Hey Cansecoites...

Here is Part Two of the update I started yesterday.

There is a chance I will be heading out to Newark for Thursday night's
game. If anyone is going and would like to meet up out there, let me
know. By looking at the photos of the ballpark on the Bears web site, it
doesn't look like there would be a good place to stand with my bullseye,
but I'll probably take it anyway. Like I said, I'm not even sure if I'm
going or not yet, but I'm going to try to get there.

After nine games with the Bears, Jose is batting .233 in 30 ABs. He has 2
doubles, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, and 2 SBs. Most importantly, Jose has played
every game in the outfield and has yet to make an error (I think).

You'll find a bunch of recent articles below. There were tons out there,
so I tried to pick and choose which ones to send out. Enjoy...

-Mark

==========
From the AP:
Canseco Brothers Reunited
By WAYNE PARRY

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - They're looking for a good Cuban restaurant, plan to
sign lots of autographs and swear they're not to going to compete to see
who can hit more homers.

But most of all, the Canseco brothers plan to have fun for as long as their
improbable New Jersey journey lasts.

Jose, the former American League MVP and home run king, and Ozzie, the
identical twin whose brief major league career never approached that of his
more famous brother, will be hitting their tape-measure home runs for the
Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

But how long Jose and Ozzie will play together is anyone's guess. Jose
plans to use his time in Newark to catch the eyes of major league teams
looking for a big bat once they see he's recovered from back and leg injuries.

``I never really played with my brother for a long period of time,'' Jose
said. ``It's going to be fun. We're looking forward to spending some time
together in a baseball situation.''

Jose said he knows he can help a major league team this summer.

``No one of my size in major league baseball can run as fast as I can,'' he
said. ``I'll take that challenge day in, day out. There are few guys in
baseball who can outrun me, period. You can't do that if you're physically
damaged. It's just impossible.''

Jose is still somewhat bitter about his release from the Angels just before
the end of spring training, when club officials expressed concern about his
health and durability.

``Teams want to see me in a game situation,'' he said. ``I'm going to play
the outfield day in and day out. In the past, teams had wanted me to DH
because my bat was valuable, and they didn't want me to get hurt in the
outfield. Here, I'm going to get the opportunity.''

Jose Canseco hit .252 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs last year, mostly as a
designated hitter with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and the Yankees, who
claimed him off waivers on Aug. 7. He is a lifetime .266 hitter, with 446
homers, 1,140 hits and 1,358 RBIs.

He said his time with the Yankees was among the most frustrating of his
career, because he was ready to contribute but had no real role with the team.

``There was just no room for me,'' he said. ``I respect the Yankees; I
respect Joe Torre a lot. He's very loyal to his players, and he wanted his
players who have been there three, four, five years and brought him all
those world titles to continue playing. I understood that. I realized there
was just no position for me.''

The Yankees were among several major league clubs that offered Canseco a
minor league contract this spring. But he opted for the independent route
so he could be free to sign with any major league team.

``At Triple-A, they would have had the rights to me even if I had an
incredible year,'' he said. ``I would have been used mainly as an insurance
policy just in case one of the major league players got hurt, and even then
there was no promise of bringing me up to the major league level.''

Ozzie Canseco was just released from a South Korean (news - web sites)
team. He led the Atlantic League last year in slugging percentage (.644),
home runs (48), RBI (129) and total bases (291).

Ozzie noted with some satisfaction that he, not Jose, will bat cleanup in
manager Tom O'Malley's lineup.

``He's one of the scariest power hitters in the history of baseball, and
he's going to need someone to bat behind him,'' Ozzie said.

He said he won't compete with Jose to see who can hit more long balls.

``We just want to produce,'' he said. ``If you turn it into a competition,
you're going to try too hard.''...

==========
From the Jersey Journal:
Cansecos can not Bear to wait for season opener
05/03/01
By Angela Daidone

NEWARK - Dave and Ryan Gabel sat behind Riverfront Stadium's home plate,
hoping to get a glimpse of former major leaguer Jose Canseco who was making
his first public appearance with the Newark Bears. The Gabels got more than
they bargained for.

"Look at that one go!" the brothers yelled in unison, as the slugger
blasted a shot that cleared the 60-foot center field net and bounced into
McCarter Highway below. "Wow, he's wailing," said Dave, 12, his eyes glued
to the action on the field. "This is going to be fun to see these guys play
this summer."

The Bears' season doesn't start until tomorrow, but Canseco is already
attracting lots of attention. And that's okay with him. He's looking for a
way back to the Major Leagues, and a stint with the Newark Bears - not to
mention the hype it promises to bring - may be his ticket.

