McGwire thinks Bonds will break HR record

ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwire believes it's just a matter of time before his home run record, considered a feat for the ages just three years ago, falls to Barry Bonds.

"All I'm going to say is he's got an excellent chance," McGwire said before the St. Louis Cardinals' game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday night. "I'm rooting for him.

"If he gets it, it'll be a phenomenal feat."

McGwire was hesitant to talk about the record chase, for fearing anything he said would be construed as sour grapes. He and manager Tony La Russa said McGwire, who had 27 homers and a .185 average in an injury-plagued year, got some unfavorable press during the team's just-completed seven-game trip.

McGwire hit his 28th homer in the third inning Friday off the Pirates' Todd Ritchie. It was his first homer at Busch Stadium since Aug. 1.

McGwire smashed Roger Maris' 37-year-old record of 61 homers with his 70-homer season in 1998. He said he wouldn't be surprised if Bonds, who entered Friday with 67 homers and nine games to go, finished with 72 or 73.

"He's doing it routinely," McGwire said. "His pace is unbelievable. I've told guys in here, I'm calling 72, 73."

The most impressive aspect of Bonds' record chase, to McGwire's thinking, is the fact he's on the doorstep of his mark in only 455 at-bats.

"It's unbelievable," McGwire said. "He's totally blown away what I did, even if the year ended today."

After the 1998 season, McGwire believed his record would stand the test of time. He changed his thinking after he hit 65 more homers in 1999, and after Sammy Sosa topped 60 homers in both '98 and '99.

"When I came back the next year and hit 65, that was pretty much a re-evaluation, saying 70's going to be broken," McGwire said. "I'm very realistic about things."