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« Wagner Out For A Year; Mets Now Need A Closer For '09 | Main | Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Orioles, K-Rod, Bradley »
McGwire Open To Idea Of Playing Again
Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch interviewed Mark McGwire about the 10th anniversary of breaking Roger Maris' single-season home run record. At the end of the article McGwire indicates that he thinks he can still play.
Today, McGwire says, he works out twice a day and still weighs 245 pounds. "I can still hit, if somebody wants me," he said. "Now, wouldn’t that be a shocker?"
Let me say that McGwire may have been joking. However, Hummel gives us no indication that this is the case.
Earlier today, Joe Stiglich reported that the A's would seek to add power to the lineup this off-season and that they would be more likely to acquire a power-hitter through free agency. Would Billy Beane try to coax McGwire out of retirement? McGwire did play 11 seasons for the A's and they do have an opening for a DH in '09 along with a dire need to add an impact bat.
The possibility does seem far-fetched, but this is the type of move that Beane would not shy from. And if McGwire did decide to lace up the sneakers for one more season, this is the exact situation under which it would have to happen.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
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i think people felt let down by McGwire. But nobody hated McGwire before the roids.
Bonds was generally considered an asshole long before the steroids mess and is still an asshole.
other proven users have been given second chances (Giambi) and the A's have had a few on their team.
Posted by: Sean Gibson | September 08, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Let's bring back Jose Canseco too... The Bash Bros. resurrected!
Posted by: Peter Gammons | September 08, 2008 at 04:02 PM
This has A's written all over it.
Posted by: melonis rex | September 08, 2008 at 04:07 PM
This could be interesting. McGwire could act as a stopgap on a 1yr deal. Interesting.
Posted by: melonis rex | September 08, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Wouldn't McGwire be, what, 44 years old? Before signing him, I could see them making a run at Jason Giambi (maybe a 2-year deal?). Giambi will have other options of course, but I would think that his age could scare off a number of viable suitors, and effectively limiting his options.
Posted by: iYankees | September 08, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I live in St. Louis and the word on the radio here is that there in no-way McGwire is going so return. That said "Hi, my name is Mitch and I cheered for McGwire when he broke the record". I have since learned the error of my ways and only hope to learn from that and to realize that baseball and no other sport can truly be trusted again. So from now on until there is concrete proof that baseball is clean (i.e. never) I'm just gonna treat it like WWE sports ENTERTAINMENT and enjoy it even though I know its probably fake.
Posted by: mitch | September 08, 2008 at 04:28 PM
McGwire turns 45 on October 1st, and he has likely gone seven seasons without having seen live, ML-quality pitching. He was also a pretty lousy first baseman. Factor in the changes in the baseball landscape since he's left, and I can't imagine he'd get a shot from anyone. I mean, to me Bonds was, is and would be more productive going forward.
There would not be any sentimental reason to sign McGwire, in case anyone was wondering. Ask Rickey Henderson how Beane feels about such moves....
Posted by: scatterbrian | September 08, 2008 at 04:32 PM
Reading the quote within the context of the story, it feels more like McGwire was simply taking pride in the shape he's in, rather than expressing actual interest in coming back. He's moved on, and he's not coming back. Nothing to see here, folks.
Posted by: romansempire | September 08, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Seriously? I'd love to see McGwire play again, but he 's probably joking. After all, I think he retired due to a back injury. As far as Oakland goes, I think they should go after Bonds. If he's vindicated early enough during next season, Billy Beane should do what he's been wanting to do for years. Bonds would be dirt cheap, he would only have been out of the game for a year and a half, and he's an icon in the Bay Area (even to A's fans). What do you think, Tim?
Posted by: fenderfanatic | September 08, 2008 at 05:47 PM
These kinds of posts are what gives haters of this site fire to burn it.
McGwire? He's 45 and hasnt even talked about baseball in 7 years! Maybe in Japan or overseas as a novelty but cmon mlbTR, dont go down this path....
Posted by: Athletic Domination | September 08, 2008 at 06:32 PM
"He was also a pretty lousy first baseman"
You apparently missed that Gold Glove he won. McGwire was actually a very good defensive player.
That said, I doubt he comes back. It sounds like he is just talking about remaining in game shape.
Oh, and shame on the writers for not putting him in the Hall yet.
Posted by: AA | September 08, 2008 at 06:37 PM
"These kinds of posts are what gives haters of this site fire to burn it. "
apparently you missed the part where Tim says in the headline "may" and later makes it clear that McGwire "may have been joking" and even later adds "The possibility does seem far-fetched".
How much more do you want for him to make it clear that this is probably not going to happen? It was McGwire that said it. they just reported on what McGwire said. and then came up with a scenario under which it could but probably wont happen.
Posted by: Sean Gibson | September 08, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Maybe he can hit 75 hrs......
Posted by: jayfantilldeath | September 08, 2008 at 07:02 PM
If McGwire wants a comeback it'll start in the independant leagues.
Also it wasn't being on steroids that killed McGwire, it was the fact that he refused to directly address the allegations. If he had said "I'm sorry, but I was just doing it for the fans," or some other bs... and a lot of people would have forgiven him.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 08, 2008 at 07:37 PM
startwearingpurple,
Whose forgiveness does McGwire need to get? McGwire admitted he used steroids to the media, but he didn't address the issue to Congress. McGwire didn't have any lawyers or any sort of legal protection there. Mark didn't want to jeopardize his freedom. That's why he took the fifth.
