Everyone knows Barry Bonds’ absence from the baseball diamond is not completely voluntary on his part. In fact, he went even so far as to say he’s “not retired” when he took part in celebrations at AT&T Park in San Francisco earlier this summer. The truth is, his rumored steroid use and legal troubles make him a pariah within the game. He brings so much baggage that not even the spiraling Yankees offered him a desparation contract.
So how will teams react if Mark McGwire expresses interest in returning to the game? The idea may seem silly, but here’s what Big Mac told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“I can still hit if somebody wants me.”
My only reaction: ……
It’s been 10 years to the day since Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris’ single season home run record, and things have only gone downhill from there for the former Bash Brother. He’s been involved in steroid scandals, congressional hearings - and he’s made it pretty clear that he has no interest in talking about the past. But even on the field, the game wasn’t very kind to him near the end of his first go ’round. While he did knock 29 homers in 2001, his final season, he managed only .187. Not even Ryan Howard or Adam Dunn allow their averages to dip that far below the Mendoza line.
Tags: Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals
