Hey everyone,

A lot of you have been emailing me recently asking if I know what in store
for Jose in the future. I haven't heard a thing, except that it sounds
very unlikely that Jose will stay with the Yankees. As much as he was used
in the post season (1 AB), I'm glad. Hopefully Jose will find a new home
and become an everyday player again in 2001. Personally, I still think
he's got another year or two left in him... I do know that if the Yankees
decide to exercise their $4 million 2001 option on Jose's contract, they
have to do it by November 10th. Otherwise they need to pay him $500,000.

I added 6 photos to the site this week. They're from the end of the
regular season and the post season. Enjoy.

Lastly, check out the latest articles I've included below. You'll get a
good idea of how Jose felt being on the bench all post season. There's
even a Daily Diary he wrote for Baseball Weekly. Good reading...

I'll keep you posted,
Mark

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From the San Francisco Examiner:
A pinch of Canseco is all Yankees want
JOHN SHEA
Oct. 22, 2000

NEW YORK - How the mighty have fallen. When Jose Canseco played in three
World Series for the A's, he was a star. Maybe not always productive - .156
in 13 games - but always a star.

Now he's on the Yankees' bench, doing very little. He called himself the
"worst pinch-hitter in the world," but there he was in Game 1 of the World
Series, available to pinch hit. He didn't get a chance

"It's difficult to feel like you're part of the team," Canseco said. "I
definitely root for the team, pull for them, give them high-fives when they
get base hits or the pitcher has a great outing. Basically, at this point
in my career, that's all you can do."

Canseco, 36, hasn't appeared in the postseason. He didn't play in the A's
series and wasn't on the roster for the National League Championship
Series. He's on the World Series roster because the Yankees are using a
10-man pitching staff.

The Yankees don't trust Canseco in the outfield. If he starts, it'd be at
designated hitter, possibly in Game 2 against Mets lefty Mike Hampton. If
not, he can pinch hit. But after joining the Yankees in July, he was
1-for-6 in the pinch.

"I have absolutely gotten worse," Canseco said of his pinch-hitting skills.
"I haven't had an at-bat in nearly two weeks. I have done absolutely nothing."

Chuck Knoblauch, a second baseman who can't always throw straight, was the
DH in Game 1. Ex-Giant Jose Vizcaino played second.

"It's extremely difficult," Canseco said. "Obviously, it's great to be in
the World Series, but I've been an everyday player for 15 years. I know
I've had quite a few injuries. I'm healthier than I've been in a long time.
This is tough, knowing what type of player I am and how much impact I could
have on a game."

Canseco had hamstring, calf and foot problems this year. He reported to
spring training at 260 pounds and now vows to improve his offseason
conditioning, hoping he'll be down to 235 to 245.

Asked to compare the Subway Series with the Bay Bridge Series, Canseco
said, "Everything here is under the microscope so much and there's so much
media around. There's no comparison at all."

==========
From USA Today Basebal Weekly:
Playoff diary

Jose Canseco, trailing only Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds among active
players on the all-time home run list, was left off the Yankees' 25-man
roster for the ALCS. He could be put back on for the World Series.

Canseco, 36, hit .243 with six homers in 37 games for the Yankees after
being claimed on waivers from Tampa Bay in early August. In 29 postseason
games, Canseco has hit seven home runs. He agreed to give us an up-close
look into the Yankees during the ALCS, speaking each day with reporter
Seth! Livingstone.

OCTOBER 10

Relegated to the bench for the entire AL Division Series, Canseco
learns he has been left off the ALCS roster.

"Because I didn't play in Baltimore against the last left-hander we
faced, I knew it was a real possibility that I might not play every
postseason series. I usually played against left-handers at
least. "When you sit on the bench for a while, you lose your
effectiveness. I'm not a real good pinch-hitter. So, if I'm just filling up
a roster spot, maybe there's a move to be made.

"You definitely want to help your team. You want to play, day in and
day out, especially when your team is struggling and you've been the kind
of guy who can spark an offense - maybe hit a home run, steal a base like
I've done in the past. My legs are healthy now.

