Let's put it this way - Jose's not going to win the HR Derby tomorrow night...

Hopefully you've heard by now (I hate to be the bearer of bad news), but
Jose had back surgery today, and is going to miss at least the next 4-6
weeks, and possibly the remainder of the season. The reports are somewhat
conflicting about when he might return, but I'm guessing it will be at
least a month before he starts working out and then another couple weeks
before he's back in the lineup. Let's just hope he's back before September.

I have a bunch of good articles to send you, but I'll save them for later
this week. Here are the details of the surgery, etc...

So much for 50 (let alone 60) homers. This sucks...
Mark

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From the AP:
Back injury sidelines Canseco indefinitely
Posted July 11, 1999

MIAMI -- Jose Canseco, picked for the All-Star game for the first time
since 1992, had back surgery Sunday to repair a herniated disc and will
miss Tuesday's game.

Canseco, who leads the AL with 31 homers and is batting .276 with 69 RBI,
left Friday's game in the eighth inning with a stiff back and had an MRI
Saturday.

Tampa Bay's designated hitter was examined Sunday at Pro Player Stadium by
back specialist Dr. Tom Tolli of St. Petersburg. Canseco then went to a
nearby hospital and was operated on by Tolli and Dr. Gary Giesseke.

"We'll know something more at the end of the game," Tampa manager Larry
Rothschild said. "Obviously, he'll miss the All-Star game."

The six-time All-Star also missed the game because of injuries in 1989 and
1992. American League manager Joe Torre picked Baltimore's Harold Baines to
replace him.

"There's a distinct possibility he will play this year," Rothschild said.
"We've had a lot of injuries this season, but obviously this is a big one.
There's nothing we can do about it."

Canseco, who turned 35 on July 2, missed 12 games in June and July last
year with similar back spasms but didn't miss a start following the
All-Star break. He had two separate stints on the DL due to back ailments
in 1997. In
1996, Canseco underwent back surgery to remove fragments and also ruptured
a disc.

In 1988, Canseco became the first member of the 40-40 club, hitting 40
homers and stealing 40 bases in the same season. He has 428 career homers,
24th on the career list.

==========
From CBS Sportsline:
Canseco expected to miss at least two months after back surgery

MIAMI -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays designated hitter Jose Canseco, whose
star-crossed career has been beset by injuries, will have another stellar
season shortened by surgery.

Canseco, who leads the American League with 31 homers and was selected as a
starter for Tuesday's All-Star Game, is undergoing surgery Sunday to repair
a herniated disc in his back.

The procedure is being performed by Devil Rays back specialist Dr. Tom
Tolli and Dr. Gary Giesseke at a Miami hospital. No timetable for Canseco's
return has been established, but he is expected to miss at least two months
and perhaps the rest of the season. An MRI performed late Saturday night in
Miami revealed the herniated disc.

"We've had it over and over and over with key pieces of this team," said
Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild. "It's going to change the way we play
the game. We can't sit back and wait for the three-run homer. I've got a
good mix with (Bubba) Trammell, (Paul) Sorrento and (Herbert) Perry, and
we'll see how it goes. We're going to win our share of games, certainly no
one is going to feel sorry for us."

Signed as a free agent this off-season, Canseco provided a deep threat in
the heart of the lineup for Tampa Bay, which scored only 620 runs in its
inaugural season. The Devil Rays already have scored 438 runs and hit 89
homers heading into their final game before the All-Star break. They hit
111 homers all of last season.

Canseco, 35, was eighth in the AL with 69 RBI but also had a league-leading
97 strikeouts to go with a .276 batting average. He became the 29th player
in major league history to reach 400 homers earlier this season and is 24th
on the all-time list with 428.

Despite being a six-time All-Star, this will mark the third time he will
miss the game due to injury. Canseco did not play in the 1986 All-Star
game, missed the 1989 contest due to a broken hand and sat out the 1992
All-Star Game with a sore right shoulder.

A 13-year veteran, Canseco came up through the Oakland Athletics'
organization and was ALR ookie of the Year in 1986, when he hit 33 homers
and drove in 117 runs. He was baseball's first "40-40" player in 1988,
hitting 42 homers and stealing 40 bases as he led Oakland to an AL pennant.

Canseco signed with the Devil Rays after a resurgent year in Toronto, where
he hit 46 homers and drove in 107 runs last season in 151 games.

