An 'embarrassed' McGwire again contemplates retirement

ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwire is again considering retirement -- prompted by yet another frustrating day at the plate, not the loss of his home run record to Barry Bonds.

"I'm fried and embarrassed," McGwire said Saturday.

He struck out in all four at-bats Friday night, continuing a season-long trend of not making contact.

"That's as fried as I've seen him," manager Tony La Russa said. "He was so upset with himself."

McGwire has fanned 118 times in 298 at-bats, or once every 2.5 at-bats. He was batting .188 with 29 homers and 64 RBIs.

He was at the plate when word spread that Bonds had hit his 71st homer. He said he didn't learn Bonds had hit No. 72 until after the game.

McGwire again congratulated Bonds, who beat his 3-year-old mark of 70. He hopes to talk to Bonds soon.

"What he's done, it's absolutely phenomenal," McGwire said. "It's in the stratosphere. It's almost like he's playing T-ball."

Last weekend, McGwire predicted 72 or 73 homers for Bonds, and he wouldn't be surprised if Bonds hit a few more in the last two games of the season.

Things aren't coming so easily for McGwire, who followed his 70-homer season with 65 in 1999 before his knee began to betray him. He equates this season to learning to play all over again.

McGwire underwent surgery for patella tendinitis in his right knee last October after the Cardinals were eliminated by the Mets in the NL championship series and he's had several setbacks.

The last two years, he's totaled 62 homers -- one year's worth for him in his prime. He has said during the season he would consider retirement if his knee did not improve.

He turned 38 on Monday and is feeling his age.

"I'm going to think about things," McGwire said. "I have to. It's just common sense. I'm not 24 anymore, even though some people think I am."

With the Cardinals needing victories in their last two games against the Houston Astros to win their second straight NL Central title, McGwire was not even in the lineup against Ron Villone, a left-hander against whom he's had a lot of success.

"I've seen him go through a lot," La Russa said. "There's just so much negative vibes going through him. He's got a different place on this team and he's wondering about his future. It's just real fragile."

McGwire said he probably shouldn't have tried to return to action until July. Instead, he rushed things and played in the season opener.

McGwire said last week he was talking to Pirates first baseman Kevin Young, who's also had an off year, about wiping the slate clean.

"I wish I could take a mulligan or red shirt a year," McGwire said.

Team doctors believe McGwire will be fine next year, but he's taking nothing for granted.

"It had better be," McGwire said.