McGwire as batting coach

[No ACL]

1. take steroids
2. hit ball far
3. repeat

 

[n64ra]

when you can't afford to outspend the yankees, you have to get creative

oh wait, the yankees are juiced too!!!

 

[Wild Bill]

He might actually work out.

 

[Horns11]

It's not going to work out. He's the definition of "abandon the sure thing for the sake of power."

Unless, of course, he coaches by teaching players to do the opposite of what he did.

 

[HatDaddy]

McGwire was a power hitter. Plain and simple. Did you expect him to try and leg out triples?
He hit 49 HR's in his first full year in the show. He was always a power hitter. Doesn't mean he can't teach.
He was already coaching Holliday when he came to the Cards and he got on a tear when he arrived.

 

[J D the Obscure]

Next year all the Cards batters will either: a) hit a homerun or b) strikeout

 

[Horns11]

"Did you expect him to try and leg out triples?"

Of course not. But you expect hitters to be able to teach hitting. Big Mac had three options available to him his entire career: power hit, walk (usually out of intimidation of the power hit), or strike out. Dude had more K's per AB than almost anyone, ever.

If you're going to teach how to have a good eye, then that's one thing. But can Mac teach that?

p.s. he sucked in the postseason, other than his 1989 run with his fellow roid-mate.

 

[OrangeBlooded]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[wherzwaldo]

Thought I would research this, since I'm bored. Rob Deer had the worst all-time K percentage at 36.3% (minimum 3000 plate appearances).

Based on what I can find, McGwire is not, in fact, in the top 10. However, this does factor in some players that are still active.

A selection of hitters for the sake of comparison:

Rob Deer - 36.3%
Adam Dunn - 32.4%
Jim Thome - 30%
Pat Burrell - 28.1%
Mike Cameron - 27.9%
Jose Canseco - 27.5%
Dave Kingman - 27.2%
Richie Sexson - 26.6%
Reggie Jackson - 26.3% (career leader in K's)
Sammy Sosa - 26.2%
Reggie Sanders - 25.9%
Mark McGwire - 25.8%
Jim Edmonds - 25.2%
Mike Schmidt - 22.5%
Mickey Mantle - 21.1%
Alex Rodriguez - 20.9%
Jeff Bagwell - 20%
Ken Griffey, Jr. - 18.2%
Frank Thomas - 17%
Babe Ruth - 15.8%
Barry Bonds - 15.6%
Ernie Banks - 14.7%
Willie Mays - 14%
Rafael Palmeiro - 12.9%
Hank Aaron - 11.2%
Lou Gehrig - 9.9%

 

[centexorange]

Come on no matter how many steroids you take if you don't have the eye or proper mechanics its all for ****. This guy will make a difference.

 

[Texas Renegade]

yeah he'll make a difference. He will teach the players how to properly stick a needle in their arse and then avoid questions on capital hill.

Seriously he juiced and just like clemons, aroid, pettite, and whoever else should be out of the game.

 

[OrangeBlooded]

he never denied taking them. whats the problem? the fact that he juiced up?? id be willing to bet that most big leaguers have at some point, prior to the strict testing done today. same with the nfl, track athletes, cyclist, etc. the thing about mcguire is that he has never lied about it.

 

[ntexascardfan]

Mack has been giving hitting instructions to a few young players just about every year since he has left the game.

He's had a huge impact on guys like Skip Schumaker.

Simply because Mark didn't hit for average and struck out a ton doesn't mean he can't teach the art of hitting.

If being a good hitter was a prerequisite for being a good hitting coach you'd have a lot of coaches out of a job. I imagine you'd be surprised how many hitting coaches didn't even make it to the majors. Rudy Jaramillo was a terrible hitter in the minors, but is one of the best hitting coaches in the game.