More Stealing Money

New Mets outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. and Giants pitcher Barry Zito are the 21st Century poster boys for big deals gone bad. Something's not right about a fourth outfielder and a No. 4 starter making $11 million a year and $18 million a year, respectively.

Granted, Zito last season made a little headway -- just a little -- toward returning to his Cy Young-winning form. And, of course, that form he displayed at such a relatively young age -- the promise of greatness -- is why the Giants gave him the big contract in the first place. He's going to have to win two or three more Cys (probably not going to happen) to even begin earning that hefty paycheck.

Matthews' salary jump, on the other hand, is harder to swallow. The guy had one decent season -- .313, 19 HRs, 79 RBIs with Texas in 2006 -- and suddenly the Angels were treating him like Torii Hunter (whom the Angels gave yet another huge contract to replace him). Those numbers were all career highs for Matthews -- no 20-homer season, no 100-RBI season. Gary Sr. was a far better player than his son, and he never sniffed the upper echelon of player salaries in his day.

Zito and Matthews ought to think about donating some of that green to the Haiti relief fund -- or, at the very least, to the Washington Nationals.

McGwire Chooses Damage Control

OK, so Mark McGwire fessed up. Good for him. He did the right thing, and he managed to win over some bleeding hearts in the process.

But Monday's events did more for the man than they did for the game. Big Mac must have been losing sleep thinking about that first day of spring training -- he was headed straight into an artillery zone and he would be the lone, sitting target.

Would we have heard from McGwire had he not been hired as the Cardinals hitting coach? I think not.

So damage control was in order. Obviously, it was a pivotal moment in his life and career. And perhaps it will serve as a turning point for Major League Baseball. That remains to be seen. But, no question, it was a calculated move that had to be made to keep the circus from setting up in Jupiter, Fla., next month.

One thing about McGwire's admission did bother me. He insisted he began taking steroids to recover faster from injuries, and they were never intended to improve his performance. And yet ... he continued to use them -- even while he was healthy -- for several years thereafter.

Does he expect people to believe -- especially after Monday -- that was all him in '98? Part of him is still in denial, no doubt, and that's understandable.

It's OK, big guy -- baby steps.

10 Questions For 'Big Mac'

So many questions swirling around inside the heads of baseball fans and media in anticipation of Mark McGwire's impending turn at the mic, which will be his first public appearance since the Debacle on Capitol Hill.

Me, I'm kinda neutral on the whole steroids issue (whatever that means). But I have come up with my own set of questions that I'm guessing probably won't get asked and definitely wouldn't elicit the most enthusiastic responses from "Big Mac."

Here's what I came up with:

• What was going through your mind when you walked into that bathroom stall with Jose Canseco and he told you to drop trow?


• Since you don't really want to talk about the past, here's a scenario for your new position as the Cardinals hitting coach: A young prospect approaches you during spring training and asks you what's the best way to add power to his swing. What the heck do you tell him?


• If you were a steroid, what kind of steroid would you be?


• Now that baseball has cracked down on steroid use, do you think bunting will make a comeback?


• How many zits a week, on average, did your wife (or girlfriend or personal trainer) pop on your back during the 1990s?


• What's the most weight you've bench-pressed?


• OK, now what's the most you've bench-pressed while not on steroids?


• Who would win in a fight between you and Barry Bonds ... when both of you are at the peak of 'roid rage?


• Along with your son and Tony La Russa, who else has been named a beneficiary in your will?


• If Lee Harvey Oswald had been on steroids, is it conceivable that he was the lone shooter?

Dawson Deserved Better

Sure, I'm elated to see Andre Dawson, one of my all-time favorite players, get the Hall of Fame nod. But it's a shame it took this long.

In his first 10-12 seasons, "The Hawk" was arguably the best all-around player in the game. He was ...

• Mike Schmidt with a better average
• Ozzie Smith with more power
• Willie Stargell, only faster
• Tony Gwynn with more range and a stronger arm
• Reggie Jackson without the ego

And what do those players from Dawson's era all have in common? Each was enshrined at Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility.

Dawson essentially was penalized, through no fault of his own, for playing in the seclusion of Montreal during the early part of his career, and then playing through pain in both his knees in the later years.

Now that he's getting what is long overdue, it's only fitting that he won't have to share the spotlight. Congrats to Awesome Dawson.

One More Ovation For 'The Big Unit'

Typical of Randy "The Big Unit" Johnson to sidestep the fanfare and call it a career. And, oh, what a career.

Johnson accomplished everything a major league pitcher sets out to accomplish, and then some. On top of the records and accolades, he was one of just a handful of guys in the history of baseball who would have hitters literally shaking in their spikes when they stepped in against him. Remember John Kruk in the 1993 All-Star Game?

Here's a reminder.

But Johnson made little noise during his 22 seasons. He let his arm do the talking ... and it spoke volumes. He led by example ... and people followed. Today, he stepped away quietly as perhaps the greatest left-hander the game has known ... and I've never respected the man more.

Now, I shall stand and applaud. Please join me.