Cards ready for McGwire's coaching debut

JUPITER, Fla. -- Mark McGwire's No. 25 jersey is ready for duty again, hanging outside his locker stall in the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training clubhouse.

The most controversial batting instructor in the major leagues was due to arrive in Jupiter late Tuesday and could be on the field as early as today, the date for pitchers and catchers to report for St. Louis.

Several of his pupils already are here, including second baseman Skip Schumaker, who is among a handful of Cardinals familiar with McGwire's passion for hitting after offseason workouts in California. He's perhaps McGwire's biggest booster on the team, having worked with the slugger he grew up idolizing since 2005.

The leadoff hitter had one complaint: No longer will he have McGwire's undivided attention.

"I'm excited about it," Schumaker said. "I'm not excited I have to share him. He's helped me a whole lot the last couple of years and I'm excited to have him for a full season."

McGwire ended more than a decade of denials and evasion by admitting last month that he used steroids and human growth hormone as he became a home run king. Schumaker said teammates quickly will learn that McGwire, though tarred and feathered by many as a poster boy for performance-enhancing drugs and thus far locked out of the Hall of Fame despite his 583 homers, has plenty to offer.

"He preaches consistency and not to have a roller coaster type of year, and to know your swing," Schumaker said. "He's convinced me I know my swing and he's always been super positive."

As early arrivals to camp dodged boxes during the unpacking process from the move south, no one seemed too concerned that a media circus was coming to Roger Dean Stadium, the Cardinals' spring home. Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow did not expect a crush of national media for the official camp opening, even if McGwire suiting up appears to be the biggest story at the outset.

"I'm sure there'll be a lot of stuff going on early, but hopefully that'll all move aside," pitcher Kyle Lohse said. "I've heard a lot of good things about him and hopefully everybody will get their work done in peace."

Big Mac's return to baseball comes just more than a month after admitting to steroids use during his dramatic power surge in the 1990s, including his then-record 70-homer season in 1998. Whether his confession went far enough is an open question.

In January, the Cardinals were optimistic that McGwire would be able to focus fully on his coaching debut after he submitted to a round of interviews and made two brief appearances in St. Louis. Manager Tony La Russa went beyond optimism, basically warning that McGwire would have plenty on his plate without revisiting his flawed career.

"He has been more forthcoming than anybody yet," La Russa said. "What more else is there to say? This is definitely go forward time."

Bench coach Joe Pettini said, "I hope we don't have to put him on display."

Undoubtedly, there will be more questions when the 46-year-old McGwire shows up. His assertion that steroids allowed him to heal from injuries but did not offer a power boost was bothersome to many, with even general manager John Mozeliak weighing in against that notion.

Until the hubbub dies down, the clubhouse and the field will be McGwire's sanctuary.