"I want to prove that I can still play baseball, and play well," said
Canseco, who contends that his release from the Anaheim Angels five weeks
ago was unfounded. "They led me to believe that I was cut because I wasn't
healthy. That couldn't be further from the truth. I'm telling you, I'm in
great shape."

Canseco said he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds during a workout at the
University of Miami, and got stronger and faster with the Bears during the
team's spring training last week in Florida.

"There's no one my size in Major League Baseball that's as fast as I am,"
Canseco said. "I'll put out that challenge right now."

The muscular speedster, who has 446 major league home runs spanning a
fifteen year career, is hoping to get some big league bites. Canseco said
he's very happy to be in Newark, and feels the independent Atlantic League
is the ideal forum to showcase his talents.

"If I went with a major league affiliate, I'd end up just being an
insurance policy for them," Canseco said. "I don't want that. I'm here to
play, and get back up to the majors. It'll give 30 teams a chance to look
at me."

Meanwhile, he said it's going to be lots of fun to play on the same team
with twin brother Ozzie, the current Atlantic League record holder for home
runs and RBI.

"Hey, I'll be batting third and Ozzie's the cleanup guy. I can't get any
better protection than that," Canseco said. He is also slated to start in
the outfield, according to O'Malley.

The Canseco brothers, who are tough to tell apart, wore different practice
jerseys for the practice. However, Jose joked that he's the "better
looking" of the two.

Physical looks aside, when it came time for Ozzie to have his cuts at
batting practice, it was deja vu from moments earlier. He, also, walloped a
couple over the high net, much to the delight of the few thousand fans that
came out for the Open House event.

"I knew Ozzie could still smack them out of here," said Mike Kelly, 13, of
Kearny, a self-proclaimed Bears' fan three years running. Kelly and his
friend Phill Bereski, also 13, said they'd be at the stadium, though, even
if Jose didn't sign.

But, he admitted, this was special.

"It's so exciting to have them both here," Kelly said. "It's like a bonus."...

==========
From the AP:
Jose Canseco Starts Comeback
By HOWARD ULMAN
Friday May 4 9:33 PM ET

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) - Jose Canseco took his spot in left field in front of
the ``Dave's Quality Dry Cleaning'' sign. About 100 feet beyond the fence
was a stand of pine trees

On a hot spring night 45 miles north of Fenway Park, baseball's 23rd
leading career home run hitter began his comeback in a small park in the
independent Atlantic League.

The uniform also was odd for Canseco - the black and purple of the Newark
Bears. But his big league boldness was familiar.

He said Friday night before facing the Nashua Pride that he's investigating
statements by the Anaheim Angels, who said he was injured when they
released him in spring training.

Asked if he'd been ``blackballed,'' he said, ``I've been told that by
everyone.'' He gave no details and said he's completely healthy.

He also said he can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and has ``at least 150-200
more homers in me as long as I can stay healthy.''

First, he must return to the majors.

That's why he was at 64-year-old Holman Stadium, a 4,374-seat park where
Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe played in the Brooklyn Dodgers system.

Playing in an independent league, Canseco can sign with any major league
team while proving he still can play at that level. But he said he has no
control over whether he will get there.

``It's a nice little ballpark. I'm going to have a great time,'' he said.
``I'm just going to be Jose Canseco. Just going to go up there, be
aggressive, hopefully hit a couple of long balls.''

Canseco, with 446 homers, sent seven of his first 14 batting practice
swings over the wall. In his first three at-bats, he grounded to second,
reached on a throwing error and flied to center.

He handled his first fielding chance cleanly, a sacrifice fly in the third
inning.

Canseco, part of the ``Bash Brothers'' slugging team with Mark McGwire in
Oakland, is one of Newark's twin brothers.

Ozzie Canseco, who led the league with 48 homers and 129 RBIs last year, is
Newark's designated hitter.

``Our main goal is to have a good time and get Jose back to the major
leagues,'' Ozzie said.

Jose spent last season with Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees, hitting
.252 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games.

It was a big day even without Jose. It was opening day for the league, and
Pride players received rings as last year's champions.

Fans also could look forward to ``Wiener Wednesdays,'' promoted over the
public address system.

Friday was Canseco's night.

``I've always liked him. I got a foul ball he hit at Fenway,'' said Eric
Maxwell, 13, of Nashua. Canseco signed three baseball cards for him.

Nashua manager Butch Hobson, who played with and managed the Boston Red
Sox, was happy to have Canseco in his stadium.

``It says a lot of good things for this league,'' Hobson said. ``This is a
strong league.''

Just check the Bears roster. Jim Leyritz, Lance Johnson, Jaime Navarro,
Jack Armstrong - all former major leaguers. Leyritz, recovering from
rotator cuff surgery, hopes to prove he's healthy and return to the majors
within a month. He spent part of spring training with the New York Mets.

