McGwire: Salaries Out Of Control

Commissioner Bud Selig isn't the only one fretting over astronomical salaries in major league baseball. Even Big Mac is concerned about the future of the sport.

Mark McGwire, baseball's new single-season home-run king, told SportsLine Radio Tuesday that something must be done to curb spending on free-agent contracts before the national pastime really pays the price. McGwire also hinted that this off-season's spending spree could be just the tip of the iceberg.

"If contracts are going this big right now, imagine what Ken Griffey is going to get or Alex Rodriguez or the other studs that will be coming up in 2000," McGwire told Scott Kaplan and Sid Rosenberg on The Drive. "I don't know how we can stay afloat if money like that is getting thrown around. The sad thing is a lot of these middle players that could be playing are not going to get the contracts anymore because of what's happening."

"These are enormous amounts of money getting thrown around. Hopefully we can get this thing straightened out -- sometimes it's mind-boggling."

The St. Louis slugger, who finished the season with 70 home runs, also took aim at the androstenedione debate, saying the over-the-counter dietary supplement had nothing to do with him breaking Roger Maris' home-run record.

"Like I've said time and time again, there's nothing wrong with it. It's legal and anybody in America can go out and buy it," McGwire said. "It has nothing to do with me hitting a baseball -- it got blown out of proportion."

He also questioned the media's attempts to single him out as a target over the performance-enhancer.

"I don't understand why you try to build somebody up to be, whatever, and ten all of sudden try to break them down," he said.

McGwire also touched on his relationship with Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa, who chased him and Maris the entire season. Sosa, who also broke the 37-year-old record, finished the season with 66 HRs.

"We just played off each other and people loved it," McGwire said. "We were being totally natural, we were laughing and having a great time. I think that's why America picked up on it."

The Cardinals first baseman also talked about his thoughts on the night he hit homer No. 62 off Cubs starter Steve Trachsel -- and how he almost missed first base.

"I thought, if I did it here tonight, what a way to end the homestand ... do it in front of the fans of St. Louis who've been just so fantastic for me and the support they've given me since I've been there. Prior to the game I just had this calmness about me," he said. "The biggest surprise was that the ball got out of the ballpark. I thought it was just going to be off the wall.

"I think that's why I almost missed the bag."

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