McGwire remains confident in Cards' offense

~ The first-year hitting coach thinks the numbers will average out in the second half

ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwire needs no reminders that the St. Louis Cardinals' offense simply sputtered to the All-Star break in his first season as batting coach.

While waiting for the hitters to take off under his tutelage, the one-time home run king is leaning on a mantra from his playing days.

"The season's six months long, that's the whole thing," McGwire said Wednesday during a lightly attended optional workout at Busch Stadium in near triple-digit heat. "It's not April, May, June. It's what you do over six months, that's why they call it an average."

Injuries to two regulars haven't helped an inconsistent lineup heading into a four-game series against the Dodgers starting tonight. Outfielder Ryan Ludwick could return this weekend from an injury he jokingly referred to as a "never-ending calf strain," while rookie third baseman David Freese (ankle) might not return until late in the month.

"That's the first time I've really tested it and it's feeling better, no doubt about it," Ludwick said after agility drills Wednesday. "We'll see how it reacts tomorrow and maybe step it up a little."

The pitching staff has done a lot better surmounting setbacks, losing two starters for an extended period while leaning on All-Stars Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter plus left-hander Jaime Garcia, one of the majors' top rookies.

Right-hander Kyle Lohse, out since late May following forearm surgery, is scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday but still has no clear timetable for a return. Right-hander Brad Penny has also missed more than a month with an upper back injury.

"I don't make a big thing of it because everybody has adversity," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We did a good job of surviving. We had some tough games, but we had some good wins that kept us alive, and we're in position to have an exciting second half."

The good news for the Cardinals? They're just one game behind the Reds in the NL Central.

La Russa said his team that can be successful, with or without trade deadline additions.

"I think the key is you know the front office and ownership's going to try to help," La Russa said. "If they can't come up with anything, we've got to win with what we have.

"I think we can win with what we have."

McGwire said he's still growing into the job, his first stint as a coach at any level and first time in a major league uniform since 2001. The uproar over his return to the majors following admissions of steroid use died down long ago and Big Mac has reached a comfort level, even though many hitters have underachieved.

Matt Holliday picked it up the last few weeks before the break after early struggles, although he was good enough to make the All-Star team without the surge that's pulled him from sixth on the team in RBIs to second with 51.

Defense helped catcher Yadier Molina, batting only .223, make his second straight All-Star start. Table setters Skip Schumaker (.255) and Brendan Ryan (.194) also have been off much of the year.

"Really, Yaddy has just run into a bunch of hard luck," McGwire said. "If you look at a lot of his outs, they have him positioned absolutely perfectly. His stroke looks good."

Pujols' first half wasn't up to his standards, either, though he has 20 homers, 64 RBIs and a .309 average. McGwire said the three-time NL MVP doesn't need any coaching.

"He's the best in the game, he knows what he's doing," McGwire said. "He and I talk very little about hitting, it's pretty much the mental part of it."