``The nice thing about being here is I could have gone to a Triple-A team
somewhere and got in shape, but then I'm tied to one team,'' Leyritz said.
``I've got 30 places to choose from here''

So does Canseco and he thinks that, after hitting all those homers for
Oakland, Texas, Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and the Yankees, he has a lot to
offer at ``a very young 36.''

It's a safe assumption he won't rejoin the Angels.

``I'm very surprised at the rumors that it seems like the Angels put out
after (his release) that I was (physically) damaged,'' said Canseco, who
has had back problems. ``We know more or less where the rumor came from.''

He hasn't set a date to leave the Bears if he doesn't return to the majors.

Just before the game, as the Canseco brothers stood in left field, stadium
speakers blared Bruce Springsteen's ``Glory Days.''

Canseco thinks he can recapture them

``When I'm healthy, there are very few players that can match my ability,''
he said, ``A 40-homer year, 50-homer year is almost automatic with me.''

==========
From the AP:
Canseco plays in minors

NASHUA, N.H. -- Jose Canseco had two hits, caught the only fly ball hit to
him and didn't mind the small-town atmosphere in his first game with the
Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

"It was pretty good," he said. "I'm healthy, so I'm not worried about the
rest. The rest is going to come."

Canseco said he can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and has "at least 150-200
more homers in me as long as I can stay healthy."

==========
From the NH Union Leader:
Pride Notebook
Canseco proves a draw
By JIM FENNELL

NASHUA - The Big Show came to Holman Stadium last night.

There may never be another home opener like this for the Nashua Pride. A
record crowd showed up on Opening Night to see the Pride open its defense
of its Atlantic League championship. Oh, yeah, and they got a glimpse of
Jose Canseco.

Canseco still proved he has plenty of star power and showed it all as the
new left fielder for the Newark Bears. Still stung by his release from the
Anaheim Angels, Canseco has given the independent league a major boost by
deciding to join his brother Ozzie on the Bears as he attempts to get back
to the big leagues.

"I'm not really counting on it," Canseco said before the game. "I just see
it as a chance to play with my brother Ozzie. (I'm) trying to play almost
every day and see where it goes. Obviously I'd like to get back up to the
big league level. That is completely out of my control right now."

Canseco is now the star attraction in a league that is quickly attracting
high-profile players looking for another shot in the spotlight. He was
greeted warmly when he was announced before the game.

"I'm going to have a great time here and I'm going to make the best of the
situation," Canseco said.

Pride public relations director Andy Crossley said he issued 71 media
credentials for the game. He said there are less than 10 for tonight's game
in this three-game set with the Bears.

A caravan of media trucks ringed the stadium as Canseco was lined up in
front of a dozen cameras and a throng of reporters for a press conference
before the game.

"I really don't like the attention, tell you the truth, I never had. I'm
completely the opposite," Canseco said. "It's a different situation now.
There are going to be a lot of people coming out here and I'm going to be
one of the focal parts that people want to see play day in and day out.

"I'm just going to be Jose Canseco. I'm just going to go up there, be
aggressive and hopefully hit a couple of long balls."

In his first at bat, facing Pride starter John Roper, Canseco was thrown
out by second baseman Chad Fonville after being jammed on a 1-0 pitch.

Canseco is still puzzled why he's not in the majors right now chasing 500
home runs (he currently has 446).

"Coming out of camp I was 100 percent healthy. I am still 100 percent
healthy," Canseco said. "So whatever transpired in between is very unusual.
Who knows, this might have carried over from last year with the Yankees. I
know a lot of people, my family and friends and some media thought I was
injured.

"I'm very surprised with the rumors that it seems the Angels put out that,
for whatever reason, they put out that I'm damaged."

"I think the most important thing is that people in the majors want to see
if I can play outfield every day. I guess the rumor was put out there that
I was physically damaged for whatever reason. We are investigating that now."

Canseco said he still has plenty to give to a big league team.

"I'm only just 36 years old and a very young 36," Canseco said. "I figure
I've got at least 150, 200 home runs if I can stay healthy. A 40 home run
year, a 50 run home run year is almost automatic.

"A lot of American League teams, even some National League teams, are
really struggling with right-handed power. I don't know of any organization
that couldn't use a player of my caliber. When I'm healthy there are very
few players who can match my ability."

Canseco said he is enjoying his role as an elder statesmen with the Bears.

" I've always been open to younger players, even when I was at the major
league level, to come and talk to me," Canseco said. "Not just on aspects
of baseball, but I think I'm pretty much an expert on aspects outside of
baseball."

***

The Bears paired the Canseco brothers with former major leaguer Jim Leyritz
during batting practice.

