Hey everyone,

Bad news. As you've probably noticed by now, Canseconet.com has been down
for almost three full days (and counting). Apparently, the server my site
lives on is having some serious problems. They say they are working on it,
but I'm not holding my breath. Not only is my site down, but I am unable
to receive email at mark@... (so don't bother emailing me until
my site is back up).

Ok, that was the bad news. The good news is I decided to buy a dedicated
server for my sites, so hopefully this won't be a regular problem. The new
server is up and running right now, but I'm still configuring things and
waiting for Network Solutions to actually process the transfer
request. Hopefully everything will be fully functional within a few days.

Also, this recent downtime and lack of email has allowed me to get through
all of the 2000 Jose Canseco Home Run Contest entries. When my site comes
back up, all of this year's predictions will be out there for everyone to
see. There were over 700 entries this year. I have also started updating
the Cansecometer again every day, so be sure to start your day at
Canseconet.com to see how Jose did the night before.

Below you'll find the latest Jose news. No homers yet, but he is batting
.333 (three singles). I've also included last Friday's chat dialog that
was on ESPN.com. It's really nothing very exciting. Same old stuff -
"Stay healthy."

Lastly, I can get my hands on an amazing piece of Jose memorabilia for
you. Jose signed 20 game used balls from the Big League Challenge. The
Retail Price is a whopping $599, but if you want one, I can get them for
you for $499. I know that's a lot of money (a little too rich for my
blood, unfortunately), but keep in mind there are only 20 of these in the
world, and they are balls Jose hit a long way. They are all official BLC
baseballs, and are inscribed "Champ" under his signature. I'm working on
getting a scan for my site soon. If you are interested, let me know (you
can email me at canseco@... until my site is back up).

Again, I apologize for the recent downtime. Hopefully things will be back
to normal soon.

Here's hoping Jose goes deep tonight...
Mark

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

EDUCATION POWER: Given 10 swings during a pregame demonstration, Jose
Canseco hit four home runs to raise $3,750 for Florida Power's Score One
for Education charity.

Florida Power has developed the program to raise money for scholarships and
mentors for low-income youth.

Florida Power will donate an escalating amount of money for each home run
hit by the Devil Rays in a game. The first homer in a game is worth $250,
followed by $500 for the second, $1,000 for the third, $2,000 for the
fourth and $4,000 for a fifth.

==========
From the Tampa Tribune:

Canseco swings for charity: Before Friday's spring finale at Florida Power
Park, Jose Canseco ``waggled the wood'' for charity, taking 10 swings
to see how many home runs he could hit. According to the arrangement with
Florida Power, each of Canseco's home runs would escalate their donation to
``Take Stock in Children,'' an innovative partnership providing college
scholarships, mentors and hope to deserving youths from low- income families.

And Canseco produced, hitting four, which brought a $3,750 donation.

==========
From the Tampa Tribune:
Luring fans a four-gone conclusion
By Martin Fennelly

ST. PETERSBURG - Jose Canseco was talking about the home run one day this
spring training. ``Say you're eating lobster every day,'' Canseco said,
rubbing one of his cartoon-sized biceps. ``You're going to get tired of it,
even if it's the best tasting food in the world.''
Uh, this really is about the home run. Jose rounded third and headed to his
point. ``The human species constantly needs to be stimulated,'' said
Canseco, who is living proof. Uh, this really is about the home run.

``What do people want when they come to the ballpark?'' Canseco asked.
``What do they want to see that day? They're going to say `I want to be
entertained.' What does that make us?''

Three guesses.

Going .... going .... gone.

``Entertainers.''

Jose rested his case.

Then he grabbed his bat.

Meet the Devil Rays.

THE BIGGEST, AND maybe baddest, sideshow in baseball this season will take
place under the big top in St. Petersburg. They might have to gum their
food, but Canseco, Fred McGriff, Greg Vaughn and Vinny Castilla are about
to strike a blow for seniors everywhere.

Several blows, in fact. A hundred blows or more. Maybe 150. Dare we say
160? Ever since the beginning of mankind - (ITAL) Homer sapiens (END ITAL)
- the human being has needed stimulation. And the home run is as good a way
as any.

The Devil Rays are counting on sluggers to fill seats or the win column or
both. I wouldn't bet on either happening. Canseco was on a 60-homer pace
halfway through last season and it didn't do anything to help attendance or
stop the losing.

