Canseco closer, but not back yet

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 22, 2000

SEATTLE -- Jose Canseco is getting closer to getting back on the field, but it might be Tuesday before he rejoins the Rays lineup.

Canseco decided to wait until Friday to test his left heel in running drills, reasoning that he was close enough to being recovered that the two extra days of rest should be beneficial.

"I didn't want to cut two days off and end up being out another couple weeks," Canseco said.

Canseco, who last played May 24, said if he runs without pain on Friday afternoon he would hope to play that night.

But the Rays are likely to take a more cautious approach. Manager Larry Rothschild said he will want to see how Canseco responds the day after the drills. That could make Canseco available as soon as Saturday night, but with the Rays off again on Monday, they might decide to give him the additional days.

"We'll have to see," Rothschild said. "If he can go from where he is now to running sprints on Friday and feel good on Saturday then it's obviously a possibility."

NO GUZ NEWS YET: Dr. James Andrews decided he wanted to review results of another MRI exam before making a decision on what to do about pitcher Juan Guzman's sore right shoulder. Guzman, who has been out since the April 7 home opener, will have the MRI this morning in Birmingham, Ala. Guzman saw Andrews on April 10 and was told rest and exercise should solve the problem, as it did when he had similar trouble in 1992. But Guzman said the shoulder has not responded, raising the possibility of season-ending surgery.

ONE STEP AT A TIME: Gerald Williams was the designated hitter for the fourth game in a row Wednesday and isn't sure when his left hip will feel good enough for a return to centerfield. "I can say I'm not far off," Williams said. "I'm trying to better separate my frustration and my intellect. The intelligent thing is to not play when I'm not close to 100 percent. The frustrating thing is that I'm able to do some things. That's what gives me the problem." Williams said he expects to be back in the outfield during the weekend.

BRYAN STILL TRYIN': Bryan Rekar, who left Sunday's game with a stiff back, threw for about 10 minutes and said he was ready to take his turn in the rotation. "I think I can do it," he said. "It's just up to them and what they think is best for me and the team." Rothschild said there was "a possibility" Rekar would pitch Saturday or Sunday at Texas. But with two off-days in a five-day period, the Rays don't need a fifth starter until July 3, so Rekar could be pushed back at least a few days.

ROADRUNNER: Reporters and fans weren't the only ones surprised when Fred McGriff took off after a picked-off Rickey Henderson on Tuesday and chased the 41-year-old all the way to second base. "I don't remember a play exactly like that," said Henderson, the all-time stolen-base king. "I was caught with my head down. When that happens, you just go for it. When I got it, Fred asked me, "Why'd you do that to me?' " Said McGriff: "He got me."

STAR QUALITY: Josh Hamilton, the Rays' top pick in the 1999 draft, was named MVP of the Class A South Atlantic League All-Star Game on Tuesday. Hamilton went 2-for-6, including two triples, in the South's 5-4 win. Hamilton is hitting .341 with seven homers and 42 RBI for Charleston, S.C. ... Bobby Seay pitched two scoreless innings and Eddy Reyes threw one in the Double A Southern League All-Star Game. Toby Hall had two hits.

ON TRACK: For a guy with a 5-7 record and 4.67 ERA, Steve Trachsel is in elite company. Tuesday, he joined Boston ace Pedro Martinez as the only A.L. pitchers with consecutive complete games this season. It was Trachsel's third complete game overall, tying Bobby Witt's club record.

RAYS BITS: Ryan Rupe made his second start for Durham since coming off the disabled list, allowing four hits and two runs in 42/3 innings. ... Ozzie Guillen's double Tuesday gave him hits in 35 big-league ballparks.

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