Baseball Guru
07-05-2001, 10:45 PM
White Sox' Canseco Wants to Play
by RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jose Canseco grabbed his glove Thursday evening and headed to the outfield during batting practice to shag fly balls. It's something he'd like to do for real during a game.
The Chicago White Sox's new designated hitter wants to play ball. Not once in a while, but every day, even when there's an interleague game that would force him to become a position player.
''There's a buzz going out there that I can't play the outfield. I don't understand it,'' the 37-year-old Canseco said. ''I guess nobody thinks I can play the outfield. I guess I'm going to have to join a softball team to play the outfield.''
Canseco said he had no trouble playing center field while appearing in 41 games for the independent Atlantic League's Newark Bears before signing with the White Sox on June 20. He started 73 games in the outfield for Toronto in 1998 but just five with the New York Yankees last season.
Released by Anaheim in spring training, Canseco is still shaking off the rust and readjusting to major league pitching. Chicago signed him, looking for a DH with some punch after losing Frank Thomas for the season because of a triceps injury.
Canseco, with his seventh major league team, hit his 448th career homer Wednesday night against Minnesota after not starting the previous two games.
And sitting is not what he came to Chicago to do.
He called his part-time status with the Yankees last year ''the most frustrating time of my career.''
And being a pinch-hitter when he's not in the lineup, he says, is ''impossible.''
''I'm a power hitter and I need my rhythm,'' he said. And if he doesn't play in interleague games, ''it will be a real setback.''
''I feel sorry for the guys who are pinch-hitters. It's so hard you wouldn't believe it.''
Manager Jerry Manuel said he hadn't heard from Canseco about his need to play every day. Manuel, with tongue-in-cheek, said that maybe Canseco would like to go to the minors when the White Sox play six straight games in NL parks after the All-Star break. That way he could get in his at-bats.
''I'm sure everyone would like to play every night and get their timing,'' Manuel said, adding the White Sox have other hitters, including left-handed swinging Jeff Liefer, he needs to find at-bats for.
''He (Canseco) has made no issue with me about it,'' Manuel said. ''If he has a problem, my office door is always wide open.''
Canseco reiterated he's happy to have this chance with the White Sox and is not trying to cause trouble.
''I'm not telling anybody what to do,'' he said. ''I'm happy to be here. I love to play every day. I want to play every day.''
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"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
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by RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jose Canseco grabbed his glove Thursday evening and headed to the outfield during batting practice to shag fly balls. It's something he'd like to do for real during a game.
The Chicago White Sox's new designated hitter wants to play ball. Not once in a while, but every day, even when there's an interleague game that would force him to become a position player.
''There's a buzz going out there that I can't play the outfield. I don't understand it,'' the 37-year-old Canseco said. ''I guess nobody thinks I can play the outfield. I guess I'm going to have to join a softball team to play the outfield.''
Canseco said he had no trouble playing center field while appearing in 41 games for the independent Atlantic League's Newark Bears before signing with the White Sox on June 20. He started 73 games in the outfield for Toronto in 1998 but just five with the New York Yankees last season.
Released by Anaheim in spring training, Canseco is still shaking off the rust and readjusting to major league pitching. Chicago signed him, looking for a DH with some punch after losing Frank Thomas for the season because of a triceps injury.
Canseco, with his seventh major league team, hit his 448th career homer Wednesday night against Minnesota after not starting the previous two games.
And sitting is not what he came to Chicago to do.
He called his part-time status with the Yankees last year ''the most frustrating time of my career.''
And being a pinch-hitter when he's not in the lineup, he says, is ''impossible.''
''I'm a power hitter and I need my rhythm,'' he said. And if he doesn't play in interleague games, ''it will be a real setback.''
''I feel sorry for the guys who are pinch-hitters. It's so hard you wouldn't believe it.''
Manager Jerry Manuel said he hadn't heard from Canseco about his need to play every day. Manuel, with tongue-in-cheek, said that maybe Canseco would like to go to the minors when the White Sox play six straight games in NL parks after the All-Star break. That way he could get in his at-bats.
''I'm sure everyone would like to play every night and get their timing,'' Manuel said, adding the White Sox have other hitters, including left-handed swinging Jeff Liefer, he needs to find at-bats for.
''He (Canseco) has made no issue with me about it,'' Manuel said. ''If he has a problem, my office door is always wide open.''
Canseco reiterated he's happy to have this chance with the White Sox and is not trying to cause trouble.
''I'm not telling anybody what to do,'' he said. ''I'm happy to be here. I love to play every day. I want to play every day.''
------------------
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
LETS GO METS!!!
HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!