Selig welcomes McGwire’s return to MLB
October 30, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—Bud Selig is happy Big Mac is back in baseball.
Mark McGwire was hired this week as hitting coach of the St. LouisCardinals, ending an exile for the former slugger who became notorious for hisrefusal to answer congressional questions about steroids use.
“Over the years I developed affection for players who I get to know andhave been good,” Selig said Thursday before Game 2 of the World Series.
McGwire hit a then-record 70 homers in 1998 and retired with 583 in 2001.Four years later at a congressional hearing on steroids, he repeatedly said hewasn’t there to talk about the past.
The Cardinals plan to hold a telephone news conference with McGwire afterthe World Series.
“When he comes back, you’ll all have a lot of opportunities to talk tohim,” Selig told reporters. “The fact that he’s coming back gives you anopportunity you wouldn’t have had.”
McGwire got under 25 percent support from voters in his three appearances onthe Hall of Fame ballot, well under the 75 percent needed, and some sayallegations of steroids use are a reason for his lack of support.
Selig has been in contact with team management about McGwire.
“I know how badly the Cardinals wanted to do it. I know that Tony La Russa,who has been talking to me about it, has been working with him. I know how closethey are,” Selig said. “I know much Bill DeWitt wanted to do it.”
Without being prompted, Selig defended baseball’s drug-testing program.
“I can only deal with the present and the future, and I could not be moreproud,” he said. “We administered 3,700 major league tests this year and hadtwo positives. That’s the story. We administered for the ninth straight year8,955 minor league tests, and we had seven-tenths of 1 percent positive.”
On another topic, Selig said his stance against expanding the use of replaysto aid umpires has not changed—but he did promise more discussions. A seriesof blown calls during the postseason has led to some calling for replay use toexpand beyond its current use, for whether potential home runs carried overfences or were fair or foul.
“I understand we had some incidents that were most unfortunate,” Seligsaid. “I think there are other ways we can make corrections. During theoffseason we’ll review everything. … I’m not afraid of change. but you have tobe very careful when you tamper with the sport.”
He also said he had spoken with Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who criticizedan offseason scheduled that had his team play eight games in the first 20 daysbecause of an increase in off-days that began in 2007 at the request ofbaseball’s broadcast partners. Selig said the unpredictability of the length ofpostseason series made planning complicated.
“How do you know in the middle of March if they’re going to go three games,four games, five games? How do you if you’re going to need an East Coast-WestCoast travel day?” he said. “People say you hate going into November? Yeah, ofcourse I do. Nobody worries about the weather more than I do.”
Selig refused to discuss the divorce proceedings between Dodgers owner FrankMcCourt and his wife, former Dodgers chief executive officer Jamie McCourt.Frank McCourt fired his wife last week, and Jamie McCourt claims she is aco-owner.
“That’s a matter between them,” Selig said.
