Hey Cansecoites...

Jose sure has been playing streaky baseball recently. In his own words,
"My batting average fluctuates more than the stock market." Beginning with
those two games he played in the OF against Milwaukee (after about a week
off around the All Star Break and during interleague play), Jose's numbers
have looked like this:

First 2 games: 6 ABs, .500 avg, 1 homer, 4 runs scored, 1 K
Next 6 games: 17 ABs, .235 avg, 0 homers, 1 RBI, 14 Ks (ouch)
Next 2 games: Benched
Next 2 games: 7 ABs, .714 avg, 1 homer, 3 RBI, 0 K
Last 2 games: 7 ABs, .000 avg, 3 Ks

That's through Sunday. The Sox were off yesterday, so hopefully the rest
will get Jose back on track just like it did the last two times.

Some of the news below is a little old now, but still good stuff. My
favorite is the "State of the Canseco Address" where Jose talks about his
autobiography. He goes so far as to say that without all the injuries he's
had, he might have hit "650, 700 home runs, easily, for a guy with my
ability, maybe heading for 800, 900 home runs." haha... Silly
Jose. Always the big talker. Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game.

There's also some discussion of what the Sox will do with Jose when Frank
Thomas recovers from his injury. Thomas says he would love to play with
Canseco, but I don't know if there will be room for both of
them. Hopefully Jose will finish the year strong and not have to go
through what he went through this year again. Surely SOME team out there
will realize his value. Guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

Take it easy,
Mark

==========
From the Daily Southtown:
Sox 8, Brewers 4: Canseco helps Sox over hump
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
By Joe Cowley

MILWAUKEE - Before Tuesday's game against Milwaukee, a frustrated Jose
Canseco all but pleaded with the White Sox to make him an everyday starter.
"If a team puts me in the outfield as an everyday player, I will accomplish
40-40 (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases) again - no doubt about it,"
Canseco said. "All I'm asking for is a chance to play every day. Just give
me a week."

It may not take that long for him to convince Sox management. In the last
two days alone, Canseco has turned some heads.

Starting in right field for the second straight game, the 37-year-old
slugger went 2-for-4 as the Sox beat the Brewers 8-4 before a crowd of
40,332 at Miller Park to complete a three-game sweep.

One of Canseco's hits was a monstrous 434-foot home run to left field in
the fourth inning, his fifth of the year. It left him 49 homers away from
the 500 mark for his career.

"Basically, that's (what I'm talking about)," Canseco said of his
performance. "I've always been that guy that's been asked to carry an
offense. I'm used to it because I've always been told, 'Jose, you're the
guy.' I accept it. But I need to play every day in order to do that."

Canseco didn't actually have to carry the Sox on Tuesday. His was one of
four homers hit by the Sox (46-45), who climbed over .500 for the first
time since their Opening Day win at Cleveland....

...The series concluded this season's interleague play for the Sox, meaning
that Canseco is likely to return to his role as designated hitter today.

"I'd like to be out in the field every day," Canseco said. "That way my
legs can warm up and I can steal more bases. But at this point, I'm just
happy to be playing."

==========
From the AP:
White Sox 8, Brewers 4
By ARNIE STAPLETON

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Jose Canseco was sad to leave Miller Park.

Not only did he hit a 434-foot solo homer in Chicago's 8-4 victory over the
Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, but the slugger's time in right field likely
ended with the White Sox's final interleague game.

"I'd like to be out in the field every day," Canseco said. "Also, for the
purpose of baserunning, my legs will be warm and I'll be able to steal more
bases. As a DH, it will be very difficult to steal bases."

Canseco, who has homered five times in eight games, needs one stolen base
to become the eighth player in major league history with 400 career home
runs and 200 career steals.

His fifth homer this season was the 451st of his career, moving him within
one of Carl Yastrzemski for 22nd on the career list.

While Canseco never seems to stop lobbying manager Jerry Manuel to play in
the field, he's not going to be greedy.

"I'm just happy I'm playing," said Canseco, who signed with the White Sox
on June 20 after playing in the independent Atlantic League following his
release from Anaheim in spring training.

Canseco went 3-for-6 in his two starts in right field at Miller Park.

"The whole idea was to give him some at-bats before we started back up the
American League play, regardless of what he did," Manuel said....

