Jose Canseco: Dirtbag

When I heard about this a few days ago I didn't even want to post about it, but since nothing is going on today in Yankee-Land, I'm going to.

Publication of Canseco's second book, Vindicated, hit a snag last week after his original ghost writer Don Yaeger, as well as the original publisher, Berkley Books, withdrew from the the project. But all is well now for Jose, as he's found a replacement, and it seem he found the one person who work with just about anyone, no matter how reprehensible they may be.

From USA Today:

NEW YORK (AP) — Jose Canseco's sequel on steroids, entitled "Vindicated," will be released on March 31.

Canseco is working with Pablo Fenjves, the ghost writer of "If I Did It," in which O.J. Simpson gave an imaginary confession to how he would have killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

So you're working with the guy who helped O.J. write his infamous book about how he'd kill Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman if he did it (O.J. you did do it).

But it couldn't get worse, could it? Well sadly, yes it can. Now ESPN is reporting that he tried to extort money from Magglio Ordonez:

NEW YORK -- Jose Canseco offered to keep Magglio Ordonez "clear" in his upcoming book if the Detroit Tigers outfielder invested in a movie project promoted by Canseco, The New York Times reported Wednesday night.

Ordonez decided not to go forward with a complaint, so the FBI didn't open a formal investigation, the newspaper said. Ordonez spoke to Tigers president Dave Dombrowski, who contacted MLB.

"I didn't want to press charges against him," Ordonez was quoted as saying. "I don't want any problems. He is probably desperate for money. I don't understand why he is trying to put people down."

Ordonez, teammates with Canseco on the 2001 Chicago White Sox, said Canseco didn't specifically ask him for cash.

"One of Jose's friends was leaving me messages," Ordonez was quoted as saying. "I told Dombrowski because I didn't know why he was calling me."

Canseco told the paper that neither he nor any associate asked Ordonez for money in exchange for avoiding mention in "Vindicated," which is scheduled for publication March 31.

"Absolutely not," Canseco was quoted as saying.

Canseco said he unsuccessfully attempted to reach Ordonez. Canseco refused to say whether he would implicate Ordonez with performance-enhancing drug use in the book.

Scott Boras, Ordonez's agent, filed a complaint with the FBI after Canseco spoke with a Boras employee and said Ordonez would be "clear" if the outfielder invested in the movie project, the newspaper said.

Magglio may have done steroids, I'm not going say otherwise, nothing would surprise. Well, Jeter and Mo would surprise me. But even if Ordonez did cheat, this just show how much of a lowlife Canseco truly is.

Who knows who might have already paid him off to keep their name out of the first book?

If Canseco wanted to inform people about steroid users in the game, and get back at the game for what he feels is unfair treatment, I have no problem with that. But sadly that's not what this is about. This is only about Jose and his bank account. It's shameful that he would offer to keep a person's name out of his book for money, but then again, shameful is perfect way to describe Jose Canseco.

Chuck is Missing - Day Two

Clemens' Deposition Pushed Back to Feb. 5th

The depositions for Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Kirk Radomski, Brian McNamee, and Chuck Knoblauch have all been postponed. Here's some on the story from From MSG.com:

WASHINGTON (AP) -Roger Clemens' meeting with a congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball was pushed back until Feb. 5.

Clemens originally was asked to appear Saturday for a deposition or transcribed interview with staff members from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. That panel has called a Feb. 13 hearing where Clemens and his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, are among five witnesses slated to appear.

The committee announced a new schedule Thursday of pre-hearing meetings with those witnesses.

Chuck Knoblauch, a former teammate of Clemens' with the New York Yankees, was subpoenaed to appear for a deposition or transcribed interview on Tuesday, although the committee said he has yet to be served.

Andy Pettitte, a longtime teammate and workout partner of Clemens', has been asked to appear Jan. 30, with McNamee down for Feb. 7.

The fifth witness, former New York Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski, originally was invited to meet with committee staff on Feb. 1, but his deposition or interview was given Thursday as "TBD" - to be determined.

Cano, Yanks Close to long-term deal

From John Heyman of SI.com:

The Yankees and star second baseman Robinson Cano are in serious negotiations on a deal that could keep him in pinstripes for up to six years, SI.com has confirmed.

The contract being discussed would pay Cano a guaranteed $30 million over the next four years, all arbitration years, and could possibly also include club options for 2012 and 2013. The Yankees would benefit if both club option years are included because 2012 and 2013 will be the first two years Cano is eligible for free agency.

