Can't Keep A Good Canseco Down

Jose Canseco is more than an amazing steroid-barbecue host, he's also an exceptional extortionist author. His new book Indicted Vindicated is due out on April 1st, one day after the Yankees open up against the Blue Jays. The book promises to enlighten baseball fans, including “revelations about Alex Rodriguez,... Mike Piazza and other members of the New York Yankees.”

This title is embargoed, and Simon Spotlight is not giving out information until Canseco appears on Nightline on Friday, March 28. Like Canseco’s career and reputation, the book has taken a beating on its way to publication. It was shopped extensively before finally being picked up by Penguin/Berkley in late December 2007. Shortly thereafter, former SI sportswriter Don Yaeger, who had been hired to co-write the book, dropped out of the project, saying, “There’s no meat on the bones.” He was referring specifically, he says, to the allegations about steroid use by Yankee Alex Rodriguez. “I don’t think there’s a book there,” Yaeger told the New York Daily News. “I don’t think he’s got what he claims to have, certainly doesn’t have what he claims to have on A-Rod.”

Less than a month later, Berkley dropped the project, and it was picked up by Simon Spotlight. PW asked Jen Bergstrom, v-p/publisher of Simon Spotlight Entertainment, why she decided to publish Vindicated. “The same reason I decide to publish any book,” she says. “I started reading it, and I couldn’t put it down. I devoured it in one sitting.” Asked if she was troubled that Berkley had dropped the project so quickly, Bergstrom says, “Not at all. They’re a fantastic publisher. Obviously, I wasn’t privy to their reasons for not wanting to move forward, but publishing is a very subjective business.” Yaeger’s comment about there being “no meat on the bones” didn’t bother her either. “Don Yaeger didn’t read what I read,” Bergstrom says.

Yaeger's reaction, along with Canseco's failed efforts to blackmail Magglio Ordonez are all sane people need when pondering whether the Juiced sequel was written for content or cache. [Or in this case, a desperate need for attention and cash]

Jose Canseco is one honorable juicer. Via Rotoworld, the New York Times reports Canseco told Magglio Ordonez he would be excluded from Jose's new book if the Tigers outfielder offered a substantial investment in an upcoming Canseco roid binge film project.

"Four people in baseball confirmed that referrals were made from Major League Baseball to the FBI regarding Canseco’s actions. The FBI did not open a formal investigation because Ordonez said he did not want to pursue the complaint. Canseco, who is expected to publish his book in March, denied the claims."

So much for that whole credibility factor.

Torre Sleeps As Girardi Meets

The Los Angeles Times has an interesting article describing Joe Torre's smooth transition into the Dodger managerial job. According to the piece, with Spring Training only a month away "Torre said he has spoken to only a few of his players." Sounds a little too smooth.

On the other hand, New Yankees manager Joe Girardi spent his offseason traveling to the General Manager meetings in Nashville and to the Yankees youth academy in the Dominican Republic. Shockingly, these trips were never made during Torre's tenure as Yankee skipper.

These examples are not to condemn Torre as a baseball manager - he has won four world series and made the playoffs every year he headed up the Bombers - it is more of a promotion of Girardi as the new manager. I believe Torre will be successful in LA, but examples from the article are a bit damning and possibly offer insights into why the last three and a half postseasons have been such disappointments for Yankee fans:

The new Dodgers manager has talked to Pierre and Garciaparra and is at a mini-camp for prospects, but there are many he hasn't spoken to. He has made few decisions on the lineup.

He said he doesn't know what most of them look like or how they think. He said he has few ideas about who will hit in what spot.

About the only certainty in Torre's mind that he was willing to share with reporters Thursday at Dodger Stadium is that Andruw Jones will be his starting center fielder -- "Obviously," he said.

Everything else, Torre said, will be decided at spring training, which begins in Vero Beach, Fla., on Feb. 14, when pitchers and catchers report.

Torre said his conversation with Pierre was similar to one he had with Bernie Williams as manager of the New York Yankees.

"I just basically said to him what I said to Bernie Williams when we signed Kenny Lofton: 'We're going to do what's best for the team and when we leave spring training, it's going to be with the three guys playing the outfield that we all agree will give us the best shot,' " Torre said.

This is not to say Torre's 2008 club will fall apart under his watch, because it won't. The Dodgers have one of the top three farm systems in Major League Baseball and a bevy of talented youngsters at or knocking on the big league's door.

However, a new voice was necessary in the Bronx, and the hands-on, no excuses persona which Girardi carries with him may be just the perfect change of scenery.


Canseco Hires Enquirer Writer,
Report Says Santana Is Overpriced

· After being dumped by a writer from Sports Illustrated, Jose Canseco has a new ghost writer for his book. The writer comes from the National Enquirer and is the same author who helped O.J. Simpson pen a book which searches for Nicole Brown's "real killers."

· Finally, Vince Gennaro of Yahoo! Sports offered a piece explaining why Johan Santana isn't worth the expenditure.

Canseco "Does Not Have The Goods" On A-Rod

According to the New York Daily News, Jose Canseco's plans for his follow-up to the steroid confession Juiced is already losing credibility. Former associated editor of Sports Illustrated, Don Yaeger, who was supposed to collaborate on the book has decided to pass on the project. Essentially, Yaeger told the Daily News Canseco ain't got $h*t on Alex Rodriguez.

From the Daily News:

Jose Canseco’s sequel to his 2005 best-seller “Juiced” has hit its first snag.

As the Daily News first reported last weekend, former Bash Brother Canseco has finalized a deal to publish “Vindicated” with Penguin Books, with a planned release date to coincide with Opening Day.

But former Sports Illustrated associate editor Don Yaeger, who was scheduled to collaborate with Canseco on the book, has passed on the project. Yaeger said Friday that Canseco does not have the goods on Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez that Canseco alluded to in media interviews last month.

“I’m passing,” Yaeger told the Daily News. “I had a chance to review the Jose Canseco (material) that he provided me. I don’t think there’s a book there. I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t think he’s got what he claims to have, certainly doesn’t have what he claims to have on A-Rod.

“There’s no meat on the bones.”

Yaeger said what he was provided with fell far short of the Canseco boasts. "The thing is, if he had all this material, why wasn't it in the first book?" asked Yaeger.

There you have it; them bones is bare.

Jose may have been "shocked" that Rodriguez was not included in the Mitchell Report, but no one's shocked by this devastating blow to Vindicated. No doubt Canseco knew some of the goings-on of the steroid renaissance, but deep down he was always just a opportunistic media-whore looking to turn a quick buck.

Maybe he can write a new tome.... just title the project Evicted, expressing the hardships of a fallen cheater author. The only one vindicated, here, is Alexander the Great.

· Hankenstein Refuses To Shut Up

Hank Steinbrenner continues to broadcast Yankees internal debate on Johan Santana:

“Nothing is really decided at this point. I’m still leaning towards doing it. There’s others leaning not to do it. There are some others that are leaning to do it also. Disagreements within the organization. Nothing major, but just different opinions. I’ve changed my opinion a couple times.”

He also explained though Cashman is the general manager, "I am going to make the final decisions."

On December 2, here's what Hank told Bill Madden of the Daily News during what Little Steinbrenner referred to as his last interview:

"My dad always loved the limelight," Hank says, "and that was part of the reason he never wanted to retire. Me? I could take it or leave it, although I do enjoy connecting with the media and, by association, our fans."

Gee, Hank sure seems to be taking a lot more of the limelight than leaving during his first few weeks on the job. Like I said two months ago, shut your yap Lil' Stein.