==========
From the Chicago Sun Times:

CANSECO SAGA: After two straight starts in right field, Jose Canseco was
back as the designated hitter, where Manuel said the veteran will stay.

Manuel says he isn't bothered by Canseco's recent requests to play in the
outfield and kidded about it before the game.

''What does Jose say today?'' Manuel said. ''Jose wants to play center
field, third base, shortstop--Jose can do it all. As long as he hits, we'll
leave [him at designated hitter].

''He has brought back a presence in our lineup. He still has a great deal
of respect in the major leagues.''

==========
From the Chicago Tribune:

End of story: Jose Canseco can pack away his glove for the year. Manager
Jerry Manuel said he doesn't expect to put Canseco back in the outfield now
that interleague play has ended and the Sox will have a DH for the
remainder of the season.

Canseco played back-to-back games in right field in Milwaukee and said he
could repeat his 40-40 season from 1988 (home runs and steals) if he played
outfield regularly.

"Was he on pace for 40-40 at Newark?" Manuel said with a grin, referring to
Canseco's stint with the independent Newark Bears.

Canseco had seven home runs and 10 steals there, which translates to 28
home runs and 40 steals over a 162-game schedule. Minor-league teams end
their seasons at the start of September and play far fewer games.

"As long as he hits every day we'll be fine with that," Manuel said.
"Unless there's an injury [to an outfielder], we're not going to have him
doing something he hasn't done for 10 years."

As for Canseco's claim he can run a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, Manuel
joked that he may have to race Canseco to determine its validity.

"I'll get in shape," Manuel said. "I have someone in my house who can
outrun Jose."

Manuel's daughter, Angela, is one of the top female sprinters in the United
States and will compete in the World Championships next month.

Asked where Canseco would play when DH Frank Thomas returns next year,
Manuel facetiously replied: "Center field. He'll get a chance for his 40-40."

==========
From the Chicago Sun Times:

...Meanwhile, Jose Canseco has replaced Thomas (Frank Thomas) as the Sox'
designated hitter. Will there be enough room for the two next season?

''I'd love it,'' Thomas said. ''I've always wanted to play with Jose. We'd
be a heck of a lineup.''...

==========
From the Chicago Tribune:
Thomas & Canseco?

Is there room enough on the White Sox next year for both Thomas and Jose
Canseco? Thomas said Thursday he'd love for the Sox to re-sign Canseco,
even though they're both designated hitters who need to play every day.

"I'd love it," Thomas said. "I've always wanted him to play for us."

Who would be moved from the DH slot?

"Who knows?" Thomas said. "Hopefully I can come back 100 percent and play
some first base. That's one thing that Jerry [Manuel] is showing now. With
all the injuries, we have some flexibility in the lineup."

Thomas said he expects to be ready for spring training, but there's a good
chance he won't be fully healed from his triceps injury until mid-April,
meaning the Sox would have to start the 2002 season without him.

Canseco's return is a long shot, especially because of the advisability of
allowing Thomas to play first after the triceps injury.

==========
From the Daily Southtown:

...Thomas did say he was proud of the way the team was playing without him.
He was also glad to see slugger Jose Canseco added to the team.

"Jose can definitely carry a ballclub," Thomas said.

Thomas expressed hope that he and Canseco will be in the lineup next year,
even though both are primarily designated hitters.

"(Manager) Jerry (Manuel) has showed this year that he can move guys around
the lineup," Thomas said. "I've always wanted to play with Jose. It would
be a heck of a lineup to have."

==========
From the Boston Herald:
Canseco writes new chapter
by Michael Silverman
Saturday, July 21, 2001

CHICAGO - Baseball will survive without Jose Canseco playing the game, but
it sure is going to be dull without him.

With very little prodding yesterday at Comiskey Park, the White Sox'
37-year-old designated hitter delivered a State of Canseco Address before
the Red Sox' 7-2 win.

It hit a few high notes, like how he could have wound up hitting 800 or 900
home runs if he had stayed healthy, and a few wistful ones, as he spoke of
how misunderstood he is. He wants to write a book about his life and career
- ``Dare the Truth'' is one working title - because he is so amazed by what
he has and has not done.

