Mack McGuire, PED posterchild?  He’s come out of isolation, signed a contract to coach for the Cardinals, and is going to work out with the team in spring training–with the semi-tacit goal of being on the roster to pinch hit for a playoff run if one is in the offing, and let’s be honest, that’s happening.

Buster Olney blogged today that McGuire’s admissions were all but nonsensical, since he basically  said he used PEDs to stay healthy…but then they didn’t help his performance, no sir. That was all him.

The thing is? It doesn’t matter. Olney is not the only one to have noticed this discrepancy, but he’s the only one to write long and hard about it.   Most of the geenral public, even baseball fans, will read overwhelmingly positive coverage of this development.  (After all, Olney’s blog is only even available to ESPN Insiders…or, in our case, to the exgirlfriends of ESPN insiders who never change their passwords.)

This is all even though McGuire claimed he never heard anyone talking ‘roids in the lockerroom, yet also walked away anytime the topic came up. Hey, wait a second, if…hm….

The point? It doesn’t matter.  He’s working in baseball again, the era has drawn to a close. Now, truly, he no longer needs to talk about the past.

Mark McGuire was something of a PED posterchild: while he’d been a solid power hitter toward the start of his career, and had even broken the homerun hitting record for a rookie in 1987, it wasn’t until 1998 that he achievbed national renown, as the nation was transfixed by his purtsuit of the single-season home run record.  Yup, NINE years into his career. NINE.  At the age of THIRTY FIVE.

Both McGuire and Sosa, who competwed with him to be the first to beat Maris’ homerun record, weree widely assumed to be on steroids even back then.  McGuire admitted taking over the counter products which, while then legal, have since been defined as steroids.  In 2005, McGuire testified before Congress and..um…lied. Or, in any case, avoided the tough questions  by saying he wasn’t there to talk about the past.  (Given that tyhe past was why he and Jose Canseco, who appeared with him, had been subpoaenad by Congress in the first place, this strikes UPH as somewhat disingenuous at best.)

As media and former fans hopped on the hating-Mark-McGuire train, he disappeared from the public eye, coming out of his secluded gated community for an in-depth ESPN the Magazine portrait a year or two ago..and nothing else.  Until Tony LaRussa, manager of the Cards, hired him–very quietly, and for home games and practice only–as a hitting consultant.  Most of the world didn’t notice, and baseball raised it’s eyebrows and went along: the man could certainly hit.

Yesterday, LaRussa hired McGuire again, and this time, he’s the hitting coach.  Not a consultant, not a helper, but the number one guy.  Suddenly, McGuire is visible again and…

…it’s fine.  Very little negative press has attended the hiring, and if famously gunshy McGuire feels ready to do it? Well, to us, that’s the number one sign that our era of villainizing steroid users is officially behind us. 

Time for baseball to move on.

For now, a bit of updated playoff analysis.

Clinched

The Yankees have clinched the division title, but playoff questions remain.  Specifically, after you start C.C. Sabathia, then what happens? A.J. Burnett has been good at times, but terribly inconsistent.  Pettite–despite the sore shoulder–is probably your best bet for a number two, because he at least eats some innings, even when he’s off.  Because of the extra days off in the first series, this won’t be an issue right away.

The Angels have also clinched. But they always get swept in the first round.  Will this year be different?  Well, last year they needed a bat, and got swept despite the addition of Mark Texeira.  This year they didn’t add that bat. So….you be the judge.  (They have, however, added Scott Kazmir, late of Tampa Bay, so their pitching is solider than in past years.)

St. Louis….looks like St. Louis. They clinched their division behind Pujols, and they’ll play in the playoffs behind Pujols.  They’re not especially exciting, but they’re getting the job done. Again.

Playoff Bound

The Dodgers have clinched their second playoff berth in a row under manager Joe Torre, and they look good going into the playoffs.  With Manny Ramirez’s famously torrid postseason play on their side, they could go far.

Questionmarks

The Red Sox had a magic number of 1 to clinch a playoff berth …three days ago.  They still have that 1.  They’re imploding, and if Texas weren’t quite so far back…well, actually this might still be a race.  The Sox just got swept by the Yankees and lost one to Toronto last night. Why? Who knows.

Texas is less than likely to make the playoffs–their collapse in the month of August was nothing short of spectacular.  They control their own destiny only minimally, but hey, miracles happen.

The Rockies, the little team that could, could also still make the playoffs.  We’ll see…

Detroit and Minnesota: playing a doubleheader today with the Twins two games back.  Update on that one later.