to wait at least a day to listen to others I respect and to people I don't even know but have strong feelings on the topic.

Sports fans have moved on. Vince McMahon wins.  It's just entertainment.  If pro sports don't entertain...everynight...it's a loser.  Most fans on some level get it or they get over it. 

For baseball, it's a new era.  An era that began in the early '90's.  Just as you don't really compare Jim Palmer to Cy Young you shouldn't compare what is happening in this era to what has gone on before.  In addtion, baseball (and all pro sports really) embraces the use of performance enhancing drugs.  Don't give me the rhetoric.  In this case actions, or lack thereof, speak much louder than words.  Their testing is a sham.  They don't care about the message being sent to our youth and we're all on board. 

So don't come crying to the media when your kid hangs himself at the gym or gets brain cancer at 40 or can't give you grand kids (normal ones anyway).  Keep that to yourself because the rest of us are buying tickets to the World Series.

Should Mark McGwire work again?  Why not?  Is he qualified?  That's a whole other question.  The personal bonafides are everywhere.  Where's the resume?  There isn't one.  But that doesn't mean he can't do the job.  I don't know.  And nobody else does either.  The Skipper loves him.  And who wouldn't hire their pals when they could?   MCGwire has helped Skip Schumaker...not so much with Matt Holliday.  Does he know hitting?  Sure he does.  Was his approach in line with what the Skipper would want his hitters to do?  Yes.  Can he teach?  Can he motivate? Can he listen?  I guess we'll find out.

There is still a large group (mostly media, some fans) that still want their pound of flesh from McGwire.  They still want to be able to sit in judgement of the big fella.  Maybe they'll get it.  I think McGwire would be smart to give it to them.  Though he's never been accused of that.  Call a news confrence in Jupiter.  For the first time really answer questions.  And even if he doesn't really answer the questions at least take some heat, show some form of contrition even if you don't say what for.  Maybe even throw in some tears.  It will play in Peoria and everywhere else.  When the Cardinals go o the road there will be a lot of attention initially but if you try to answer questions, don;t turn it into a circus...diffuse by being up front...it's doable.

Finally, and I can' believe this still needs to be addressed, McGwire cheated and so did 80% of the guys playing at the time.  Most of them are still working (though I'm not sure about their private parts) and enjoy the fruits of having been a big league player.  Some of them are in the game.  Some have moved on.  But for some reason many fans and media members cling to a sort of fairy tale notion that andro wasn't opn the list or he didn't know or he was getting over an injury or it was prescribed by a doctor.  Stop it please you're making me crazy! 

Precursers and maskers of PED's is enough evidence.  If you need more just go ahead and sign up for your ACLU card.  You're half way there.  He knew what he was doing and he knew it was wrong.  Maybe not technically against the rules but wrong.  And if you don;t know the difference then your momma didn't raise you right.  Getting over injuries or having a great work ethic are not excuses.  We all understand the motivation for using.  Having a good motive doesn't make it ok.  And just because you have  note doesn;t make it ok either.  Pumping iron and getting over surgery are not legal or ethical reasons to take the juice and the doctor or dentist is culpable and can and should be charged with a federal crime. 

Stop denying!  Move on!  You can tell the truth and still like the guy.  You can understand that the game is different and your guy was a big part of the reason why and still remember how much fun it was.  It was!  You can still cheer him when you see him at the yard.  Just admit to yourself that the game is different and most inportantly hope that the big lug can help the Cardinals hit with runners in scoring position.