Still, now there are four, four sluggers, four chances for people on this
side of the bay to think St. Petersburg really isn't that far away. If any
of the four could pitch or play middle infield, we'd print playoff tickets.

Not everyone understands a club this young deciding to turn this old, wit
aging lumber, no less. ``I have only two questions about the Rays,'' one
general manger asked. ``Who are they? What do they want to be?''

Nevertheless, no one is not interested. That is how it always is when it
comes to guys hitting home runs. It's been that way since Babe Ruth put
down his cigars and hot dogs and all his other stimulations long enough to
swing from the heels, like America itself.

The Devil Rays of 2000 are about power, and that's good enough for lots of
people. When's the last time you heard about a sick little kid in a
hospital asking a ballplayer to hit a single for him?

JOSE CANSECO ISN'T quite sure homers will mean big crowds. But he knows
what home runs mean all by themselves. He thought about Mark McGwire home
runs. Even Canseco, muscle upon muscle, is reduced to a puddle of reverent
awe when he thinks of Mac's homers.

``There's a fascination,'' he said.

He thought about his first home run. It came in a youth league. ``That's
where it all starts, the fascination,'' Canseco said. Canseco beamed at the
moment like it was yesterday. But even his nightmare circles the bases in
his head. The homer gives, the homer takes away.

In October 1988, the same night Canseco hit a grand slam in his first World
Series game, he was the right fielder when a Los Angeles Dodgers pinch
hitter hobbled to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. A's
closer Dennis Eckersley threw. Kirk Gibson swung.

``Gibby swings with one hand,'' Canseco said. Jose Canseco, entertainer,
broke into a gimpy trot in the Rays clubhouse, pumping his fist, just like
Gibby. Canseco's teammates looked over from their card game. They smiled at
Jose. And maybe they smiled at that October night 12 years ago. Nobody
forgets a finish like that. A home run like that. Ask anybody in the species.

==========
From the Tampa Tribune:
Cleanup Crew
By Bob Chick

ST. PETERSBURG - At one time, baseball was easier to figure out. Math
wizards had no need to apply. Statistical geniuses could stay home.
Computer freaks were a couple of generations away. Baseball's most common
denominator was the home run.

Purists could concern themselves with the deep meaning of earned-run
average. Box score connoisseurs might explain why a team with a .983
fielding percentage was a world better than a team with .981.

The guy with the 25-cent scorecard, 50-cent hot dog and 35-cent cold drink
didn't need an advanced degree in baseball science.

If your team hit a bunch of home runs, you were going to win a lot of
games. If you hit more home runs than anyone in the league, you might make
a run for the pennant.

Figures compiled by The Tampa Tribune make a pretty good case for the long
ball.

In the 1950s, league home run champions won the pennant or finished second
16 out a possible 20 times.

But it just wasn't the 1950s.

Flush out 50 years of statistics and the league home run champion averaged
87.4 victories a season. Forget about factoring a change in length of
season from 154 games to 162 in 1962 (the AL played 162 a year earlier).
Dismiss the strike years of 1981, '94 and '95 that knocked out a total of
110 games.

Take every season as 162 games. A higher-math calling would inflate the
87.2 to at least 89. Maybe 90. For our purposes we won't.

Weigh-in one more heavyweight.

In that half-century of figures, teams that were on top in home runs had
winning records 79 of those 100 times. The Chicago White Sox (1974) and the
Philadelphia Phillies (1984) played .500 ball, but we won't pad the
statistics with those numbers, either.

Point to Boston, the real nonentity. The Red Sox hammered a league-best 165
home runs in 1965, but managed only a 62-100 record and ninth place in the
American League. Kansas City was another awful fit: 166 homers, 59-94 and
seventh in an eight-team league in 1957.

Boston and Kansas City are warning lights that flash when expectations run
amok.

Clear the way and you might be left with Tampa Bay. Bolstered by high
hopes, the Devil Rays could flirt with the American League home run
championship. Grant them 87.4 victories, and as bizarre as it seems, they
could be clawing for a spot in the postseason.

Consider this: The muscle teams in the American League are not quite so
pumped up. Seattle lost 48 home runs when Ken Griffey Jr. left for
Cincinnati. Juan Gonzalez subtracted 39 home runs from the Texas attack and
Toronto hopes Raul Mondesi will offset the 42 home runs lost when Shawn
Green was traded to the Dodgers.

