Canseco Turning Heads Again
Jose Canseco is wowing ‘em again. Already this spring Canseco has shown his glorious power and speed, the ingredients that made him the first 40 homer-40 steal man a decade ago and created the expectations that he has never fulfilled since.
People around the Blue Jays are talking a much bigger game than he is now. The string of injuries that derailed his career seems to have humbled him. The swagger is not quite so pronounced.
No longer baseball’s biggest attraction or its highest-paid performer, Canseco appears to have accepted his new lot as a costeffective and oft-questioned curiosity. The first positive sign was that he reported on time.
“He’s like a kid again,” said new Jays manager Tim Johnson. “He used to come the first of March.”
The all-pitch, no-hit Blue Jays need the Canseco they see now. Potentially, he brings much bang for the buck. By making the Opening Day roster he guarantees himself $750,000, almost the pauper category by baseball standards.
In the spring opener, facing Twins pitcher Frankie Rodriguez, Canseco slammed a double through 30-mph winds that hit the 400-foot sign in centerfield. Later, Canseco tagged up from third to score on a pop fly caught by second baseman Todd Walker. “I’m probably the fastest 245-pound guy in baseball,” he said, allowing himself one small boast.
After he homered off Phillies ace Curt Schilling in the second game, the big talk gained steam. General manager Gord Ash said, “I don’t see why he can’t hit 30 home runs.”
Speaking about whether 500 at-bats are possible, Canseco quipped, “It’s like a mutual fund. You have to go on past performance. I’m probably done by the All-Star break.”
Rookies battle for center
This much is certain: The Florida Marlins’ center fielder on opening day will be a 22-year-old, left-handed-hitting rookie.
But which one?
Mark Kotsay and Todd Dunwoody rank among the top prospects in baseball, and on a rebuilding team with plenty of competition for roster spots, their spring-training duel may be the most compelling.
The Marlins are counting on Kotsay or Dunwoody to replace former Gold Glove winner Devon White, who was traded to Arizona.
“They’re both can’t-miss guys, in my opinion,” manager Jim Leyland said. “That’s a pretty good compliment from me, because I don’t like to put people in the Hall of Fame before they play a game.”
The stakes are high, because Leyland said the runner-up in the battle for the job will likely be sent to Triple-A Charlotte.
Widger signs four-year deal
The Montreal Expos signed catcher Chris Widger to a four-year contract.
The deal also includes an option for the 2002 season. Terms were not announced.
Widger, 26, hit .234 with 20 doubles, seven homers and 37 RBIs in his first full season with the Expos last year.
He played in 91 games after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners with pitchers Matt Wagner and Trey Moore for pitcher Jeff Fassero in October 1996.