Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Early poll results show fans want McGwire

Do Cardinals fans want Mark McGwire to be the team's hitting coach in 2010? Based on an unscientific poll posted on www.bnd.com Monday, they do -- by more than a 2-to-1 margin.

The poll showed almost two-thirds of respondents said they favored Big Mac's return, according to the hundreds who took part in the online-only poll.

About 65 percent said McGwire would help the Cardinals hitters, 28 percent said he would be a distraction for the team and about 9 percent said we'd have to wait to see how it all turned out.

You can still go online and cast your opinion.

Below are comments readers on stories about McGwire's return, appearing on bnd.com ...

Hey, if Rush Limbaugh can't own part of an NFL team, then Big MACSTEROID should not be part of a baseball team for the same reason -- CONTROVERSY. What message does this send the kids?

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The biggest question that I have is how good of a hitting coach will he be? It wasn't like he was a "great hitter" like some of you say he was. He was a good hitter at best with great power, big difference. Don't we already have enough power hitting guys who strike out frequently and do not hit with runners in scoring position? I just don't know if he really improves the Cardinals hitting, I hope that he does but I don't think he is the answer. I also cannot believe that there are actually some people out there who still think that he did not do steroids, please tell me where you are at because I have a few things that I would like to sell you.

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In related news -- MLB Fantasy Baseball Network has projected Julio Lugo will hit 68 home runs in the 2010 season.

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I think all you naysayers are Cubs fans in disguise. And you obviously have poor listening skills. Have you ever heard him say he took steroids? Hello...it is because he didn't. Did he take things that eventually became illegal to the league? Yes. One rogue player (Conseco) writes a "tell all" book, and everyone takes it as gospel. The Cardinals org. would not have allowed him to continue to wear the uniform, and Tony has no tolerance for that. So get over yourselves, and cheer on the greatest baseball team ever! GO CARDS!! And welcome back Big Mac!!

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What about all the KIDS that looked up to and emulated McGwire and then ruined their health and their lives doing what he did? McGwire is not a good role model for kids or anyone for that matter. Disgraceful.. What a great message the Cards organization is sending to kids. It's OK to cheat to gain an advantage,there will be no consequences. Even when you're caught you can lie your way out of it and you won't be punished. In fact kids, if you cheat you will be rewarded. It is disgraceful, disgusting and disheartening what the Cards are doing.

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He deserves a second chance just like everyone else in today's society. But don't think that his crime was any less than other drug users!

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It's becoming clearer and clearer, and not just from the McGwire saga, that the enshrined idea of innocent until proven guilty and the right to not self-incriminate has fallen on lean times. More and more it's "Gotcha", guilty until you prove yourself innocent. If you float you're a witch and we burn you, and if you sink and drown, you're innocent and we give you a Christian burial. During the "Andro" flap, I remember seeing Andro for sale to anyone on the shelves at GNC. I have no idea why McGwire answered the way he did and paid the price he did. It's really none of my business being his right. He has been found guilty of nothing. Senator McCarthy is probably smiling from wherever he resides these days.

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Well maybe everyone will remember one of the most exciting years in baseball, when everyone in the country was watching cardinals and cubs games just to see if mark and sammy would get closer to the record. They may have used banned drugs but they made the year. Mark is a good hitter no matter what people say; making solid contact on a 90mph fastball does not come from steroid use.

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.263 lifetime average and 1,596 strikeouts. That's the hitting coach I want.

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Quietly help them cheat? That what he did and that is what he is, a cheater. If he wasn't cheating, then why not open, honest answers during the inquiry(?) Nothing to hide, prove it with honesty and FULL disclosure.