Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is excited about Mark McGwire's return to baseball as the team's hitting coach and raised the bizarre possibility of putting the former slugger on the active roster for use as a pinch-hitter.
"If we're in contention, we'll put him on the roster Aug. 31. It's a nice little dream," said La Russa, adding that he expects McGwire -- who dodged steroid questions before Congress and has been silent since accepting his new job with the Cardinals -- to address the media soon.
"Is it likely?" La Russa said of the pinch-hitting scenario. "Probably not. I don't think it's a zero possibility. The point is, you'll see him in spring training. He won't be leaning on the batting cage chatting it up. He'll work his (butt) off, and hitters will be thrilled he's there helping them."