Yet to think Tampa Bay can leap from 145 home runs a year ago to the league
lead is a huge step of faith. Seattle (244), Oakland (235), Texas (230),
Detroit (212), Toronto (212) and Baltimore (203) were members of the 200
Home Run Club in 1999.

A DECADE AGO(1989), California led the American League with 145 home runs
(the Rays' total in 1999), lowest since Boston hit 134 in 1976.

One forecaster who looked at Tampa Bay's new-found muscle of Greg Vaughn
and Vinny Castilla and then paired it with Jose Canseco and Fred McGriff
scoffed when he reported the Rays look more like a slow-pitch softball team.

Vaughn scoffed at the scoffer.

``If we are a slow-pitch softball team,'' said Vaughn, ``we are a helluva
slow-pitch softball team.''

In a way, any attempt to minimize the home run strips it of its romance and
its lure. It is why fans show up for batting practice and why the home
run-hitting contest the day before the All-Star game draws a significant crowd.

Canseco has another view.

He gives the home run a save.

Baseball was gasping to regain its image after a strike-blown season in
1994 carried into '95. The home run battle between Mark McGwire and Sammy
Sosa brought back interest, Canseco said.

``It didn't happen when someone pitched a perfect game or someone went
4-for-4. It happened because of the fascination of the home run and the
home run record.''

The question for Tampa Bay is whether home runs will put more fannies in
the seats at Tropicana and improve the team's record.

Forecasters have been impressed with the Rays' off-season moves to shore up
hitting and bolster pitching. A belabored starting staff has been given a
boost with the additions of Juan Guzman and Steve Trachsel, but it won't
elevate the Rays' place in the standings, critics say.

That again is fodder for the dirt-tough Vaughn.

``What should it matter if the guy on Channel 10 or Channel 57 says we
aren't going to be any good? Give me a pencil and let me show them how bad
their stories are. Let them go out and face a Randy Johnson or a Roger
Clemens. I could care less what other people say. If I did, I wouldn't be
in this situation, or coming from a situation or an area I lived in. I
wouldn't have a college education or a college degree. So why am I going to
start listening to how others tell us we are going to finish?

``They talk about the Yankees and a wild card. I'd be a fool or I should
get another job if I didn't think we could beat those guys. They say I'm
crazy, but I've been crazy all my life.

``At San Diego, they said we couldn't beat Houston or Atlanta and we wound
up in the World Series. Last year at Cincinnati, we had no market, no
pitching, no this and no that and we got into a wild-card playoff game.

``We have to believe we can win. We don't have to believe what the quote
unquote baseball experts have to say. Half of them never put on a
jockstrap. So what do I care what they say? My job is to get the people in
this dugout and in this clubhouse to believe we are going to win. And
that's why I came here, to win. And I intend to win.

``When the season is going along and we are playing well, people will say,
`I always liked Tampa Bay.' Then they'll jump on the bandwagon. That's why
I don't care too much for the media.''

In a few paragraphs, Vaughn spoke volumes - probably more than his 95 home
runs the past two seasons and more about his motivation and commitment to
the team.

Those are intangibles. They won't fit on a chart. Statistics can't touch them.

If it were batting statistics alone, Kansas City would have been an equal
last year to New York (both teams hit .282) and Boston had the better
pitching staff with a 4.00 ERA compared to the Yankees' 4.13.

``The Yankees have a great 25-man roster,'' McGriff said. ``It isn't about
the starting eight or nine. They have players on their bench that could
start elsewhere. They are a great team. We have to work toward getting to
be a great team. We should be more competitive this year, but we have work
to do and even Chuck LaMar [general manager] would say that. You never can
say this is the ultimate. We progressed a little bit last year and we will
progress more this year. We constantly have to keep building until we get
all the pieces.

``This team ain't about four guys. If this team is going to win we have to
do it as a team.''

Possibly the bar has been raised too high, yet spring is the time that
happens. Reality for most teams settles in too quickly - even with all those
home runs expected to shower on Tampa Bay.

THIS CLEANUP CREW of Canseco, 35, McGriff, 36, Vaughn, 34, and Castilla,
32, figures to turn in an average of 40 home runs apiece, or 160 overall.
Look at it another way. That would mean at least one of the four would have
to homer every night....

...CANSECO THINKS SOME home runs are more significant than others.

