| ST. LOUIS – Mark McGwire is slowly getting used to the idea
he'll get just one at-bat a game for the rest of this year.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa put McGwire in the
starting lineup during the team's just-completed six-game trip, let
him bat in the first, and then removed him.
McGwire made four "starts" at second base and one each in left
field and shortstop, going 2-for-5 with a home run and a long
single that would have been a double if he could run.
The NL Central leaders began a seven-game homestand Thursday
night, so La Russa will have to use McGwire strictly as a pinch
hitter, where he has zero experience this year.
McGwire, on the disabled list from July 7 to Sept. 8 with a
severe case of patella tendinitis in his right knee, has been in
obvious pain when running the bases.
La Russa floated the idea of having McGwire play first base at
least at the start of games during the trip.
"What's better than one at-bat? Two at-bats," La Russa said.
"I nixed it," McGwire said before the Cardinals began a
four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. "There's no way. My
knee can't handle it."
McGwire said just running to first is enough of a chore.
"Getting out of the box and running down the line, it's on
fire," he said. "I can only imagine what it'd be like at first
base, bending down and trying to make a play."
At one point during the trip, La Russa suggested McGwire could
just stand at first. McGwire nixed that, too.
"I'm not going to go out there and be an ornament," he said.
"When you're out there playing, people don't care if you're
injured or not. The ball gets by or something like that, it's not
good for the team, it's not good for me."
La Russa said he'll use McGwire according to the game situation,
avoiding situations where he could ground into an easy double play
for instance. He's been impressed McGwire, who was batting .305
with 31 homers and 71 RBI, has been able to get his stroke back so
fast.
The Cardinals will give him some extra swings on Saturday when
Andy Benes, getting ready to return to the rotation next week,
throws a simulated game.
"Every one of his at-bats, he's had a chance," La Russa said.
"That's how amazing he is."
La Russa said McGwire, who hit a record 70 homers in 1998 and 65
last year, is making the best of a bad situation.
"He's tired of sitting around and not participating, but he
doesn't like it," La Russa said. "He's an everyday player, but
there's nothing you can do."
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