Hey everyone,

Jose was eligible to come off the DL last Friday, but as you probably know,
he still hasn't played in a game yet. Jose is hoping to be ready this week
(possibly as soon as tonight's game), but I wouldn't be surprised to see
him sit out a few more games. As much as I'd like to see him back in the
lineup, I'd rather wait and see him play when he's 100%, instead of rushing
things and not playing up to his capabilities.

I'll keep you posted...
Mark

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From the St. Petersburg Times:

MEDICAL UPDATE: Jose Canseco and Dave Eiland are eligible to come off the
disabled list this weekend, but it doesn't appear either will be ready.
Canseco, out with a heel injury, did well in a 70-swing batting practice at
the minor-league complex, but he still has to test his running over the
next several days. Rothschild has said Canseco won't be activated until he
is moving freely.

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From the St. Petersburg Times:

MEDICAL REPORT: It now appears that Jose Canseco won't come off the
disabled list until next week. Canseco, out with a heel injury, ran lightly
Wednesday at the minor-league training complex but will have to show he can
run hard and not have lingering aftereffects before being activated.

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From the Tampa Tribune:

Jose Canseco ran lightly Wednesday, but he does not know if he'll be ready
to come off the disabled list on Friday. ...

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From the Sporting News:
6/7

DH Jose Canseco is eligible to come off the DL June 9, but don't look for
it to happen. Canseco has been on the DL since May 25 with a strained left
heel. He did not even start hitting until June 6, when he took 70 swings.
Tampa Bay wants to make sure Canseco can run the bases effectively before
activating him, and he has not been able to run in workouts.

Canseco has had trouble running from first to third all season. Earlier, a
nagging quadriceps injury limited his running ability, and more recently,
it has been his heel. Prior to being placed on the DL, Canseco had also
been struggling terribly at the plate, and his timing has not been in sync
all season. . . .

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From the St. Petersburg Times:
Canseco healing, but still sitting
By John Romano, Marc Topkin
June 10, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- If the limp did not give him away, his destination surely
did. Jose Canseco moved slowly through the clubhouse Friday on his way, he
said, to get a cortisone shot.

The Devil Rays designated hitter was eligible to come off the disabled list
Friday, but his sore left heel will keep him on the bench indefinitely.

"I don't know what effect the cortisone is going to have on it," Canseco
said. "Hopefully it won't be too much longer."

Manager Larry Rothschild said Canseco would not be back before Tuesday and
Canseco said it could be longer.

"He's still not able to run comfortably on it. It's gotten better. It's
been narrowed to a smaller area, so it is healing," Rothschild said. "But
it's been slower than he anticipated, and I anticipated. Until he can get
on it and run, he's not going to be ready to play."

Canseco's injury was well-timed with the Rays playing a half-dozen
interleague games on the road without a designated hitter.

The Rays had good production from fill-in designated hitters before
interleague play, with a .406 average and eight RBI in 32 at-bats.

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From the St. Petersburg Times:

CANSECO BACK SOON?: Jose Canseco, on the disabled list since May 28 with a
strained left heel, used batting practice as a first step in what could be
an imminent return to Tampa Bay's lineup.

Canseco took a cortisone shot in the foot Friday, hit in the cage Sunday
and is expected to try to run Tuesday. Canseco said he hopes to play either
Tuesday or Wednesday against the Angels.

"I haven't run yet but I feel a lot better," said Canseco, who has seven
home runs and 20 RBI this season. "I'll try to run on it Tuesday and see
what happens. I'd like to get back to the situation where I can be
aggressive on the bases again. If they walk me I can make them pay for it."

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From the Sporting News:
6/11

Designated hitter Jose Canseco was eligible to come off the DL June 9, but
was not activated. Canseco has been out with soreness in his left heel, and
his progress has been slower than expected. The soreness has been reduced
to a smaller area, but the Devil Rays will not activate him until they are
convinced Canseco can run effectively.

Canseco has not been able to do so in workouts. At least the timing of the
injury was good because six of the games Canseco missed were interleague
games in NL parks, where the DH is not used. Once Canseco is activated and
can run, a new challenge will arise.

Before Canseco's injury he had been struggling terribly at the plate and
his timing was off. It will likely take some time before that returns. . . .

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From the St. Petersburg Times:

RAYS BITS: Designated hitter Jose Canseco, on the disabled list since May
28, could be back this week. He plans to test his sore heel before
tonight's game...

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From the Bradenton Herald:

Canseco update - Jose Canseco's strained left heel is improving. He
received a cortisone shot in the foot Friday, took batting practice before
Sunday's game and will try and run on it today.

Canseco said he would like to return this week, but Rothschild said that
won't happen until the designated hitter is completely healed.

"We've got to get rid of all those little aches and pains," Rothschild
said. "(Being able to run on it) one day is great, but he has to be able to
do it
on an everyday basis."