Posted by: fenderfanatic | September 08, 2008 at 08:10 PM
I would love to see Mark again. I doubt there is anything to it but man he was fun to watch in his prime.
Also, the time off in most cases would really, really hurt a person. A guy like McGwire though might have a slight benefit. His body was breaking down constantly. The stress (emotional and physical) just wore him down. Maybe the time off has helped heal those issues.
All that said, no way is he coming back. He is private and from all accounts enjoying his retirement. Can't see why he would choose to enter the limelight again.
Posted by: bjsguess | September 08, 2008 at 08:18 PM
"startwearingpurple,
Whose forgiveness does McGwire need to get? McGwire admitted he used steroids to the media, but he didn't address the issue to Congress. McGwire didn't have any lawyers or any sort of legal protection there. Mark didn't want to jeopardize his freedom. That's why he took the fifth."
Not to mention that if he had done anything but take the Fifth, he would have been held to have waived his right in any future proceedings.
Posted by: AA | September 08, 2008 at 08:34 PM
I agree, this shouldn't even be a story. However, all i have to say is why not? Why not invite him to spring training to just see what he can do. Maybe just as a pinch hitter during the spring
Posted by: gmwannabe | September 08, 2008 at 09:03 PM
James Lindsey,
Tim didnt post this, no need to stick up for him.
I love this site and have been with it since the start pretty much, but the reality is a lot of people dont like it because of stories like these. I think this last year its come up huge by breaking news and reporting accurate rumors, but this story is a throwaway comment from McGwire and has no value whatsoever.
Posted by: Athletic Domination | September 09, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I don't think any baseball fan needs to see a 45 year old out there hitting .150 in a comeback, but I have an idea. Bring back some of the notorious mashers for a home run derby against active players at the All Star Break. Today's big boppers against a team of McGwire, Canseco, Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro, Albert Bell & Juan Gonzalez would be fun to watch. It would be good vs. evil, clean vs. dirty.
Posted by: 1quik6 | September 09, 2008 at 10:38 AM
"You apparently missed that Gold Glove he won. McGwire was actually a very good defensive player."
Early in his career maybe, but by the mid-90s, he regressed to average, and by the time he was traded to StL, he was below-average, or lousy.
However, Gold Glove winners are not always very good defensive players. They're voted on by managers, and are occasionally incorrectly given to players having good offensive seasons. A classic example is Rafael Palmiero winning in 1999 playing only 28 games at first base.
Posted by: scatterbrian | September 09, 2008 at 11:32 AM
"However, Gold Glove winners are not always very good defensive players. They're voted on by managers, and are occasionally incorrectly given to players having good offensive seasons. A classic example is Rafael Palmiero winning in 1999 playing only 28 games at first base."
Palmiero is one bad outlier that WAY too many people bring up. That was a stupid move, but by and large the award goes to excellent fielders.
As for Big Mac, he won the award in one of the worst healthy seasons of his career:
.235 .370 .489
That isn't exactly a line that says he won it because of his offense.
Further, he had way above average range factors and average-above average fielding percentages in his final 3 healthy years, so I don't see where you are saying he was lousy at all.
Posted by: AA | September 09, 2008 at 01:25 PM
"but by and large the award goes to excellent fielders."
no, it goes off reputation and reputation alone, 2 words:
Derek.
Jeter.
/conversation.
Posted by: Athletic Domination | September 09, 2008 at 01:51 PM
"'but by and large the award goes to excellent fielders.'
no, it goes off reputation and reputation alone, 2 words:
Derek.
Jeter."
2 out of the 3 years Jeter won the award, the two big defensive metrics: range factor and fielding percentage, showed Jeter as an excellent fielder. That, and Jeter often looks like he is making excellent plays, even if they are the kind of plays guys like Orlando Cabrera or John MacDonald would make look easy. Now, I am not saying he is an excellent fielder, but the group that votes on the Gold Glove generally doesn't have an analysis like Bill James was able to rely on in that article he did on Jeter's fielding.
Posted by: AA | September 09, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Was that the same 1990 season where McGwire started the All-Star game, finished second in home runs, 6th in OPS+, and was 11th in the MVP voting after his team won their division by nine games? No, not his best offensive season, but only Fielder and McGriff were better. And keep in mind that was McGwire's only Gold Glove.
Anyway, I wasn't going off of Bill James' article, or fielding metrics that weren't even available to the general public when McGwire was playing. I was going off of seeing him play in person, when I used to ditch school and take BART to A's games. It helped that McGwire was a huge target for the other infielders to throw to, but he had trouble with balls hit to his right, and really had trouble with the foul territory in Oakland. Not that it plays very often, but he also couldn't throw very hard or accurately. Without those skills, you are a below-average defensive first baseman. Maybe lousy isn't the best synonym, so I will amend my claim and say that McGwire was a below-average defensive first baseman.
Point is though, now, at 45, he is almost certainly a lousy defensive 1B.
Posted by: scatterbrian | September 10, 2008 at 02:58 PM
If McGwire were to play again at all he'd be a DH. No way around it. What team from the AL would take him? Nobody but Oakland could have that in the universe of thoughts.
Also, Oakland NEEDS to get butts in seats bad. I think McGwire is the one thing that could make bay area people care for a month or so.
Posted by: Calriver | September 15, 2008 at 02:37 AM