Hey Cansecoites,

The first Spring Training game has started, but it's not a baseball
game. Those of you who are lifelong Canseco fans like me know how to play
this game. It's a waiting game - waiting to see when Jose will actually
show up for Spring Training. He's usually the last player to report to his
respective team's training camp every year. Hopefully Jose will roll in
sometime this weekend.

It's no big deal, if you ask me. He always shows up before the mandatory
report date (3/1, this year), and it doesn't seem to cause him any
setbacks... Jose was late reporting last year, and that was his best start
ever - he hit 31 homers before his All Star break back surgery. Let's just
hope Jose can play in 150 or more game this year. If he does, I'm sure
he'll put up the big numbers we all know he's capable of.

I got my pictures back from the home run derby, and there are quite a few
good ones in there. I'll scan the best of the bunch when I get home next
weekend and add them to Canseconet.com.

Canseco Collectors, take note: I'm in the process of working out a deal
with "Total Sports Concepts" that will allow me to sell authentic Jose
Canseco autographed memorabilia from Canseconet.com. TSC is the company
that has the exclusive rights to sell Canseco merchandise. I will soon be
able to sell Jose Canseco autographed bats, balls and more from my site at
LOWER than retail prices. I'll let you know when everything is worked out
- probably sometime next week.

Take it easy,
Mark

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From the St. Petersburg Times:
Canseco question: When will he report?
By Marc Topkin, John Romano
February 23, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Will he or won't he?

The big question today will be whether Jose Canseco reports to training
camp with the rest of the position players.
Canseco historically is at least a few days late, and technically doesn't
have to be here until the March 1 mandatory reporting date. While
most speculation has him coming in over the weekend, there was some talk in
the Rays camp Tuesday that he would make an appearance as soon as today.

"He'll be here (today) or Thursday," said minor-league outfielder Alex
Sanchez, who, like Canseco, lives in South Florida.

Officially, the Rays say they hope he will be here. But they're prepared if
he doesn't show as well. His name is not listed in today's hitting groups,
though manager Larry Rothschild has suggested Canseco may be on a separate
training program designed to keep his back healthy.

"I've got no reports," Rothschild said. "You guys probably know more than I
do."

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From the AP::::
Canseco no-show for first workout

There are two things the Tampa Bay Devil Rays can count on from Jose
Canseco - mammoth home runs and a late arrival to spring training.

The 35-year-old slugger, who hit 34 homers and drove in 95 runs in 113
games last season, missed the day of full-squad workouts on Wednesday,
though manager Larry Rothschild wasn't alarmed.

Veterans have until the March 1 mandatory reporting date before they're
officially late.

``It doesn't surprise me,'' Rothschild said, adding that ``it would be nice
if everyone was here.''

Canseco missed the first two days of camp after signing with the Devil Rays
as a free agent in 1999 and frequently has arrived late for camps during a
14-year career that includes stints with the Oakland Athletics, Texas
Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

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From the St. Petersburg Times:
Canseco plans Monday arrival
By John Romano and Marc Topkin
February 24, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- So who had Monday in the Canseco pool?

To no one's surprise, the Devil Rays' All-Star designated hitter missed the
opening of spring training Wednesday and plans to arrive Monday, according
to his agent.

"He has a few personal matters to wrap up," Javier Ortiz said. "He plans to
travel (from Miami) on Sunday and be there for workouts on Monday. At least
that's the target date."

The Rays had all their pitchers, catchers and position players on
Wednesday, but none of their Joses.

Along with Canseco, rightfielder Jose Guillen was a no-show. Guillen was
having trouble obtaining a visa in the Dominican Republic, a problem that
caused him to miss the first 11 days of spring training with the Pirates
last year.

"I don't think we're headed toward a situation like he went though last
year with Pittsburgh," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "We expect him
here in the next day or two."

The Rays were unsure of when to expect Canseco, but that is not unusual.
Canseco has made it a careerlong habit of showing up several days after
requested. By players' association rules, Canseco does not have to be in
camp until Wednesday.

Canseco's schedule was derailed by his appearance (and victory) at a home
run hitting contest in Las Vegas and a day devoted to Dan Marino's charity
golf tournament in Miami.

"He put some of his personal matters aside to make those appearances and
now he's trying to catch up," Ortiz said. "The projection is to travel
there Sunday, but it could be sooner."

Since Canseco is not expected to play in the field and follows his own
workout schedule because of his history of back problems, the Rays were not
overly concerned about his tardiness.

"I wish I could look you in the eye and tell you it slowed him down in the
first half of last season, but he had 31 home runs at All-Star break,"
LaMar said. "We're not condoning it, we wish he was here. But we had a
great first day and he'll add to that when he gets here."

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From PSX:

...The Rays expect 68 of their 69 players to be on hand for Wednesday's
first full-squad workout. When they get to 69 will be a matter of time --
Canseco time. Jose Canseco has made a career out of being late to spring
training, and the Rays don't anticipate anything different. With all they
money they have invested in this season, their priority is having Canseco
ready on Opening Day and in the lineup for 162 games....

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