Cano recently requested $4.55 million through arbitration with the Yankees submitting a $3.2-million figure. However, it appears unlikely that he will be going through that process now. News of multiyear discussions between Cano and the Yankees was first reported by FOXSports.com.

I'm glad to see the Yankees are open to locking up Cano, which is very un-Yankee like. Like I said yesterday this is much smarter than going year-to-year, and potentially having to cough up a much larger contract once Robbie hits the open market in 2010.

Chuck Knoblauch: MIA

A hat tip to Peter Abraham who just posted about this on his blog.

Well remember yesterday, when it was reported that Chuck Knoblauch had been issued a subpoena? Well now it seems the feds can't find him.

From ESPN:

WASHINGTON -- Former major leaguer Chuck Knoblauch had not been tracked down as of early Wednesday evening by federal marshals trying to serve him a subpoena from a House panel investigating steroids in baseball, a committee staffer told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because staffers were not authorized to make public comments on the matter.

Knoblauch, a four-time All-Star who played for the Yankees, Twins and Royals from 1991-02, originally was asked to appear Thursday for what was supposed to be the first of five depositions or transcribed interviews scheduled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

When the committee didn't hear from Knoblauch or a representative, it issued a subpoena to force the 1991 AL Rookie of the Year to submit to a deposition next Tuesday.

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, though, that subpoena had not reached the former infielder who, like Clemens and more than 80 other players, was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in last month's Mitchell Report on baseball's steroids era

The next time we see Chuck it'll be in a high-speed chase while being driven by Al Cowlings in a white Ford Bronco.

But seriously, what the hell is wrong with this guy? Just go to Congress, answer the questions and then you can disappear into obscurity. By avoiding, or running away from the situation, he's only going to get himself into a much bigger problem.

Phil Hughes Discusses His Velocity

Phil had a Q&A on his blog today, and was asked about his loss of velocity during the second half of last season. Here is what he had to say:

After coming back from my injury last season my mechanics were a little out of whack. This led to a little loss of velocity and command. When Dave (Eiland) arrived in September we were able to work out some things and I think that had a lot to do with the success I had at the end of the season. It was nice to finish off the year on a good note so I have something to work toward to get back to my normal self in 2008.

This should put to rest some of the worries regarding his velocity. I really don't know why people are still worried anyway, Hughes was 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA in September, and everyone remembers his great performance in game 3 of the ALDS. He could be in for a very good year in 2008, especially with Dave Eiland around all season.

BREAKING NEWS: The Yankees Spend A Lot Of Money

ESPN reports that in 2007, the Yankees set a new record high for payroll with $218.3 million, $62.9 million higher than the World Champion Boston Red Sox, who had the second highest payroll in baseball.

The Yankees continue to spend and spend, only to sit in the dugout as they watch other teams celebrate a playoff victory on the field in front of them year after year.

But there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. The Yankees, it would appear, have already begun to abandoning their past "winning at all costs" philosophy; after all, they claim they aren't trading for Johan Santana because of the money he would cost. And then there's this from the ESPN article:

New York is on track to lead the major leagues in payroll again but its total appears likely to drop. The Yankees have committed $198.6 million to 19 signed players on their 40-man roster. Adding in the midpoints for their three players remaining in arbitration -- Chien-Ming Wang, Robinson Cano and Brian Bruney -- the total increases to $207.6 million.

Attempting to buy World Series Championships hasn't worked, and it's time for a change in philosophy, and I think the Yankees have finally started to figure this out. Spend money, but make sure you spend it wisely.

Cano Wants Long-Term Deal

From Newsday's Kat O'Brien:

Robinson Cano would be open to the idea of signing a long-term contract with the Yankees, his agent, Bobby Barad, said yesterday.

Barad made clear that the Yankees have not broached that topic with him and Cano, and that he has not brought up the possibility. However, should the Yankees seek to lock up their All-Star second baseman well before free agency - as the Mets did with third baseman David Wright and shortstop Jose Reyes - Cano could have interest.

"He wouldn't be adverse to that in theory," Barad said.

Could it get done? That's more complicated. Said Barad: "It depends on, there's so many factors that would determine that." Several of the game's best young players have inked multiyear deals with their clubs early in their careers, including the Indians' Grady Sizemore (six years, $23.45 million) and the Phillies' Chase Utley (seven years, $85 million).

Cano is one of the best second baseman in the game, maybe the best, and with a player like that the Yankees would be wise to lock him up now.

One of the arguments against signing him to a long term deal is that it saves money on the luxury tax if they go year-to-year. But what happens if he has a huge contract year like a lot of players do, and his market value sky-rockets? Now you're going to have to pay a lot more than you would have had you locked him up sooner.