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Dodgers Hiring Big Mac as Hitting Coach
By Scott Andes
Ok, this is coming out of left field. The Dodgers have ordered for a Big Mac! Apparently according to the internet, and twitter, rumors are that Cardinal’s hitting coach, and former home run champ, Mark McGwire is going to be hired as the new hitting coach of the Dodgers for next season. As you know, the Dodgers canned Dave Hansen after the season because the Dodger offense struggled and was so pathetic in 2012. The Dodgers have already announced the rest of the coaching staff, sans Hansen will be returning for 2013. There has been no official announcement made by the Dodgers yet, but according to sources, McGwire is going to turn down the Cardinal’s offer of a contract extension.
Can Big Mac turn the Dodger offense around?-Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE
Checking out this tweet from former pitcher Dan Plesac, it looks like it’s a done deal, and we should see an announcement soon.
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/Plesac19/status/264464621711286273″]
There were rumors about possibly Mickey Hatcher getting the job, but the Dodgers put the kibosh on that rumor. Instead the Dodgers will be hiring Mark McGwire. Talk about an upgrade right!? Apparently McGwire and his family live in Orange County, so he had expressed interest in remaining local, and working for manager Don Mattingly. Nice work on this recruit Donnie!
Makes me hungry for runs!
Obviously McGwire would be a huge upgrade over Dave Hansen. McGwire had been in so called exile, before being hired as the hitting coach of the Cardinals back in 2009, under then manager Tony La Russa. He has remained in that position up until now. McGwire was a 12 time all-star, and hit 583 home runs in his 16 year playing career. McGwire played for 12 years with the Oakland A’s, and five years with the Cardinals before retiring after the 2001 season. McGwire had a career .263 batting average, .394 OBP, and a .982 OPS. He once hit 70 home runs in a season back in 1998, which at the time broke Roger Maris’s all time single season home runs record. McGwire had been under the microscope though because he had been a juicer during his career. But he was always a great hitter, and he has had sustained a lot of success in St.Louis as the hitting coach over there for the last three seasons. Can Big Mac turn the punch-less Dodger offense around? Welcome to the Dodgers Big Mac! No formal accpuncement has been made by the Dodgers yet.
I couldn’t be happier with this great new addition to the Dodger coaching staff.