What next?

The good news is Jose's back seems to be holding up fine. The bad news is
that he's not playing again because of a different injury... He strained a
ligament near his little finger. Sounds like he's going to miss at least a
few more games (he didn't play this weekend).

If anyone out there is interested in PSA graded Canseco cards, I can get
you a few. I have 2 1986 Donruss PSA 9's for sale ($175 each) and 1 1986
Donruss Rookies PSA 8 ($30). You can have all 3 cards for $365, including
shipping. Let me know if you're interested.

Talk to you later...
Mark

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From the Sporting News:

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME

Don't think for a minute that Jose Canseco no longer digs the long ball or
anything, but he has turned into something of a singles hitter since
returning from the disabled list August 20.

Canseco is 12-for-35 with eight RBIs since his return. All of the hits
singles, several to right field. His timing is still off and his swing is
late.

Manager Larry Rothschild says Canseco is getting quicker with the bat. But
he also says Canseco has been smart in making the best of the situation,
that he is aware of his limitations and is being smart about what he is
doing at the plate.

For all the swagger and chatter, Canseco has impressed the team with his
knowledge of hitting.

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From the AP:

Notes: Tampa Bay DH Jose Canseco could miss up to five days with a sore
ligament near the little finger on his right hand.

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Canseco to rest with hand injury
By Brant James, Marc Topkin
September 5, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG -- The good news is that the injury has nothing to do with
his surgically repaired back. The bad news is that Jose Canseco could be
out of action for up to five days because of a sore ligament in his right
hand.

Canseco first incurred the injury, which is near his pinkie, in batting
practice during rehabilitation after the July 11 back surgery. It has
gotten progressively worse, and is at least part of the reason he has not
hit a home run in the 11 games he has played since coming back.

"It's bothered his swing, and you can see it," manager Larry Rothschild
said. "We need to address that, and hopefully get rid of it. I don't know
how long it's going to take. It could be up to five days. Hopefully, it's
not, but I want him to get where he's pain-free and I think you'll see him
hit some balls out of the park again."

Canseco has played in 11 of the team's 15 games since coming off the
disabled list Aug. 20. He is 12-for-37 with nine RBI, but all of the hits
have been singles.

"It's the one concern I had with Jose coming back; with a back injury
you're pretty much laid up as far as anything else you can do. The back is
fine, it's just that he has to get everything else in shape, too,"
Rothschild said. "Sometimes you have problems, and that's what happened
here."

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

Notes: Tampa Bay designated hitter Jose Canseco missed his second straight
game with a sore ligament in his right hand. "He said it felt a little bit
better," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "It's going to take a few
days. It's not going to go away over night."

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:

FINGER WOES: Designated hitter Jose Canseco, still resting a sprained
ligament near his right middle finger, did not take batting practice again
Sunday.

Canseco said the finger, which he injured on a rehab assignment, was "a
little better," but isn't sure when he'll return.

Devil Rays trainer Jamie Reed said hot and cold packs and rest are the
prescribed treatment. "He'll take a couple of more days off and then we'll
test it," Reed said. "Right now it hurts him to grip the bat."

Canseco, who missed 35 games after having back surgery on July 11, is
12-for-37 with nine RBI since returning but has not homered since July 8.

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

Notes: Tampa Bay DH Jose Canseco, who missed his third straight game with a
sore ligament in his right hand, may resume swinging a bat in the next few
days.

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Players use day of rest to help heal wounds
By Bruce Lowitt
September 7, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG -- It's questionable whether outfielder Randy Winn's
sprained right ankle will heal in time for Wednesday's game against
Detroit, and even less likely that designated hitter Jose Canseco's right
hand will allow him to bat.

Winn was injured colliding with the centerfield wall in the fourth inning
Sunday.

"It's a good thing we have the off day (today)," manager Larry Rothschild
said. "(Winn) came in pretty sore. The ankle probably got a little stiff
overnight. Sometimes you come in the next day and you're fine. Sometimes
you come in and you have trouble walking. He was hobbling pretty good." He
said Winn would receive more treatment today "and hopefully he'll be ready
(Wednesday)."

Canseco's hand has improved, but he still hasn't swung the bat, Rothschild
said. "We're going to let it quiet down and with the off day hopefully he
can get back to swinging the bat Wednesday and the pain will ease off. Just
from not swinging the bat he says it feels better. "This time of the year,
we're at the end of a long season, so days off don't hurt."


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Mark Petrillo
mark@...
Canseconet.com - The Jose Canseco Site
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