So Jose Canseco Says...

He Just Wants To Help

The original steroid monkey who got himself unwelcome to all the major league clubhouses because of his steroid-proselytising, now says he wants to help MLB.

“I think I have the ear of the nation now,” Canseco said Tuesday. “I think everyone realizes I have not in any way, shape or form tried to create smoke and mirrors like Major League Baseball has and the players have. I have been excruciatingly honest about what’s going on in baseball.”

Canseco’s attorney, Dennis Holahan, said he was sending a letter to Fehr and Gene Orza, the union’s chief operating officer, offering the former slugger’s assistance. Canseco, who has admitted using steroids, offered few specifics about what he planned to discuss in his proposed joint meeting, other than he was concerned about the “welfare of baseball.”

“The goal is to come up with a plan to rid baseball of steroids once and for all,” Holahan said.

In Canseco’s 2005 book, “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big,” Canseco claimed he introduced Oakland Athletics teammate Mark McGwire and other stars to steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. He wrote about injecting himself and McGwire in bathroom stalls, and how the effects of the drugs were the reason he hit 462 career home runs.

In his 2008 book, “Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball,” Canseco said he introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroids dealer.

Canseco declined comment on Rodriguez’s admission Monday that he used banned substances from 2001-03 while playing for Texas.

Major League Baseball said it was willing to listen to Canseco’s offer.

“Let’s take a look at the letter and see what’s inside the letter. It will be interesting,” MLB spokesman Rich Levin said. “We’d be glad to get correspondence from Mr. Canseco and we’ll deal directly with him.”

People laughed when he wrote his books and claimed even A-Rod was a user. I think people laughed at him because we thought if we derided him hard enough the issue would go away. It hasn't and so far his claims about Clemens and A-Rod has been proven to be correct. Well, Clemens keeps denying, but that wasn't the surprising bit. Who knows if Canseco is simply looking to get paid or because he genuinely wants to help. Maybe the MLB should listen. After all, they're eating humble pie with a side order of Crow pretty hard right now.