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Wes Helms, image- Jay Floyd Former big league third baseman/first baseman Wes Helms took the dive into professional coaching this season as a coach in the Phillies organization for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The 42-year-old owns a .256 career average with 75 homers and 374 RBI in 13 season in the majors. With big league playing time for four organizations, Helms got to play with, against and for some legendary names.  I talked with Helms recently about which coaches inspired him, his path to a second career in professional baseball, which former Phillies teammates he keeps in touch with, his large souvenir collection and much more.  Read ahead for that full interview.  -You're new to this club this year and it's your first coaching in the Phillies' system.  What was your coaching background prior to taking this role? My last year playing was 2011.  I promised my wife I'd be home until my youngest got in school full time.  I waited til...

Occasionally, The Sporting News includes a feature called "Since You Asked..." that allows readers to send in questions that are answered by a surprise former or current athlete. In the latest issue of the magazine, a Philadelphia resident named Drew Floyd wrote in, asking if a public campaign, by a forgiving society, could assist in helping Pete Rose gain entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Drew also wondered, "is baseball stuck in its ways?" Rose is banned from baseball for betting on baseball games, while he was the Reds' manager in the 1980's. Drew's inquiry mentioned Mark McGwire's steroid use as an example of the baseball public's pardon. Lucky for the Philadelphian, Drew, his letter was answered by Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman, and Rose's friend, Mike Schmidt. Schmidt's opinions over the years have fluctuated. Years ago he stated that Mark McGwire would get his vote for the Hall of Fame, if Schmidt had one. Schmi...

This week, Mike Schmidt spoke with West Palm Beach's NBC affiliate, Channel 5, about the recent news relating to Mark McGwire and steroid use. Schmidt was asked what he thought of Mark McGwire's announcement earlier this week that he used illegal drugs during his playing career. "It's good that he is freed up to pursue his new job, which is hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. In that sense it's good. Never good for baseball when one of its all-time great stars, a guy like Mark McGwire who was so big in the late-90's into the early 2000's, helped save the game of baseball along with Sammy Sosa, officially admits to having used steroids, during that period. I think a lot of people were let down." Schmitty, who annually acts as a guest instructor during spring training, was asked what he might say if he runs into McGwire during spring training... "I would be a little nervous. I'm not sure I could say to Mark, 'Hey Mark, ya know......

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at...