Hey Cansecoites...

Sorry I didn't get this out to you sooner - Jose was interviewed on CNBC
last week and there was an 8 minute video clip of him and the V.P. of the
Canseco Financial Group on the CNBC web site. Looks like it's gone now. I
think this whole investment thing is cool, but sometimes I wish Jose would
concentrate more on baseball for the next couple of years and worry about
this business later. Oh, well...

Jose is supposed to resume hitting today. He's eligible to come off the DL
Friday. I'm hoping this time off not only will have healed Jose's nagging
injuries, but hopefully he'll be able to get his timing back. I miss
watching Jose crush the ball like he was one year ago. For the latest Jose
news, see below...

If anyone in the Tampa Bay area would like to buy 4 tickets to the June 17
game against the Rangers, email Andrew Randall at JoseBarry@... for
more info. The seats are behind the plate in Section 208, Row F.... Face
value is $120, but Andrew will take the best offer.

Once in a while, I stumble upon really deals (most of which will benefit
both you and me). Here are two things I've found recently that you might
be interested in...

1. How would you like to get $5 magazine subscriptions? I'm not
kidding. You can subscribe to over 100 different magazines for only $5
each - typically the price of just ONE issue! Titles include Car and
Driver, Golf Magazine, Maxim, Sport and many, many more. For a complete
list of titles, simply send a blank email to magazines-mcp@...
and the complete list and ordering instructions will be sent to you. Check
it out!

2. If you're considering getting a new ISP, try Earthlink and get a $40
credit for signing up. I have been very happy with Earthlink since they
merged with MindSpring (my former provider). If you call 1-800-EARTHLINK
between now and June 30, 2000 and tell them you were referred by me
(canseco@...), we will each receive a $40 credit. You can't beat that.

Here's hoping Jose will be back to his old self this weekend...

Take it easy,
Mark

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Do Canseco, McGriff have distance for 500?
By Marc Topkin
June 4, 2000

NEW YORK -- For a team that hasn't had much to celebrate during its
two-plus seasons, the Devil Rays have been party to some impressive
accomplishments.

The biggest, of course, was Wade Boggs' 3,000th career hit in August. Jose
Canseco was a Devil Ray when he hit his 400th homer in April last year and
Fred McGriff did the same on Friday night.

Also, the Rays have been the opponents for Cal Ripken's career 400th homer
(September off Rolando Arrojo) and Roger Clemens' 3,000th strikeout (Randy
Winn on July 5, 1998).

So what's next?

Canseco and McGriff have a shot at 500 homers, but longevity may be the
biggest hurdle.

Canseco has 438 homers. He is 35 and on the disabled list again, but if he
can get back soon and stay healthy he should be able to challenge 500 by
the end of next season.

But that's assuming he can return to his old form, when he was one of the
most prolific home run hitters around. Since his July 11 back surgery,
Canseco has turned into something of a singles hitter.

Consider that before the surgery, Canseco hit one homer per 14.85 at-bats
(428 homers in 6,357). Since the operation, he has hit 10 in 272 at-bats,
one per 27.2 at-bats.

Certainly, he has been slowed by other injuries as well during that time.
But if he doesn't pick up the pace, the road to 500 is going to be a long
journey.

McGriff joked Friday that his goal was to play longer than Canseco. If he
wants to get to 500, and grab the free pass to the Hall of Fame that comes
with it, he may have to.

McGriff developed a reputation for remarkable consistency during the late
1980s/early '90s when he ran off seven straight seasons of 30-plus home runs.

But he has topped 30 only once since 1994, and that was last year when he
hit 32 on the way to getting a contract extension with the Rays. Even in
his prime he never hit more than 37 in a season, which means his progress
toward 500 is going to take a while.

"I've got a shot," McGriff said. "I've just got to stay healthy and stay
consistent."

McGriff, who will be 37 in October, is on pace for 31 homers this season,
assuming his playing time doesn't diminish too much as the Rays look at
youngsters such as Steve Cox in the second half.

Even then, McGriff could need three more seasons after this one to get to
500. He has a no-trade deal with the Rays through 2001, and there is a team
option for 2002. At some point, he and the team likely will have to decide
if he'd rather retire as a Devil Ray or go somewhere else to chase 500.

Canseco may not even finish this season with the Rays. If the move to the
National League, which may not be as likely as it once seemed, goes
through, he will be traded. But even if they stay in the AL, they may
prefer to use some combination of Cox, McGriff and others in the DH slot.

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From the St. Petersburg Times:

MEDICAL REPORT: Jose Canseco will be eligible to come off the disabled list
Friday, but Rothschild said he won't be activated until he can show he is
able to move around freely. "I don't want him hobbling when he comes back,"
Rothschild said. ...

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From the Tampa Tribune:

Canseco ready for BP: Jose Canseco, whose strained left heel landed him on
the 15-day disabled list on May 28 - retroactive to May 25 - has been
resting the heel in hopes he'll return without being hobbled. Manager Larry
Rothschild reported Monday that Canseco will begin hitting today at the
Raymond A. Naimoli Complex.

Canseco is eligible to come off the DL on Friday. How he does in workouts
will determine if he's ready to play.