The longer the home run, the better.

``The perfect example for me is going fishing in a lake and an ocean,''
Canseco said. ``In a lake, you are kinda limited to the size of the fish. In
the ocean, you don't know how big a fish you are going to come up with.
When you've got those big power hitters at bat, no one leaves the stands.
You ask why? It is a rarity for someone to hit the ball 500-plus feet. If
someone has the ability to do so, you don't want to miss it.''

McGwire is such a guy, says Canseco.

The Baseball Almanac doesn't place a lot of stock into monster home runs.

It claims Mickey Mantle's 565-foot blast in Washington in 1953 went a
still-spectacular 510 feet. Dave Kingman's 630-foot homer was closer to 530
feet, and Canseco's home run into the fifth level at the SkyDome in an
American League playoff game in 1989 went 484.

Epic home runs, all of them.

Put Frank Howard, senior advisor for baseball operations for the Rays, on
the list. He reached the upper deck at RFK Stadium in Washington 24 times.

Since 1995, baseball has a computerized system of measuring home runs.

There is no computerized system to measure singles or anything else in a
ballpark. Just home runs.

That's why there's a buzz about this Tampa Bay lineup.

Just don't call it a novelty.

McGriff, Canseco, Castilla and Vaughn could stress out a pitcher or two.
They are the latest Fearless Foursome.

In 1953, the Dodgers' Duke Snider (42), Roy Campanella (41), Gil Hodges
(31) and Carl Furillo (21) led the team to 208 home runs.

Throw in a Fivesome and 203 homers in 1982 by Milwaukee's Gorman Thomas
(39), Ben Oglivie (34), Cecil Cooper (32), Robin Yount (29) and Ted Simmons
(23).

Or a Sixsome of the Yankees in 1961 of Roger Maris (61), Mickey Mantle
(54), Moose Skowron (28), Yogi Berra (22), Elston Howard (21) and Johnny
Blanchard (21). The team produced 240 home runs.

And a Sevensome (to coin a word) of the Baltimore Orioles of 1996 when
Brady Anderson (50), Rafael Palmeiro (39), Bobby Bonilla (28), Cal Ripken
(26), Chris Hoiles (25), Eddie Murray (22) and Roberto Alomar (22)
highlighted a team that hit 257 home runs.

No one says a whole lot about a onesome.

That would have been McGriff, who led the Rays with 19 home runs during
their inaugural season of 1998.

``I didn't get a lot of help that year,'' said McGriff. ``Nobody said,
`Fred needs help.' But I said `Fred needs help' and now Fred has got some
help.''

McGriff broke into a grin. He was enjoying the moment.

``I've been blessed. I've usually been surrounded by home run hitters with
the Braves and with Toronto. On an expansion team you've got to see if guys
can play or not. It was tough being the only power hitter. [Paul Sorrento
hit 17 that year]. But you've got to remember the Yankees didn't have
anyone who hit 30 home runs last season.''

Which tightens the circle to Vaughn.

``I am driven by winning, especially when you are not expected to win,'' he
said. ``Let's take a negative and make it a positive. Let's prove people
wrong. If we lose a couple of games, let's not drop our heads.

``We have the best job in the world. I love my job. I love to play. How
come you can't go out there three hours a day and bust your butt? It is not
asking a whole lot. Three hours out of a 24-hour day, give everything you
have and get paid lots of money to do it. That is a very small price to
pay. The only thing you can control is your effort.''

It probably was so much easier when you could count the home runs at the
conclusion of a season and get a pretty good idea who won and who lost.

Maybe it will work this year with Tampa Bay.

Perhaps this Cleanup Crew will clean up.

==========
From the LA Times (about Shawn Green):

...Jose Canseco mentored Green while with the Blue Jays during the '98
season. The first 40-40 player in baseball history, Canseco said Green
possesses the talent to join the club.

"He will get better because he's still learning the game," Canseco said.
"He definitely tapped into his ability early, and he's using a lot of
his ability now, but I'm sure as he gets a little older and stronger he'll
be able to accomplish a lot more."

==========
From the NY Post:
Here's What to Look for in the New Season
By Joel Sherman

...Shane Spencer will not be able to handle the full-time Yankee DH role
and the team will have a veteran currently on another team doing that job
no later than the July 31 trade deadline. Here is a hunch it is Jose
Canseco. The Devil Rays are probably going to be no good again this year
despite their big payroll boost and they probably are going to the National
League next season and have no need for a DH. George Steinbrenner has
always been enamored with the power and fan appeal of Canseco....