The three started cranking balls over the fence, with Jose getting into one
groove, belting four straight over the fence in left field. Ozzie had the
honor of the longest shot, saved for his last at-bat.

Bears manager Tom O'Malley threw BP.

When asked about Ozzie's status as the reigning home run champion in the
Atlantic League, Jose said "you better watch out." Ozzie didn't argue the
point.

This is the third time the brothers have played together. Ozzie was called
up for a short stay with the A's in 1990, and the two also played a couple
of games together during spring training one year.

"It was great, it was a lot of fun," Jose said. "Now is when everything
counts."

==========
Pride home opener draws big league names, crowd
By KEVIN GRAY

NASHUA - Two hours before the first pitch of the 2001 Nashua Pride season,
fans already were peeking through the fence and forming a line at the
entrance gate. Call it non-affiliated minor league baseball, but call it a
major deal for New Hampshire baseball fans.

This opening night at Holman Stadium offered much more than free magnetic
schedules and red, white and blue bunting along the reserve seat railings.

Five-time All-Star Jose Canseco was in the house, along with twin brother
Ozzie, and former major leaguers Jim Leyritz, Butch Hobson, Sam Horn and
Tony Rodriguez, among others.

More than 4,000 fans wedged through the gates, past the fried dough vendors
and set their eyes on a lush playing field hosting some marquee names of
baseball past - and present, in the case of Jose Canseco.

Oh, and the defending league champion Pride played ball against the Newark
Bears, too. Welcome to what is expected to be the most successful weekend
in Nashua Pride history.

"We've sold more tickets the last two weeks than any other time period,"
said Billy Johnson, Pride general manager. "We're certainly poised to have
a great weekend."

The Pride continue the festivities tonight with the first of five fireworks
displays of the season. First-pitch is set for 7:05. Ticket prices remain a
bargain for $7 lower reserve seats, $6 upper reserves and $4 general
admission tickets.

Nashua fans arrived in droves to support their defending champion team.
Other baseball fans made their first visit to Holman Stadium to watch
Canseco, the former American League MVP poised to return to the big leagues
and pad his home run total of 446.

Three teenagers from Nashua Catholic Junior High succeeded in their efforts
to have Canseco sign baseball cards. Shortly after arriving on the team bus
at 4 p.m., the accessible slugger signed three cards for 13-year-old Eric
Maxwell.

"I still can't believe he's here. He's like the best," said Maxwell, whose
Canseco cards included a 1986 Donruss, 1990 Fleer and 1995 Topps. "I'm a
big Pride fan. I've been to almost every game since they started in 1998.
But tonight the biggest thing was to see Jose."

Andy Crossley, Pride communications manager, issued credentials for 71
members of the media. Nine television cameras, representing stations from
all over New England and New York, were pointed at Canseco when he began a
scheduled press conference behind the batting cage.

Canseco, riddled with injuries throughout his big league career, said he
was a "young 36" years old and physically ready for the majors. An hour
later, he stepped into the batting cage and deposited three missiles over
the fence in his first four swings. Ozzie, his older brother by two
minutes, wowed the crowd with a batting practice shot off the left-field
scoreboard....

...Jose Canseco bounced harmlessly to the pitcher in his inaugural Atlantic
League plate appearance. Then he jogged out to left field and settled in
for the night. He wasn't in the majors anymore - and that's just fine with
everyone in Nashua for the weekend.

==========
From ESPN.com:
A different kind of Opening Day for Canseco
By Wayne Drehs

NASHUA, N.H. - The black Mercedes-Benz rolled up some three hours before
the scheduled first pitch on this Opening Day, but already a crowd had
gathered.

Twenty or so Little Leaguers, in full uniform, waited by the entrance to
the 4,375-seat stadium. Next to them, a horde of media - microphones,
cameras and notepads in hand - also waited.

Nearby, a group of girls, who minutes earlier were immersed in a high
school tennis match, dropped their rackets and sprinted to the Mercedes, as
if 'NSYNC's very own Justin and JC were inside. But no cute pop stars
emerged. Instead, it was a pair of 36-year-old baseball sluggers, Jose and
Ozzie Canseco.

The twin brothers, who last played together in a handful of games for the
Oakland A's in 1990, were arriving as teammates, both making $3,000 a month
as members of the Newark Bears independent Atlantic League baseball team.

As they emerged from the Mercedes, a four-hour drive from Newark behind
them, the Canseco Brothers instantly were surrounded by the assembled
crowd. For Ozzie, who's spent the majority of his career in the minor
leagues, the small-town feel of minor league baseball was nothing new.

But for Jose, who only one Opening Day ago was the marquee man on the Tampa
Bay Devil Rays, fresh off a 46-homer, 117-RBI season, the scene felt a tad
awkward.

