Criticism of McGwire continues

It seems that the list of former MLB players, managers and other personalities to criticize Mark McGwire is growing by the hour, or at least by the day.

McGwire finally admitted last week to using steroids during his playing career, including during the 1998 season during which he slugged a then-record 70 home runs. Even while supposedly coming clean, he insisted that the steroids did not help him hit home runs. Instead McGwire says they simply helped him recover from injuries. Accoding to him, his hand-eye coordination is the primary reason for his slugging prowess, and it was unaffected by steroid use.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reported today that St. Louis icon Adolphus A. Busch IV and legendary Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog are among those to speak out against McGwire. Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins made national headlines by claiming McGwire owes an apology to pitchers whose careers he damaged, among other things. Former Cardinals slugger Jack Clark was perhaps the most vocal on the list of those who had already come forward to criticize McGwire for his actions and comments.

Herzog is among those baffled that, at the team's annual Winter Warm-Up, McGwire was cheered heartily by the fans in attendance and Clark was booed. Don't believe that this means McGwire has won in the court of public opinion. The new St. Louis hitting coach was appearing in the most positive surrounding possible — a gathering of rabid Cardinals fans, where the team's media relations personnel could restrict the number and severity of the questions he faced.

It's become clear in the time since McGwire's appearance that the vast majority of the baseball world would pass on the chance to give him a standing ovation. In fact, Rogers is among those wondering if th Cardinals might second-guess their own decision to add him to their coaching staff, because of the negative attention that seems sure to follow him all year.