==========
From ESPN:
Canseco out at least 4 weeks

MIAMI -- Jose Canseco of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, picked for the All-Star
game for the first time since 1992, had back surgery Sunday to repair a
herniated disc and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Canseco, who leads the American League with 31 homers, will not be able to
resume baseball workouts for at least four weeks, Dr. Tom Tolli said after
the 90-minute operation. Tolli and Dr. Gary Giesseke removed two fragments
from Canseco's lower right back.

"We expect a full recovery," Tolli following the Devil Rays' 3-2 loss at
Miami. "Jose had the option of non-surgical care but the amount of pain he
was in was the deciding factor. He wanted it done as soon as possible."

Canseco, Tampa Bay's designated hitter, left Friday's game in the eighth
inning with intense back pain. He had an MRI that revealed a severely
compressed nerve was causing weakness in the toes of his right foot.

"If he gets through it healthy and OK at the end, then I accept it," Tampa
Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "I'd rather have him here playing and
swinging the bat. ... Jose's not easy to replace, but we've done OK the
last three weeks when he wasn't swinging the bat great."

Canseco, a six-time All-Star, also missed the game because of injuries in
1989 and 1992. American League manager Joe Torre picked Baltimore's Harold
Baines to replace him.

"We've had a lot of injuries this season, but obviously this is a big one,"
Rothschild said. "There's nothing we can do about it."

Canseco, who turned 35 on July 2, missed 12 games in June and July last
year with similar back spasms but didn't miss a start following the
All-Star break. He easily won the fan voting to start at designated hitter.

"It was a big surprise," Devil Rays closer Roberto Hernandez said. "He's in
the starting lineup on the first day (of the series), and the second day
he's not here. On the third day, he's getting operated on. He's a tough guy
to replace."

Canseco had two stints on the DL due to back ailments in 1997. In 1996,
Canseco had back surgery to remove fragments and repair a ruptured disc.
That operation was on Canseco's left side.

In 1988, Canseco became the first member of the 40-40 club, hitting 40
homers and stealing 40 bases in the same season. He has 428 career homers,
24th on the all-time list.

==========
From FSN:
Canseco Not Going to All-Star Game
July 11, 1999
By Carole Jaquis

Three short words sum it all up: Jose won't play.

Just like that, the 1999 All-Stars will be a little less bright without
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jose Canseco in the AL line-up. After receiving
1,664,282 votes to make him the chosen Designated Hitter for the annual
baseball classic to take place this week, the Devil Rays slugger has been
scratched from the position, and thus withdrawing from the possible coveted
title that comes in the Home Run Contest. As of this morning, Canseco was
only one home (31) run behind Sosa (32) in the major leagues this season.

Persistent back problems have plagued Canseco in recent seasons, and on
Saturday an MRI revealed the culprit. Today (Sunday, July 11) Canseco
underwent back surgery for a herniated disc. He had missed Saturday's game
against the Marlins in Miami, although he had played earlier in the week.
Possibly contributing to this situation, Canseco had played the left
outfield position in Friday's game to maintain his spot in the line-up per
NL rules. In a similar scenario, he had to leave a game last month in
Atlanta, working in the outfield and subsequently missed the next game due
to back stiffness.

After discomfort was visible on his face during one of his at-bats this
week, he left Friday's game with what was called "minor stiffness".
However, more severe back spasms occurred at home on Friday night, and on
Saturday he was unable to play. The Marlin's team doctor briefly examined
Canseco on Saturday, but offered no specific diagnosis. Devil Rays trainer
Jamie Reed explained, "He's had back spasms before, and we battled through
it. It's one of those things where we'll get a much better read in the
morning and see where we are then."

This morning's "read" told the story. St. Petersburg specialist Dr. Tom
Tolli flew in (to Miami) to determine Canseco's condition early today.
Confirming the MRI's diagnostic outcome of a herniated disc in the lower
back, arthroscopic surgery was performed at a local Miami hospital this
morning. Official reports on the outcome of the surgery and the prognosis /
recuperation period has not been revealed as of the moment of this writing,
although an unconfirmed statement indicates that Canseco himself has said
he will be back in a month. He previously had back surgery for a ruptured
disc. Canseco received a series of cortisone shots during spring training
to provide relief, and had experienced minimal trouble thus far, playing in
82 of the Rays' 87 games.

With Canseco having to withdraw from the All-Star game, the Devil Rays'
only other player to go to Fenway will be Roberto Hernandez, being named on
Wednesday as a reserve pitcher.

==========
Mark Petrillo
mark@...
Canseconet.com - The Jose Canseco Site
Get FREE web based email for life at http://www.canseconet.com

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