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

...Clearly, the Rays enter this season with more talent and more potential
than ever. Just go around the lineup position by position. "I
think we're a much, much more improved ballclub," Canseco said. "We look a
whole lot better on paper. Now we need to apply it also."

==========
From ESPN.com:

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays season all hinges on staying healthy, says
oft-injured slugger Jose Canseco.

Coming off back surgery himself, Canseco told users in chat he likes this
year's powerful lineup if everyone can stay off the injured list. It didn't
help that two of his pitchers hit the DL shortly before his chat, but
Canseco said he is optimistic it could be a very exciting year in Tampa Bay.

An edited transcript from Canseco's March 31 chat follows.

Canseco already has three spring home runs.

Brett Schoenwetter: How do you feel going into the season, especially
knowing that you have Vinny Castilla, Greg Vaughn, and "The Crime Dog"
hitting with you in the lineup?

Jose Canseco: It is a going to be a very exciting year. Not all the power
pressure will be on me and Freddy. Pitchers will have to make quality
pitches with all the power in the lineup.

Scott15: As a player, does it bother you that Ken Griffey Jr. took less
money to go to Cincinnati, or do you respect the fact he is in the situation
that makes him happiest?

Jose Canseco: Overall in this market, with Griffey being one of the best in
the world, it brings the market down a little. But we don't know the inside
information with his contract.

Tom: If healthy, can you make a run at former teammate Mark McGwire's 70
home runs?

Jose Canseco: I don't know. Last year at the All-Star break I had 31 and I
thought that was pretty good. But if I do that in the second half, I only
have 62. So it would be very tough. But I don't think about numbers, I just
think about staying healthy.

Scott15: Do you plan on stealing more bases this year? You ran really well
in Toronto in 1998 but you didn't attempt many last year.

Canseco: My main concern is staying healthy. Stealing bases puts you in a
situation where there is a chance to get hurt. But I will take it one game
at a time.

Frank Martin: How does it feel to be finally healthy after a number of
years of being on the DL for numerous injuries with your back and etc.?

Jose Canseco: I am definitely healthy but I can't predict the future.
Hopefully I can stay this way and help out the team.

Andy: How have you prepared in the offseason? Are you relatively healthy
and expecting a good year.

Jose Canseco: I come into camp in great shape every year. But injuries are
hard to predict. This offseason it was the same workout as always.

Joby Wills: I'm a Devil Ray fan and I'm excited about the team this year.
Do you think you guys have enough pitching to win?

Jose Canseco: I don't think any team has enough pitching. Right off the bat
we have two injured pitchers in Wilson Alvarez and Juan Guzman. So it will
be hard to tell right now.

We have some young arms mixed with some veteran leadership. So I think once
we get healthy we will do well.

Jeff Torren: How do you feel about the season ahead?

Jose Canseco: If we can stay healthy and get some luck going our way and
every one does their part, it should be a very exciting season.

Paul Carney: Do you still have animosity towards Dan Duquette?

Jose Canseco: None whatsoever.

Ari: What pitcher is the hardest for you to hit?

Jose Canseco: When you are not seeing the ball well and slumping, every
pitcher gives you trouble. But when you are on it, nobody gives me trouble.

RCox67: How do you feel about everybody saying that the Devil Rays are too old?

Jose Canseco: We do have quite a few veterans who have had great years in
the past. But many of them had great years last year. But we are indeed
full of experience.

That is all the time I have for today. Sorry I couldn't get to more
questions. I hope we get lots of fan support this season in Tampa Bay. Take
care everyone.

CANSECO'S FILE
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays designated hitter is entering his second season
with the Devil Rays after coming to the team last season as a free agent.

Last season, Canseco played in 113 games and hit .279 with 34 home runs and
95 RBI. He became the first player in history to hit 30-plus homers for
four different teams.

The 15-year veteran is one of the games all-time great sluggers. He has 413
career home runs, hitting 40 or more home runs three different times and 30
or more in eight different seasons. On top of that he also has 1,309 RBI
and 196 stolen bases. In 1988, he became the first player in baseball
history to hit over 40 home runs and steal 40 bases. That year he became
only the seventh unanimous selection for the AL's Most Valuable Player Award.

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