"Yeah, this is different," Jose said minutes later, looking around at the
billboard-covered outfield walls and intimate grandstand seating. "I can't
say I ever imagined I'd be here. But having Ozzie with me makes it a lot
easier."

But no brother, twin or otherwise, can offer much help for what Jose has
gone through over the past eight months. Released by the Devil Rays last
September, Jose was claimed off waivers by the Yankees. After struggling
mightily with New York, he was released after the season. The Anaheim
Angels then signed him to a minor league contract, only to release him 39
at-bats into spring training.

"They told me the reason was I hadn't hit a home run in 39 at-bats," Jose
said. "But you know what, in some of the years that I hit 40 and 50 home
runs, I had stints where I didn't hit a homer in 100 at-bats. So I don't
know what they're talking about."

Rumor was that Canseco, whose career has been marred by back, knee and hip
problems, was again injured. He hit just .231 in those 39 at-bats, missing
10 games due to injury. That left many, including the Angels, to wonder if
he could withstand the grind of a 162-game season. But when the Angels made
those concerns public, Canseco seethed.

"I was surprised at the rumors that I was physically damaged," said Jose,
who on Friday used a Rawlings bat with "Anaheim Angels" branded in the
side. "And from what everyone has told me, the Angels were the ones putting
that out there. Everyone is saying that for whatever reason, I was
blackballed by them. It's something that we're looking into."

With his options limited, Canseco had little choice but to sign with a team
like the Bears. Last season, Ozzie Canseco belted an Atlantic League record
38 home runs for Newark. And with the Bears not affiliated with a major
league franchise, Canseco has the flexibility to sign with any major league
team that may want him later this year.

"I had two or three options at Triple-A, but they were for playing DH only
or just insurance if someone got hurt," Jose said. "And that's not what I
wanted. Ozzie told me about playing for the Bears and I realized that this
is a good situation for me."

Still, it's strange to see Jose Canseco, baseball slugger extraordinaire,
playing in a place where the between-inning entertainment is Lobster Man,
an overweight fan dressed in a pink uni-tard and red cape. There's
something awkward about Canseco, the first man to hit 40 homers and steal
40 bases in a season, standing in left field while the seventh-inning
stretch is repeated three times because of difficulty with the PA system.

"There are two ways to look at this - either positive or negative," Ozzie
said. "We are looking at it positively in that this makes him available to
any club in the majors. It's a good situation. The main goal is for us to
have a good time and to get him back to the majors. I don't think he'll be
here very long."

On Friday, in his debut for the Bears, Canseco went 2-for-4, with a double
and single. The highlight of the night was a mammoth foul ball he hit not
only out of the ballpark, but well into the forest behind the left field
wall. It traveled an estimated 450 feet.

While many heckled Canseco for his lack of a long ball Friday, there's
little doubt that his confidence is still there. He still carries biceps the
size of Popeye and still sports that drastic uppercut that can catapult a
ball deep into the dark of the night. He also says he can run a blazing
4.39 40-yard dash.

"I feel like I can play until I'm 40 - easy," Jose said. "Physically, I
have a lot of ability. I always have. There are very few people who can
match my ability."

And he knows he's just 54 homers shy of 500, a mark considered by many as a
necessity for him to merit consideration for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"With all I've been through, you can believe that's important to me," Jose
said of the 500 mark.

During batting practice Friday, Canseco wowed the early-arrivers, clubbing
seven moon-shot homers in the first 14 pitches he faced. According to
Canseco, who will turn 37 on July 2, there's plenty of home run gasoline
left in the tank.

"I figure I have 150 to 200 more home runs left in me," Jose said. "If I'm
healthy, 40 to 50 home runs a year is almost automatic. The most important
thing is to come out here and prove to everybody that I am healthy and can
play everyday."

But with that comes the circus-like atmosphere that will surround each of
his appearances. Friday in Nashua, Canseco received the loudest cheers of
anyone, but also got the loudest boos.

Next weekend's home opener in Newark, N.J. has been sold out for weeks, due
mostly to the signing of Canseco. And in places like Nashua, Bridgeport,
Conn. and Camden, N.J., people are already lining up for a chance to get an
up close look at the former AL MVP.

"It isn't everyday that somebody of his ability strolls through town," said
Anthony Larkin of Hudson, N.H. "We came out here just to see him. And I
can't believe how big he is in person. The guy is a monster."

For Canseco, who has stood in the public spotlight since earning Rookie of
the Year honors with the A's in 1986, the attention really isn't anything
new. After all, this is a guy who was charged with assault for ramming his
Jaguar into a car driven by his former wife. It's a guy who was often
teased by the New York fans and media for his rumored rendezvous with
Madonna. But this new life, getting cheered and jeered in the minor
leagues, takes some getting used to.

