LaRussa stands by McGwire

[White Knight]

God Bless you, Tony. Perhaps with more vocal support like yours we can stop this witch hunt and rightfully elect this great man to the HOF. Baseball was a far more interesting sport with him around.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/41258

[Old Sweater]

God Bless you, Tony. Perhaps with more vocal support like yours we can stop this witch hunt and rightfully elect this great man to the HOF. Baseball was a far more interesting sport with him around.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/41258

This is the witch hunt that has made me most curious then the others to see if the high moral BBWAA writers would have voted McGwire in on the 1st ballot because of his other average stats of his career.

[dl4060]

This is the witch hunt that has made me most curious then the others to see if the high moral BBWAA writers would have voted McGwire in on the 1st ballot because of his other average stats of his career.

Which 'average' stats are you referring to? His OBP and SLG were far above average. Yes, his BA was right around the league average, but take away his testimony(or lack thereof) and he is clearly a first ballot guy.

[philkid3]

I saw this part at Lone Star Ball and was quite litteraly lolling:

"Wait a minute, Tony. You still don't believe McGwire used performance-enhancing drugs?"

"Absolutely not."

"Come on."

"Absolutely not," he said. "If you see Mark today, he still looks like he did then."

"No, he doesn't," I said.

"Yes, he does," La Russa said.

"No, he doesn't," I repeated.

La Russa tossed his hands in the air and looked at me in frustration. "Are you asking for my opinion or yours?" he said.

"I'm asking your opinion," I said. "But we're having a conversation, and I'm disagreeing with you."

[BoweryBoys]

First I must say that I have been a Cardinals fan for over 40 years. (My nickname here comes from my love of the Leo Gorcey/Huntz Hall Comedy films of the 1940s and 50s and has nothing to do with New York or the Yankees, I have only been to NY once before)

Having written about how I have lived and loved Cardinals red for over 40 years I must say that Tony LaRussa is a disgrace to MLB and a great example of the "good ole boy" "closed shop" arrogance mentality that permeates the modern era game. If McGwire ever gets anywhere near the HOF, except by buying an admission ticket, that just may be the day that I finally just lose all interest in this increasingly corrupt and arrogant professional sports league called MLB. I know some other Cardinals fans who feel the exact same way too, about LaRussa and McGwire.

[Old Sweater]

Which 'average' stats are you referring to? His OBP and SLG were far above average. Yes, his BA was right around the league average, but take away his testimony(or lack thereof) and he is clearly a first ballot guy.

I dunno, there was some debate about if his 583 HR's would be the auto shoo in as it was before.

1626 hits in 16 seasons/ 1414 RBI's/ .263 BA/ 1167 runs scored

These stats really don't jump out at you.

[Brian McKenna]

The complicit exonerating the accused??

[Mattingly]

Tony LaRussa may be the only person in St Louis (or all of Missouri, from what I've heard) who believes that McGwires didn't use any PEDs. I don't see how anybody could be so guillible that he wouldn't even suspect anything.

LaRussa denies that McGwire used anything and Torre practically dismisses suggestions that Clemens used also. Could this be about not willing to believe (or at least consider) suspicions of PED usage that many strongly suspect? Or would this be that their own legacy may be tainted if they were found to be merely "looking the other way" when the lockerroom was grounds for illegal substances?

[philkid3]

Nevermind, forgot my policy of not replying to certain people.

[MyDogSparty]

LaRussa has to stick to his story that McGwire is clean. He knows the truth on PEDs in the Bay area and BALCO. He managed Canseco, McGwire and Giambi in Oakland. He's wanted Bonds in St. Louis for the last 2 or 3 seasons. He knew what was going on and he was willing to look the other way. He can't change his story now.

[White Knight]

First I must say that I have been a Cardinals fan for over 40 years. (My nickname here comes from my love of the Leo Gorcey/Huntz Hall Comedy films of the 1940s and 50s and has nothing to do with New York or the Yankees, I have only been to NY once before)

Having written about how I have lived and loved Cardinals red for over 40 years I must say that Tony LaRussa is a disgrace to MLB and a great example of the "good ole boy" "closed shop" arrogance mentality that permeates the modern era game. If McGwire ever gets anywhere near the HOF, except by buying an admission ticket, that just may be the day that I finally just lose all interest in this increasingly corrupt and arrogant professional sports league called MLB. I know some other Cardinals fans who feel the exact same way too, about LaRussa and McGwire.

I couldn't disagree with you more. A part of me wants to leave baseball (of course I won't though) if he doesn't get in, and fast. Enhanced or not, he hit 70 HR's and 50-plus four years in a row. How many juice bags you know who did that? Only one other person hit 70+, and no one hit 50 four times in a row. He worked his ass of in that gym six days a week. Much more than you can say for Canseco, who was in and out of the gym in less than an hour.

[StanTheMan]

I couldn't disagree with you more. A part of me wants to leave baseball (of course I won't though) if he doesn't get in, and fast. Enhanced or not, he hit 70 HR's and 50-plus four years in a row. How many juice bags you know who did that? Only one other person hit 70+, and no one hit 50 four times in a row. He worked his ass of in that gym six days a week. Much more than you can say for Canseco, who was in and out of the gym in less than an hour.

And I know a bank robber who is better than all the other scumbags in the midwest. He plans out the best escape routes, hits the wealthiest banks only on the very best days by casing the joint better than all the other thieves combined. He hires the best to rob with him and his attention to detail is unsurpassed.

How many other bank robbers can do what he can, hard-core criminal or just casual thief? Yep, he's my favorite, that guy.

Some thieves just wander into any old place and rob it on a whim. My guy works hard at it. :noidea

[Old Sweater]

And I know a bank robber who is better than all the other scumbags in the midwest. He plans out the best escape routes, hits the wealthiest banks only on the very best days by casing the joint better than all the other thieves combined. He hires the best to rob with him and his attention to detail is unsurpassed.

How many other bank robbers can do what he can, hard-core criminal or just casual thief? Yep, he's my favorite, that guy.

Some thieves just wander into any old place and rob it on a whim. My guy works hard at it. :noidea

Was this bank robber in a state that condoned bank robbing for 40 years then made it illegal? Then conduct a witch hunt singling him out? By a corrupt cop who worked for the good ole boy system?

Does bank robbers have anything to do with the topic in discussion?

[StanTheMan]

On the contrary, the bank robber was robbing banks in a COUNTRY which had made bank robbing illegal... rendering the rules of the city or state moot.

I'm continuously amazed by the "yeah... he was probably on something, but he still hit X number of homers... how many other cheaters did that?" argument.

So, my favorite bank robber is the one who works the hardest at it.... he's the best of them all!!!!!

[White Knight]

And I know a bank robber who is better than all the other scumbags in the midwest. He plans out the best escape routes, hits the wealthiest banks only on the very best days by casing the joint better than all the other thieves combined. He hires the best to rob with him and his attention to detail is unsurpassed.

How many other bank robbers can do what he can, hard-core criminal or just casual thief? Yep, he's my favorite, that guy.

Some thieves just wander into any old place and rob it on a whim. My guy works hard at it. :noidea

That's the most rediculous and flat out stupid argument I've ever heard in all my life. Did that bank robber save baseball and become a national hero? What good did he do? Why am I even commenting on a kindergarden response?

I seriously wish steroids were 100% safe and over-the-counter so none of this would be an issue. Legalize it!