Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
June 30, 2006
Canseco Returns

I just received a press release from Golden League Baseball, an Independent League in California.

The Golden Baseball League announced today that former American League Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Home Run Champion Jose Canseco has agreed to contract terms with the league. He will join the San Diego Surf Dawgs beginning Monday, July 3rd and will play in the game that night at 7:05 PM versus the Chico Outlaws in Chico, CA.

A press conference is scheduled for Monday, July 3rd at 2:00 PM at Nettleton Stadium, located on the Chico State Campus in Chico, California.

Canseco will have a dual role with the Surf Dawgs as he will become an every day Designated Hitter for the team, and will showcase his knuckleball as member of the team's pitching staff.

I suspect the fans will not treat Jose kindly. The press release does address cheating:

A longtime sports and pop culture icon, Canseco's notoriety raised to record heights in 2005 with the publication of his autobiographical best seller "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big" that detailed steroid use in professional baseball. Now weighing a sleek 230 pounds, down almost 30 pounds from his playing days, he has agreed to be subjected to the GBL's tough drug testing policy that immediately expels any players found using steroids or illegal drugs.

Last season nine players, out of over 200 tested, were terminated from the league for illegal drug use. "Jose will be treated consistent with all of our players regarding drug testing," added Outcalt.

Of course, Jose would never use HGH, or anything else that's not detectable.


Posted by David Pinto at 07:59 AM | Independent Leagues | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Sweet. The Surf Dawgs will be back in town next weekend. I'm there.

Posted by: Geoff Young at June 30, 2006 10:15 AM

As far as I'm concerned, the GBL should turn itself into a sort-of WWF (WWE? Whatever it's called now) of baseball. Encourage the drug use. Get 400 pound sluggers with 72" biceps knocking the ball 750 feet. Do country-wide tours. Fireworks, opening bands, trash talking, Jose Canseco. Pay-per-view. I'd be there in a heartbeat.

Posted by: Wells at June 30, 2006 11:57 AM

I would think the fans of the GBL will latch onto Canseco and love him up and down the lineup.

Why not?

He's not playing Major League Baseball, so there's no reason for fans not to embrace his abilities, or former abilities, as it may be.

Posted by: Jay at June 30, 2006 02:52 PM

Is Rickey still with the Surf Dawgs, too?

Posted by: Adam Villani at June 30, 2006 04:46 PM

jose will be DH and pitcher? does that even make sense?
i thought the DH hit INSTEAD of the pitcher...

and when did jose learn how to throw a knuckleball?

Posted by: tony flynn at July 1, 2006 01:58 PM
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