Until that hits the bookshelves, Canseco still has home runs to hit. He has
hit five home runs in his first 21 games with Chicago after going 0-for-4
last night and barring catastrophic injury, he reasonably expects to reach
the 500-home run plateau by the end of next season.

It is a plateau within reach and one way too low given his abilities.

``I've said it in the past, a guy with my ability, really 500 is not a big
number at all, it's just the fact that I've missed so much time,'' said
Canseco. ``I've missed over five years of my career. When you ask me a
question about what my stats would be if I were healthy, it could be 650,
700 home runs, easily, for a guy with my ability, maybe heading for 800,
900 home runs. I'm only 37, and I'm physically as strong as I was 10 years
ago.''

This spring, Canseco was dealt the unflattering blow of being released in
spring training by the power-hungry Angels because he had not hit any home
runs.

Canseco then had to spend 41 games this spring with the Newark Bears of the
independent Atlantic League. The experience certainly registered loudly on
Canseco's culture shock scale but there was no ego-bruising involved.

``Someone asked me if it was a humbling experience, I said it's a humbling
experience if I'd done something wrong and I deserved it but I didn't,''
said Canseco. ``(Being with the White Sox is) definitely a lot different, a
lot better. I'm back up to the major league level and I'm excited about it.
I'm healthy and able to help the team.''

Canseco believes his personal case history is, shall we say, unique.

``If I reach 500 home runs, I will probably be the only man in history who
has reached 500, has the chance to be in the Hall of Fame and has gone
through what I have gone through in baseball,'' Canseco said.

``I've been probably the best player in the world, the worst player in the
world, disregarded, nobody wanted me to play for them, sent down to the
independent league, rumors, this and that, that and this and I will
probably be the only individual where no one has ever known who I really
am. It will be interesting. Read the book.''

==========
From the NJ Star-Ledger:
Cansecos say Bears owe them money
07/25/01
BY MIKE BARBER

The Newark Bears may have helped put Jose Canseco back in the majors, but
the White Sox slugger says the team still owes him something -- about $10,000.

He and his twin brother, Ozzie, who left the Bears on June 25, sent a
letter to the Atlantic League's chief executive officer, Frank Boulton, on
Friday, outlining their grievances, Cansecos' attorney said. Louis Hillman
said the Bears and team owner Rick Cerone owe the Cansecos money for travel
expenses incurred while the two were playing for the team this season.

"The agreement was they would pay for lodging. They didn't," Hillman said.
"The contract says all claims must go through Mr. Boulton, who acts as an
arbitrator."

Hillman said Ozzie Canseco is owed approximately $2,000.

"They promised to take care of us and they didn't," Jose Canseco said.

Bears general manager Victor Rojas said he was unaware of the complaint.

"I don't want to comment on something I know nothing about," he said during
last night's game against the Somerset Patriots. Rojas said Cerone was
unavailable for comment.

Boulton said he had not received the letter, but that such a matter would
go to Joe Klein, executive director of the Atlantic League.

"If a club has a disagreement with a player or a player says the team owes
him money, it would go through the league office," Boulton said. "You send
a letter to the league office and they look into it."

Hillman said he expects Boulton to attempt to negotiate a settlement in the
next two weeks. If Boulton can't broker a deal, Hillman said the Cansecos
are prepared to take Cerone and the Bears to court.

"If you make a gentleman's agreement, you should honor it as an owner,"
Ozzie Canseco said. "Promises were thrown out the door."

The team failed to reimburse the Cansecos for their travel to and from
spring training, and did not pay for Ozzie's cost in traveling home when he
left the team, Hillman said.

"That's the way Rick treats the players," Jose said. "He knew all about
this. He basically said, 'That's the way it is.' There were a lot of lies
that were told."

Jose signed with the White Sox on June 20, after playing 41 games for the
Bears. Ozzie asked for a trade, then left the team. Ozzie said Cerone's
treatment of his brother and him were the reason he walked away. The
Cansecos said the financial arrangements had been made with Cerone and
then-GM Tom Cetnar, who left the team during the season. Cetnar, a former
captain in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, was convicted for stealing
money earmarked for undercover drug busts. When Cetnar left, Cerone refused
to honor the agreements, the Cansecos said.