"I don't like the added attention. I never have," Jose said. "But you learn
to deal with it. I understand that people are going to come out to these
games just to see me, to get on me. But all I can do is just be Jose - be
myself and hit the long ball."

Among the Newark players, there is an ongoing joke as to whether or not
Canseco will be able to break his brother's year-old home run record. But
Jose, two minutes younger than his twin brother, admittedly has one
advantage going for him - his brother bats behind him.

"And you know what that means," Jose said, a giant grin streaming across
his face. "I'll get better pitches."

==========
From the Costra Contra Times:

Jose Canseco is convinced there is a conspiracy to keep him out of
major-league baseball. "We're still trying to find out what was said and
why it was said," a bitter Canseco said, hours before his minor-league
debut Friday with the Newark Bears....

...But seriously, folks: Does anyone expect John Jaha to be any more
productive for the A's this season than Canseco could have been?

We keep hoping to hear it: In one of history's great hoaxes, Jose Canseco
finally admits there is no Ozzie Canseco....

==========
From the Boston Globe:
Left out no longer
Canseco conspires to play his way back to majors, Hall of Fame
By Bob Duffy
5/5/2001

ASHUA - Through 16 seasons as baseball's brash basher, Jose Canseco often
was a sideshow act even as his bat dominated the center ring. He was
accused of many things, but conventionality wasn't one of them.

So it should be no surprise that in his eyes, there is nothing routine
about Canseco's exile from organized baseball.

It's a conspiracy, of course.

Canseco couldn't have implied it any more strongly if he'd had
''BLACKBALL'' stenciled on his Newark Bears uniform last night before he
made his debut in the independent Atlantic League against the Nashua Pride
at Holman Stadium.

But he waited a while before launching his latest blast.

Unable to find acceptable work in organized baseball since his release by
the Anaheim Angels March 28, Canseco arrived for his first taste of humble
pie some 3 1/4 hours before the 7:05 p.m. start. He was instantly the
center of attention from the time he stepped out of the passenger side of
the silver Dodge Durango driven by his twin brother, Ozzie, the 2000
Atlantic MVP whose presence in Newark and endorsement of the league
persuaded Jose to sign on for the standard $3,000 monthly salary. That's
about what he'd pay for a hubcap in his heyday, but he was in a jocular
mood from the beginning. He and Ozzie, who chatted about what brought them
here together during the four-hour ride yesterday, were besieged for
autographs in the parking lot by a group of about six idolaters ... well,
it qualifies as a mob by league standards.

As he stepped into the small gem of a ballpark and headed into the
visitors' clubhouse, Canseco jabbed the media contingent of about 40 - all
of them there strictly to see him - by inquiring, ''You guys takin'
pictures of the girls out there?''

He came back out after the team bus arrived to perform a chore at which
he'd gotten rusty during almost two decades as one of the major leagues'
premier sluggers: fetching and lugging his equipment bag. It was enough to
make Roger Clemens mortified, but Jose regarded it all in good spirits.

A Boston reporter with whom he was friendly asked if he were looking to get
back in organized baseball. ''See if they'll let me back in,'' he said.

Did he feel a little out of his element in these new surroundings?

''Yeah. Thank God for Ozzie,'' he said.

That was his initial theme once he commenced his official press conference
behind home plate.

For most people, playing in an independent league is a way of trying to get
to or back to the majors, said Jose, who was on the field with a host of
former major leaguers - his brother Ozzie, Jim Leyritz, Jack Armstrong,
Lance Johnson, Jaime Navarro, Sam Horn, and Chad Fonville among them. ''But
I'm not counting on it. This is a chance to play with my brother, stay
healthy, and have fun every day.''

''There are players here who could play at the major league level,'' said
Ozzie. ''But life isn't always fair.''

Enter the conspiracy theory.

Jose obviously considered the circumstances of his release by Angels major
domo Bill Stoneman highly suspicious. The timing, for one thing, prevented
him from negotiating in earnest with another major league club because most
rosters were locked in. He'd hit only .231 with no homers in 39 spring
at-bats, which he didn't consider a fair trial, employing the excuse that
has become baseball's answer to ''The dog ate my homework'': I thought I
was here to get in shape for the season, not to win a job.

But the thing that hurt most was the implication that he was hurt. True, he
had missed 10 spring games with lower back and hamstring problems. But he
insisted he had tried to come back three games sooner, only to be advised
to rest further. And he had missed a road trip with a twinge in his neck,
but he maintained he had been ordered off the bus against his wishes after
advising management of his owie.

Whatever the reason, Canseco emphasized, a misconception has been spread
around the majors that he is impaired. And not only does he feel this is
incorrect, it's downright criminal.

