Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Mark McGwire?

This week, the St. Louis Cardinals made Mark McGwire their hitting coach. When you hear that name, it takes a few seconds to get past the steroid talk and see all of the good moments he had for the game. Many fans only remember seeing him in the courtroom while under investigation for steroid use. At such a critical point in the steroid investigation, McGwire retired and little has been heard from him since. With many big stars of his generation testing positive for steroids, it is hard to believe he had no part in it.

A great example of this is the 1998 season as he chased for Roger Maris' single season home run record. At one point in the season, it looked as if McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr, and Sammy Sosa were all making a run at it. Plagued by injury, Griffey dropped out early. However, the chase was fueled on by the incredible effort of Sosa. Although McGwire would achieve greatness and break the record, this is not the point I am trying to make.

Who was the only player to keep pace with Mark McGwire for most of the season? Sammy Sosa. Who tested positive for a banned substance in 2003? Sammy Sosa. It is amazing that the only man with a hint of his power was cheating.

Who is the only player to hit more home runs in a single season than McGwire? Barry Bonds. Who has been the center of the steroid scandal for the past decade? Barry Bonds. If my point is not made by now, please re-read from paragraph 3.

No comments:

Post a Comment