"I think it shows a total lack of class, and a total lack of respect,"
Ozzie said. "Rick Cerone used Tom Cetnar as the scapegoat. He figured if he
fires Cetnar, (Cerone) won't be held responsible. The owner has the final
say. To fire the GM and say, 'I wash my hands of this,' is not right."

==========
From the Chicago Sun:

CANSECO UPDATE: Designated hitter Jose Canseco, who had 15 strikeouts in
his previous seven games, didn't start for the second consecutive game. But
Manuel said Canseco, 37, likely will return to the lineup tonight.

==========
From the Chicago Tribune:

Canseco sits: Jose Canseco said he has to play every day to stay sharp, but
Manuel isn't buying it. Canseco sat for the second straight game as Paul
Konerko was inserted into the DH slot, and Jeff Liefer played first. Since
the All-Star break, Canseco has 15 strikeouts in 29 at-bats over a
seven-game stretch, including three strikeouts Monday night in Cleveland.

"I think the heat got to Jose," Manuel said.

When Manuel needed a pinch-hitter for Chris Singleton against John Rocker
in the eighth, he called on rookie Aaron Rowand instead of Canseco.

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

Jose Canseco finally figured out Charles Nagy, going 3-for-3 with a
three-run homer off Cleveland's starter to lead the Chicago White Sox to a
5-3 victory Thursday night over the Indians.

Canseco came in batting just .089 (4-for-45) with two homers and 13
strikeouts against Nagy (4-4) before hitting an RBI single in the second
and his sixth homer in the fifth to make it 5-1.

The shot off Nagy was also Canseco's 452nd career homer, tying him with
Carl Yastrzemski for 22nd on baseball's career list....

...Notes: Canseco's homer also tied him with Lave Cross (1,371) for 59th
place on the career RBI list...

==========
From the Daily Southtown:

...The bulk of the Sox offense was provided by designated hitter Jose Canseco.

Canseco went 3-for-3 with three RBI, those coming on a three-run homer in
the fifth off Charles Nagy (4-4).

Glover was given a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Canseco and Paul Konerko
singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Canseco came home on
Chris Singleton's sacrifice fly.

The Sox took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Magglio Ordonez doubled and Canseco
followed with a base hit, with Ordonez scoring when the ball got away from
Indians catcher Tim Laker.

After the Indians tallied a run in their half of the fourth, the Sox took a
5-1 advantage in the fifth. Jose Valentin singled and moved to third on
Ordonez's double, setting the stage for Canseco, who homered to the
left-field seats.

It was Canseco's 452nd career homer, tying him with Carl Yastrzemski for
22nd place on the all-time list.

Considering he came into the game with a career .089 batting average
against Nagy, Canseco's perfect night was, to him, a stunner.

"I can't figure this game out," Canseco said. "My batting average
fluctuates more than the stock market. Half the time I don't even know
who's pitching. I try to keep it simple."

The Indians scored twice in the seventh and once in the ninth to make
things interesting.

The Sox are in Boston for a three-game series, while Baldwin will pitch for
the Dodgers on Sunday.

"A lot of guys are going to miss him," Canseco said. "He kept them loose.
Who knows? More guys could be traded. I could be traded."


===========================
From the AP:
Canseco HR beats Indians

CLEVELAND -- Jose Canseco was unaware of his dreadful career stats against
Charles Nagy. He didn't know about the .089 batting average or his 13
strikeouts in 45 at-bats. And, Canseco didn't care.

"Half the time I don't even know who's pitching," he said. "I just try to
keep it real simple."

Canseco finally solved Nagy, going 3 for 3 with a three-run homer off
Cleveland's starter to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 victory Thursday
night over the Indians.

Canseco came in just 4 for 45 with two homers lifetime against Nagy before
hitting a run-scoring single in the second and his sixth homer in the fifth
to make it 5-1.

The shot off Nagy also was Canseco's 452nd career homer, tying him with
Carl Yastrzemski for 22nd on baseball's career list.

After striking out 15 times in his past seven games, Canseco was rested
Wednesday night by White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, who thought the slugger
was worn out by the recent hot weather.

Canseco said the time off helped.

==========
From the Chicago Sun Times:

''He (Saberhagen) had a lot of pop on his fastball and he was very sneaky
at times,'' said designated hitter Jose Canseco, who went 2-for-4 overall
but 0-for-2 off Saberhagen.