"We're down 2-0 with two outs and two on in the ninth, and I'm
thinking I'd love to help out the team. But that's very difficult when
you're not activated.

"There was another situation (I could have been used in). But they
still have Glenallen Hill. He got an at-bat, and Arthur Rhodes pitched him
extremely tough to get him out."

OCTOBER 11

Taking his turn between Clay Bellinger and Glenallen Hill in the
first batting practice rotation, Canseco sends a ball sailing over the
408-foot mark in center, another past the foul pole in left and, on his
final swing, deposits a ball deep into the left-field seats at Yankee
Stadium. After a sip of water, he trots to right field for some high-step
wind sprints before shagging flies.

"I'm doing just what I did today to stay ready. I'm hitting my
regular BP, shagging some fly balls, running some sprints. It's what I've
been doing every day. Whenever the team needs me - whenever Joe (Torre)
needs me, I'll definitely be ready.

"I hit the ball well in BP, but that's batting practice. It might be
a different story in an actual game because I haven't played in such a long
time.

"During the game I was talking to Hill and a couple of the guys,
going back and forth. I'll talk, now and then, about hitting. (After all)
I've got 15 years in the big leagues. I'll talk to guys about
aggressiveness at the plate and all that as well as certain pitchers.

"El Duque (Orlando Hernandez) pitched great for us today. He kept us
right there - gave the team a chance to win, simple as that. He held them
to one run, which is great. I know his postseason record now is 7-0 or 8-0
(actually 7-0). When I faced him, what made him so tough was his arm
angles. He changes arm angles, he pitches smart, he keeps the batter
off-balance. I think he really exploits a hitter's weaknesses and uses them
against him.

"But sitting in the dugout - it's getting late in the game and we
haven't scored again - I'm thinking we'd better at least tie it and work
from there. We need to explode. We had a great explosion in Oakland (in
Game 5 of the Division Series) that first inning. I'm thinking in the back
of my mind that maybe it will happen in a later inning today - maybe the
eighth or ninth inning - and it did happen. That could be a good thing. I
think it's better for momentum and an actual carryover for it to happen
late in the game instead of early.

"Going on that long flight like we have (to Seattle), you definitely
want to have a win. The attitude's a whole lot better - especially when you
have a day off. You don't mope around and think about it too much.
Everything's very positive."


OCTOBER 12

Canseco is on the field for a 3:30 workout at Safeco Field. He plays
catch with coach Chris Chambliss and jokes with bench coach Don Zimmer,
gently kicking the fungo bat from Zimmer's grasp as he leans on the batting
cage.

"It was definitely an upbeat flight, although I think half the guys
slept. It's a huge difference coming here 1-1. If you're 0-2, it's sort of a
depressing flight. I slept through a portion of it. I also watched parts of
two movies. One was called Frequency, the other was some Marine movie.

"It was El Duque's birthday so they brought out a big cake.
Everybody was singing Happy Birthday to him. I think I was half-asleep at
the time, but I got a piece of cake.

"Obviously, we have the day off today with just a workout. I'm just
focusing on trying to get my hands through the zone, trying to hit the ball
hard, consistently - not get caught up in trying to hit long home runs.

"I've been using a Sam Bat, made of maple. It's a very hard bat -
36-length, 35-ounce bat. I'm surprised I haven't broken it yet. I've been
swinging it for a long time - at least about 10 days, and more than one day
is long for me.

"I've played at Safeco a few times. The ball doesn't carry well here
at all. The park plays very big. It's cold here, damp all the time. I don't
see a lot of runs being scored here.

"It's definitely a big change from the Kingdome. When (the Mariners)
come here, they play a little more small ball - a little more hit-and-run.
I didn't mind playing in the Kingdome at all. Any ballpark the ball carries
in, I like."

OCTOBER 13

With Safeco Field's roof closed, Canseco notices the ball is
carrying a bit better. Teammates Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez connect
for back-to-back home runs, but New York's 8-2 win remains a tight contest
until the Yanks break it open late.

"This one seemed like a feeling-out situation early with a lot of
pitches being taken against (Andy) Pettitte and (Aaron) Sele. People
weren't letting the bats go.

