Jose Canseco: A-Rod got off hook

[Southpaw]

Yes, I believe he did, so far.

Jose Canseco: A-Rod got off hook

BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, December 14th 2007, 4:00 AM


Jose Canseco leaves the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York on Thursday.

More than 80 players were named in one capacity or another in the Mitchell Report, but Jose Canseco was certain there would be at least one more name in the document: Alex Rodriguez.

Canseco, who was one of the players named by Sen. George Mitchell in the report, told the Fox Business Channel he was surprised not to see A-Rod's name in the report.

"All I can say is the Mitchell Report is incomplete," Canseco said. "I could not believe that (Rodriguez's) name was not in the report."

Efforts to reach Rodriguez on Thursday night were unsuccessful. He did appear on the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric," where he said of the report: "These are guys that I play with. They're my teammates, friends, people that I respect, people that I play with every day. If anything comes of this, (I) would be extremely disappointed. I mean it would be a huge black eye on the game of baseball."

A-Rod wasn't the only player missing, according to Canseco, who tried to attend Mitchell's press conference at the Grand Hyatt on Thursday, only to be turned away by MLB officials since he was not a member of the media.

"It's laughable," Canseco said of the list, which included such stars as Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds and Miguel Tejada. "I heard the report, I saw the list of players and there are definitely a lot of players missing. I don't know what they accomplished or what they are trying to prove."

Rodriguez made news earlier in the day, officially signing his new 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees. During an 11 a.m. conference call to announce the deal, reporters were instructed not to ask questions about the Mitchell Report, which had not yet been released.

In Canseco's 2005 book, "Juiced," he discussed A-Rod several times, saying the perception that Rodriguez was "the clean boy" was false, pointing to his politically correct personality with reporters as being insincere.

Canseco wrote of Rodriguez: "He's not the saint he's perceived to be. Eventually the media will find something nasty to write about Alex Rodriguez, because trust me, they're looking for it."

Rodriguez has had his share of controversy on and off the field, but he has never been linked to any drug-related issues.

At no point in his book did Canseco indicate that A-Rod was a steroid user, a charge he had no trouble making about several other players. Most of those charges have been borne out as true.

In late July, Canseco told a Boston radio station that he had "other stuff" on A-Rod, information he would reveal in his next book, "Vindicated," although he wouldn't say whether it was steroid-related.

"Wait and see," Canseco told WEEI.

A-Rod had no comment about Canseco's words at the time, although Joe Torre and Johnny Damon both had harsh words for Canseco, coming to Rodriguez's defense.

Canseco's latest comments could be an indication that more drug-related revelations will be made in his follow-up book, which has not yet been sold to a publisher and does not have a release date.

"It's a slap on the hand," Canseco said of the Mitchell Report. "The report proved nothing, it just proved what we already knew."

 

[WildBB]

A conspicuous absense, to say the least! Want to hear another: Mike Schmidt P SF Giants.

 

[DWKB]

A conspicuous absense, to say the least! Want to hear another: Mike Schmidt P SF Giants.

Your "Mike" should be "Jason" I'm pretty sure. Oh, and "Giants" should be "Dodgers" too.

 

[AZZenny]

Well, whaddya know. Jose wasn't blowing smoke that whole time. I'd say he now has to be given credibility by all the naysayers (many of whom are on the yes, very incomplete, list).

 

[devilfan02]

Well, whaddya know. Jose wasn't blowing smoke that whole time. I'd say he now has to be given credibility by all the naysayers (many of whom are on the yes, very incomplete, list).

Because of him and his book, baseball is finally getting clean

He's done 100X more than Bud Selig has

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

When there's some evidence tying A-Rod to steroids then maybe I'll get behind such an accusation. Hell, even this testimony by Clemens' trainer probably would not stand up in the court of law. This whole thing is another stupid attempt by MLB to advertise to the public that they're doing something about the integrity of the game.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled witch hunt.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Because of him and his book, baseball is finally getting clean

Do you want to see a timeline? The steroid thing was a huge issue way before Canseco's book. This line if thought is like saying the FBI never took the Mafia seriously until somebody ratted them out.

 

[devilfan02]

Do you want to see a timeline? The steroid thing was a huge issue way before Canseco's book. This line if thought is like saying the FBI never took the Mafia seriously until somebody ratted them out.

When did baseball, at Congress' demands, finally get involved????? When Canseco wrote "Juiced." His book single handedly started the cleanup process in baseball

The entire world knew steroids were rampant but the players, owners, and especially Selig turned a blind eye to the issue.

 

[Rivercard]

The entire world knew steroids were rampant but the players, owners, and especially Selig turned a blind eye to the issue.

Steroids have been very good for baseball.

Are fans spoiled now? Will the game be as exciting anymore for modern day fans without these juiced up players?

 

[Southpaw]

Steroids have been very good for baseball.

Are fans spoiled now? Will the game be as exciting anymore for modern day fans without these juiced up players?

Bring the fences in.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

When did baseball, at Congress' demands, finally get involved????? When Canseco wrote "Juiced." His book single handedly started the cleanup process in baseball

The entire world knew steroids were rampant but the players, owners, and especially Selig turned a blind eye to the issue.

Revisionist history at it's finest. Canseco's book was released in early 2005.

http://thesteroidera.blogspot.com/2006/08/baseballs-steroid-era-timeline.html

- MLB began steroid testing (albeit with light penalties) before the 2004 season, minor league drug testing began in 2001.

- The US Senate told Fehr and Selig that drug testing must be mandatory as part of the new CBA in 2002.

- In March of 2004, the Senate Commerce Committee chewed out Selig and Fehr which essentially began the legislative process

- The BALCO trial took place in 2003

You're referring to the dog and pony show Congress put on with Schiling, Canseco, McGwire, and Palmeiro after the release of the book. That production was pretty much the cherry on top of the sundae, the ball had been rolling for years on the steroid issue.

 

[TBaslim]

Because of him and his book, baseball is finally getting clean

He's done 100X more than Bud Selig has

Perhaps, but he is also a huge part of why steroids became so rampant in baseball.

Trace the timelines and players known to be involved, and large parts point to Canseco as the connection. It's like those graphics that trace the transmission of a deadly virus or something.

He talked it up and got it going in various clubhouses since the late 80s: Oakland, Texas, Tampa, etc. A bunch of the names now out there trace back to the old Bash Brother.

 

[WildBB]

- MLB began steroid testing (albeit with light penalties) before the 2004 season, minor league drug testing began in 2001.

- The US Senate told Fehr and Selig that drug testing must be mandatory as part of the new CBA in 2002.

- In March of 2004, the Senate Commerce Committee chewed out Selig and Fehr which essentially began the legislative process

you can say that again. By that time (2001) it's use was rampant and uncontrollable. Until last year , what name players got nabbed?
The colusion from the top including unions turned this ugly. The guys at the top should know better. But after so many strikes/walkouts they wanted the HOME RUN DERBY in regular games. Now they want to just pleade ignorance? Uh Uh!