''I came out of camp 100 percent healthy and I'm 100 percent healthy now,''
he said. ''I can run a 4.5 40, and I don't know of any other athlete my
size [6 feet 4 inches, 240 pounds] who can do that. I'm very surprised at
the Angels for putting out the rumor that I'm damaged goods.''

How does he know the source? ''These rumors started at exactly the same
time I was released by the Angels,'' Canseco replied ominously.

All right, let's cut to the chase. Is he being blackballed? ''I've been
told that by everybody,'' he said, ''excluding them.''

He wouldn't identify ''them,'' as if he needed to, but he did say he and
his people have the matter under investigation. ''We're still trying to
find out what was said and why it was said,'' he explained.

Unless he comes across a counterpart to the Zapruder film, we can only
assume Canseco is just another guy looking for big-time work, that his
overriding reason for going the independent route is to get back to the
majors, ''to show them I can still play the outfield every day.''

He has at least 54 good reasons for wanting to return. He's that many home
runs shy of 500, and no one has to tell Canseco every eligible 500-homer
hitter has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

That number seems rather puny, anyway.

''I'm 36,'' said Canseco, ''and I'm a young 36. Guys are signing contracts
now at 42, 43. I can play at least until I'm 40. I've got another 150 to
200 homers in me.''

In the interest of jurisprudence, it must be pointed out Canseco
acknowledged receiving Triple A offers. ''But there were one or two with
restrictions,'' he said. ''Like I'd just be a DH. Or no matter what I do, I
might not get called up. I'd just be organizational insurance.''

If nothing else, he is an organizational bonanza for Newark. This was
Opening Night for Nashua, but the park would have been filled to its
capacity of 4,375 regardless with Canseco as a lure.

And in batting practice at least, he was worth the admission. Warming up to
hit third and play left field, Canseco rocketed a dozen batting practice
gophers over the 358-foot marker in left. In the 10-3 Bears loss, he went 2
for 5 - a hustle double on a bloop to right in the fifth inning and a line
single to left in the eighth - and handled three chances in the field
without incident.

During pitching changes he kibitzed with fans in the picnic area behind the
left-field fence.

''It was pretty good,'' he said. ''My first at-bat I had butterflies. My
first two at-bats I was trying to find my rhythm. My last two at-bats I
could feel my hands snapping through the zone pretty well.''

He certainly looked healthy. And happy. Unless that's part of a
counterconspiracy.

==========
From the Boston Herald:
Canseco a minor-scale attraction
by Karen Guregian
Saturday, May 5, 2001

NASHUA, N.H. - Jose Canseco at Holman Stadium. This was like having Elvis
at Avalon. Springsteen at Mama Kin. Billy Joel at the piano bar in the
Copley Marriott.

Fans of the Nashua Pride don't usually get to see one of baseball's most
recognized stars and premier home run hitters when they plunk down $4 for a
general admission seat. They don't usually see a player with 446 career
bombs in the major leagues at a sandlot near them.

But then again, when Canseco is involved, almost anything seems possible,
including a new career in the minor leagues at age 36. The former Red Sox
designated hitter, who was cut at the end of spring training by the Anaheim
Angels, made his season debut last night with the Newark Bears of the
independent Atlantic League.

Playing alongside twin brother Ozzie, along with fellow ex-major leaguers
Jim Leyritz, Lance Johnson, Jaime Navarro and Jack Armstrong, Canseco,
wearing his familiar No. 33, was in left field and batted third against
former Red Sox manager Butch Hobson's Pride, who won the game, 10-3.

It was hard to tell which was the more amusing sight, Canseco driving up to
the stadium with Ozzie in a Mercedes SUV, or him attempting to play left
field. Canseco is still somewhat challenged with the glove, although he's
desperately trying to prove otherwise. He did catch a pair of fly balls and
avoided volleying any balls over the brick wall with his head.

The most thrilling sight?

That's a no-brainer.

Batting practice.

Canseco kept landing balls atop the line of TV trucks parked well beyond
the fences in left and center field. He cleared the fences 10 times in 25
swings, landing a few balls in what seemed like Massachusetts.

As for why a crowd of 4,256 (surprisingly short of 4,375 capacity) was
treated to such an unusual event, Canseco is attempting to resurrect a
waning career. He's trying to show he's healthy, can still hit the long
ball and help some major league team in the future. This was simply his
best avenue back to the bigs. Teams in this league aren't affiliated with
anyone in the majors. In other words, his future is not controlled by a
parent club.

All Canseco has to do here is swallow his pride, check his ego at the door,
and send the ball into orbit once a game.