"I played with Sele one year, and I've definitely faced him. It
looked like he was struggling early with his control - couldn't get that
fastball over for strikes and had to throw fastballs in hitters' counts.
Bernie caught a 3-0 fastball down the middle. He was aggressive and hit it
out. Tino was also aggressive. He hit it to the right of the 388 mark,
which is a long way on a line drive.

"It was good to get ahead quick and show some power. This is a tough
ballpark to hit home runs in. It's good that lately we've been able to
score in the later innings. I think that's going to carry over to tomorrow.

"Then (Mariano) Rivera comes in. If it's a one- or two-run game,
he's definitely coming in. When he does, there's a 95% chance the game is
yours. You know he's going to shut them down. Then, when we get that five-,
six-run lead in the ninth, it's definitely over. We're just sitting there
hoping the other team goes down quickly and quietly.

"Two more games. We've got Roger (Clemens) going tomorrow. If we can
win that game, we've got a chance to sweep on Sunday. One more win and we
know we're, at the very least, sending this series back home. We'd like to
win the next three in a row and celebrate, but Seattle's pretty tough."

OCTOBER 14

The sun broke through the clouds above Safeco Field as Canseco and
the Yankees went through their pregame stretching routine. Once the game
started, all anyone could do was sit back and marvel at Roger Clemens and
his near no-hitter. When the Yankees had pocketed the 5-0 victory, Canseco
made it a point to track down his former Red Sox teammate and congratulate
him while both were still in uniform.

"I've told him: 'You know Roger, you can definitely throw a shutout.
You have the ability.' Tonight, he actually did it.

"Roger is pretty dominant all the time. He was just very consistent
tonight, first inning through nine.

"I don't think anybody talked to him except for (catcher Jorge)
Posada. He was locked in. Each inning he just came in and went down the
tunnel, gathered his thoughts and went back out. A couple of times he
talked to Posada, putting the game plan together.

"A lot of times Roger will be matched up with the No..1 pitcher from
the other team, and I don't think he's gotten a lot of run support of late.
It seems like an ongoing joke - every time Roger pitches, I tell him,
'You'd better throw a shutout.'

"He got some run support tonight in the fifth inning when (Derek)
Jeter hit that three-run home run. You could tell, right there, he just put
the hammer down. You knew the game was over.

"Jeter and A-Rod ( Alex Rodriguez) are both great shortstops. I
think A-Rod definitely has the edge in power. He's gone 40-40 (home
runs/steals), although I think Jeter may be the quicker shortstop. I've
known A-Rod for a long time, and I think he's definitely got the edge over
Jeter, offensively - just not tonight."

OCTOBER 15

A long, cold afternoon for the Yankees who strand 15 runners. The
game takes 4:14 to play with temperatures in the 40s. Even before Kazuhiro
Sasaki closes the door in the ninth inning, the equipment truck is loading
for the return trip to the Bronx. The champagne will have to travel east.

"When you're up 3-1 you have a lot of leeway for this to happen. We
can afford to make a mistake. They can't.

"We left a few men on base and it happened quick for them. They had
one explosive inning with a base hit and a couple of home runs. Edgar
(Martinez) crushed that ball. He's got some kind of power to hit that ball
to center field. Bernie makes a great play to rob (John) Olerud early, then
he hits one to right-center where there's no way anyone can catch it.
Olerud had a great game for them, but he could have had a huge game with a
couple of home runs.

"With that kind of lineup, Seattle is not going to roll over. They
have a very explosive lineup - a very strong team.

"Rhodes, the left-hander, got a big out for them (called third
strike on Hill with the bases full). He has a very smooth delivery, throws
94-95 mph with a very good curveball and slider he throws at two speeds. He
can overpower left-handers.

"Sasaki has a pretty good fastball and has a very deceptive split.
Today he was a little wild. I don't know if it was because it was a little
cold out there.

"Tomorrow's the off day. We go on Tuesday now. Hopefully we'll
finish it then."

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From the NY Post:
CANSECO'S TOO RUSTY TO MAKE IMPACT
Thursday,October 26,2000
By URSULA REEL

He laughed and his teammates laughed, but Joe Torre was serious: Jose
Canseco was needed to pinch-hit.

