Cardinal Star Approaching Season Calm, Collected

Mark McGwire is being left alone this spring.

And that’s exactly what he wants.

“This is the way it should be,” said the home-run king, finally rid of the media pack he picked up en route to his record 70-homer season two years ago. “Last year was unusual, out of the ordinary. Now, this is normal. There’s not much else to write.”

Last year, McGwire hit only--that’s right, only--65 home runs. Before 1998, that would have been four more than the record Roger Maris hit in 1961. But then came that 1998 season, when he dueled Chicago’s Sammy Sosa and wound up topping Maris and beating Sosa by four.

McGwire could hardly appear anywhere without causing a commotion.

“I kind of like the attention he had before,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “I think that kind of ‘on-edge’ is good for him, so I’d hate to have him too relaxed.”

This spring, it’s finally quiet around him. The focus is on Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Atlanta’s John Rocker.

Even on the Cardinals, the story lines are the revamped rotation, the new closer, the new second baseman and leadoff hitter--anything but the big redhead.

“Hey, we’ve got a whole team now, and we haven’t had that,” pitcher Kent Bottenfield said. “More than anything, I think he’s relaxed because he knows we really have a shot to do something and he can play a part in that. Instead of just being the guy that brings the fans to the ballpark, he can be a part of a team that wins.”

For now, McGwire dresses mostly without interruption. Happy to be unburdened for however long it lasts, he’s perhaps more affable than ever since superstardom first came his way.

Well, not exactly.

McGwire did his best to stay out of the news all winter. There were no appearances on Letterman or “Mad About You.” He was almost reclusive, skipping a dinner in St. Louis that honored the Cardinals’ team of the half-century.

“I’m never anonymous, but I just did my own thing,” McGwire said. “I didn’t do anything for anybody, I did everything for myself and my family and my friends.”

With 135 home runs during the last two seasons, McGwire is 10th on the career list at 522. It would take him four seasons of 57 to reach Hank Aaron’s record 755 by 2003, when McGwire turns 40.

While he missed most of two seasons in the early 1990s due to heel problems, McGwire has made it up with 245 homers in the last four years.

“I think he can maintain in the 40s and 50s as long as he wants to play,” teammate Eric Davis said. “He can ‘excuse-me’ 30. He’s going to run into 30 with his eyes closed.”

McGwire hasn’t exactly shied away from the topic this spring.

“I think it’s reachable,” he said. “But it’s quite a few years away to even start talking about it. God willing and health willing, we’ll see what happens.”

The only health concern is a back problem that flares up from time to time. That usually only sidelines him for a few games, though, and he played in 153 last year.

“Whatever my body will allow me, that’s what it comes down to,” McGwire said, who then added, “I feel like I’m 19.”

McGwire’s stance on the state of the game also is a bit controversial. He reiterated his vow to quit if there is yet another work stoppage after the 2001 season, when the collective bargaining agreement is likely to expire.

“All I can say is the owners and players have nothing to complain about,” McGwire said. “Players are making a lot of money and owners are making a lot of money, so I hope nothing happens.”

McGwire, making a below-market $11 million this season, said it wouldn’t be tough to quit if there is a strike or lockout.

“Because I’d be embarrassed to be a major league player,” he said. “That’s why I’m not signing anything past 2001, so I can walk. To me, it’s really hard to believe that you can’t get human beings in a room to hammer things out, it’s just not that tough.”

He also doesn’t like the obsession with stars. Already there is increased focus on the NL Central, which has McGwire, Griffey and Sosa.

“It’s so individualized today,” McGwire said. “The way the media portrayed myself and Sammy, now they’re going to portray myself and Sammy and Griffey, and people are going to come see one aspect of the game.”

McGwire warned Griffey to expect an onslaught.

“It’s going to happen to him, and I hope he’s ready for it,” McGwire said. “He’s the new icon.”

McGwire said it wasn’t that way when he was growing up, and it should never be that way in baseball. Even those who break records routinely have a sense of powerlessness.

“Griffey is the best player in the game today, but that doesn’t mean the Cincinnati Reds are going to go to the playoffs,” McGwire said. “We can go 3-for-3 with three bombs and still lose the game.”