In an email written at 8:30 this morning to Jimbo:
"I think he's being a little bit delusional in terms of how steroid use can affect a player's ability to hit home runs. Yes, he is correct, he was given a gift to hit home runs and yes, studying pitchers and shortening your swing (huh kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid) will help your ability as a hitter. There is no disputing the fact that PED's make you a stronger person AND there is a facet of hitting that is affected by a person's strength. If he'd admit that he doesn't think he would have broken the record without taking PED's, the baseball world would be a better place. Now is the time to send the message and put Ty Cobb's mind at ease."
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Apparently, his decision to admit his usage...was prompted by him becoming the hitting coach for the Cardinals. And a great hitting coach he'll make. During his heyday, his swing was virtually untouchable, much like Bonds. I referenced "huh kid" up there when McGwire refers to his shortening his swing, which at the time was a glorious example of physics and human ability, because I was privy to the Great Billie Johnson, hitting coach extraordinaire, who is a philosopher of sorts and used to reference McGwire's swing frequently during our "sessions." The pull between instinctual reaction and studied calculation in a baseball swing is incomparable. To break that down to a physical science a great achievement on some levels and him, along with a few other guys have truly progressed the art of hitting.
I'd like further insight to this though, "I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony..."