In the sixth inning of last night's 3-2 Yankee win, Torre made his way down
the bench and tapped Canseco. Canseco jumped up and started cracking jokes
with some security personnel positioned at the end of the bench, as well as
his old pal Roger Clemens.

The source of the amusement? The creaky-boned and tight-muscled Canseco had
not batted since the first of the month, and here he was, 25 days later,
asked to face lefty Glendon Rusch with the Yanks hanging on to a 3-2 lead
with Paul O'Neill on second and Scott Brosius at first.

"We were all laughing because I hadn't hit in a month," Canseco said. "They
were saying I was like the Tin Man in "The Wizard of Oz" - I needed someone
to give me some oil."

Canseco then made a sound like a squeaking hinge to approximate the feeling
in his underused muscles.

"I was totally out of whack," he added, more seriously and with
disappointment. "He threw me three fastballs inside. I had absolutely no
chance."

Indeed, Canseco looked like the Tin Man when he struck out looking on five
pitches from Rusch to end the inning.

The at-bat went like this: Canseco took a ball then watched an inside
strike. He took another ball, before trying to check his swing on a pitch
in on his hands and was called for swinging. With the count 2-2, Canseco
watched helplessly as Rusch's next pitch sailed across the inner half of
the plate.

The 36-year-old waiver-wire pickup for the Yanks all but predicted his
ineptitude when he was put on the roster after being inactive for the
Division and Championship Series.

Canseco is not expected to return as a Yankee next year, but if he does, he
promises to be leaner and more limber. This year with the Devil Rays,
Canseco hit .252 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games. Canseco missed
considerable time while with Tampa Bay because of a bad foot. With the
Bombers, Canseco hit .243 with six homers and 19 RBIs.

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From the NY Post:

One of Steinbrenner's all-time favorite players, Jose Canseco, felt a
little out of place in the championship clubhouse. The slugger who joined
the team late in the season struck out looking in Game 4 in his only at-bat
of the series.

"It's a little strange and a little difficult," Canseco admitted of the
celebration around him. "But I'm really happy for the guys. The every-day
players, they love it. I remember how it was for me and I feel great for
them. They deserve it."

Canseco was once one of the most sought-after interviews in the game, but
now he makes way for people such as Bernie Williams and David Justice.

As the two waited to do a television interview, they talked about the fly
ball Mike Piazza hit to end the game.

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From the NY Post:
RINGS ARE OK, BUT VETS JUST LOVE A PARADE
Tuesday,October 31,2000
By URSULA REEL and GEORGE KING

CAMERAMAN:; Hero shortstop Derek Jeter captures the images of the day on
his minicam as the parade made its way up the Canyon of Heroes. - N.Y.
Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Yankee veterans, some with three or four World Series rings, say they'll
never get tired of going to ticker-tape parades.

"It never gets boring," said first baseman Tino Martinez. "It's great. Even
getting up early, all that. It's worth it. You have to understand that no
other city does this for its players."

"Get old? The parade?" rightfielder Paul O'Neill asked incredulously. "No."

Catcher Jorge Posada said: "Wow, it was fun."

Ticker-tape first-timer Chris Turner said it was both "amazing" and
"exhausting." Seven hours of adulation can wear some guys out....

...David Justice and Jose Canseco both got personal squad-car service to
the parade. It was a perfect way for two players who have been superstars
in other cities to see how New York uniquely treats its sports heroes.

Justice showed up at the Stadium just as the buses were pulling away. A
police officer's attempt to flag down a bus was unsuccessful. Justice and
his girlfriend then hopped into an idling cop car and followed the caravan.

Canseco had gone home to Miami after last week's Game 5 and planned to come
back to New York on Sunday night. That flight was canceled.

So were Canseco's next two planned flights, for 7 and 8 a.m. yesterday. A
slightly frazzled Canseco finally caught a 9 a.m. flight and arrived at the
Stadium at around 11:45 a.m., 15 minutes before the parade was to begin.
He, like Justice, rode to the parade in a squad car.

Both were on their appointed floats in plenty of time.