``I'm trying to dismiss the issue that I'm hurt, that I'm damaged, that
there's a problem,'' Canseco said after going 2-for-5 in the loss. ``I'm
just trying to make the best of the situation.''

Canseco should give director Oliver Stone a call, given all the conspiracy
theories he spouted last night when explaining why he's no longer with
Anaheim, or any other major league team. Given there are plenty of teams in
both leagues who could use more right-handed power, Canseco claimed he was
being blackballed - not his word - by someone with respect to his health.

``I'm more surprised in the fact that - not that I was released - but at
the rumors,'' said Canseco, who claimed he had people investigating the
matter. ``It seems the Angels put out (these rumors) after the fact that I
was damaged. I personally can't be clinically damaged and be as big as I am
and run a 4.5 40 (yard dash). It's just impossible. The math doesn't work
out.''

It's no secret Canseco would dearly love to reach the 500-homer plateau.
That would virtually guarantee a spot in the Hall of Fame. He believes
that's well in reach. He also believes he still has a lot of baseball left
in him.

``I'm only 36 years old and a very young 36,'' Canseco said. ``Players
today have contracts till they're 42-43, so I figure I have at least
150-200 home runs left in me, as long as I can stay healthy.''

Speaking of math, that's a lot of home runs for a guy trying to work his
way out of the minors. Let's just say Canseco has never lacked for
confidence in his ability. It's always been a part of his charm.

In this league, there are ballplayers who can't let go and call it a career.

Canseco's not quite in that category. While he may exaggerate, it's not
outlandish to believe he can still help someone.

``It's weird and it's good having him here,'' said 13-year-old Eric Maxwell
of Nashua, who secured a Canseco autograph. ``I always thought he'd make
the Hall of Fame and I still do. I think he'll go back to the pros and make
500.''

Then Maxwell can tell his children about the night he watched a legend play
ball in his back yard.

==========
From STL today:
SIGN JOSE CANSECO NOW:

...Speaking of knuckleheads, Tipsheet won't rest comfortably until the
Cardinals sign former Bash Brother Jose Canseco to give their offense some
oomph! while Mark McGwire does his rehabilitation thing.

At the moment, Canseco is toiling for $3,000 a month for the Class A Newark
Bears. This is a guy who has a recent 46-homer, 117-RBI season on his resume.

"I figure I have 150 to 200 more home runs left in me," Canseco said. "If
I'm healthy, 40 to 50 homers a year is almost automatic."

As are the colorful episodes that Tipsheet feeds on. Come on, Walt
Jocketty, give him a call!

==========
From the the Newark Bears site:
BEARS BATS GO KABOOM! THREE HOMERUNS LIFT BEARS OVER BLUEFISH, 11-2

...The offense was the story. It all began in the top half of the third
inning when with one out, 2B Steve Hine drove a Joe Crawford (L, 0-1)
fastball deep over the right field fence for a solo homerun, his first of
the season. LF Jose Canseco followed that up by hitting his first homerun
of the season, a mammoth shot over the left field fence that hit ¾ of the
way up the façade of the new arena being built beyond that same left field
fence. The back-to-back homeruns gave the Bears the lead, 2-0....

=====
From the Newark Bears site:
LONG BALL HELPS BEARS OVERCOME 5-0 DEFICIT

NEWARK, NJ - The Newark Bears rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to beat the
Long Island Ducks for the second straight game. Thanks to home runs by both
Ozzie and Jose Canseco, Jim Leyritz and Alonzo Powell, the Bears were able
to improve their overall record to 5-3....

...The Bears would chip away at that lead in their half of the first. With
Lance Johnson on second, Ozzie Canseco took a 3-0 pitch by Jose Ramirez and
sent it into the left field net for his third home run of the season....

...A double by Ric Johnson scored Eduardo Reyes and Peto Ramirez. After
getting Ozzie Canseco to strike out to bring the Ducks within one out of
ending the inning, Jose Canseco hit a mammoth shot over the left field net
onto McCarter Highway for his second home run of the season. Leyritz
followed the Canseco shot with one of his own into the left field net,
marking the second time this season the Bears have hit back-to-back homers.
The Bears scored eight in the fourth and took a commanding 10-5 lead....

==========
From the AP:

...Twins general manager Terry Ryan was noncommittal on the possibility of
signing Vinny Castilla, released Friday by Tampa Bay, as a
designated hitter to fill in for the injured David Ortiz if Castilla clears
waivers. Ryan has said the Twins will not pursue Jose Canseco....

==========
From the The Chicago Times:

...The Sox recalled power-hitting infielder Jeff Liefer from Class AAA
Charlotte to replace Thomas on the roster. Williams said he is not
interested in acquiring a power hitter--such as Jose Canseco--and instead
will look to Harold Baines and Liefer to take up the slack immediately.