Thanks for the response – and welcome to TSF.

“You make great points Temple, but Juiced came out before Game of Shadows which is when the Heat really got turned up on Barry, so A-Rod’s name certainly would have been the biggest one out there.”

I’m not clear here. Are you suggesting that A-Rod was a bigger name than Bonds in 2005? or 2006? or even today? Are you suggesting that he was the biggest star AFTER Bonds? If so, I’d agree with that.

I don’t think he’s ever been a bigger name than Barry Bonds. He may not ever be a bigger name than Bonds. He certainly won’t ever be a better hitter (I know that’s not your point – but I thought I’d throw it in there.)

Also, I don’t believe it’s fair to say that the heat was less than turned up before Game of Shadows. Dwil’s pieces on Bonds, MODI’s pieces on Bonds, and others all chronicle in gross detail the long march of hate against Bonds – and it was scorching hot long before 2006. Folks were spitting at him and throwing syringes long before 2006. Folks were making death threats and suggesting he rot in hell long before 2006.

I can understand your points of disagreement, but I don’t find a compelling FINANCIAL reason for including A-Rod in the first book…he is only now approaching the pinnacle of his career arc. He is in New York, wearing pinstripes and is the NEXT player with a chance at breaking the all-time home run record…he is NOW the unchallenged best all around player in the game.

Canseco’s book was released after BONDS won an MVP award, hit 45 homers and batted .362. That same year, A-Rod hit 36 homers and batted .286 (2004). It seems to me that his targeting has been prescient, appropriate and opportunistic. Canseco is no more likeable than dirty rat bastards like Dan Rather (puff interview with Clemens) or Costas (hyperbolic head-giver to dead alcoholics) or Lupica. His likeability index is not going to impact his book sales as much as his accuracy.

Finally, it goes without saying that Canseco would not topple MLB. I’m not suggesting anything of the sort. It’s why I said that the game is protected by governors, senators, Presidents and the law. The national pastime cannot be overthrown by allegations of cheating in a game which is actually PREDICATED on CHEATING.

“He couldn’t have known people would believe his first book enough to give a damn about his second one. If you hit them hard enough in the first book there’s no need for another book.”

Surely he could have known. Publishers run focus groups and distribute advance copies all the time. Market analysis prior to book distribution is one means of determining how much money an author makes on a book. To assess how much the publishers believe in the marketability of an author and a book, check the advance payments. Canseco was paid a $300,000 advance on his first book sans A-Rod. Someone’s accountants and marketing people were pretty damn confident about the appeal of his claims. They were, uh, VINDICATED.

“I still don’t understand why Canseco didn’t mention him in the first book. From a financial standpoint he would have hit the jackpot had A-Rod’s name been in there! That book probably would have sold 2 or 3x’s as many copies as it did. I don’t know exactly what his motivation was for writing “Juiced”, but I have to assume he intended to make money from it in some way.”

I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.

Remember the day the Mitchell Report was announced when Jose was locked out of the announcement?

Hmmm….

MLB told Canseco long ago to kiss their ass. It’s the same thing they told Bonds – even though he had a higher OPS than A-Rod last year. Canseco, if he after MLB (and I think he is) is doing this masterfully. His first book blew up the mythology and credibility of Selig and all of his confederates…

NOW – he’s going after their POST-BONDS meal ticket. That meal ticket is Alex Rodriguez. MLB wants to continue to ride Alex the exact same way they rode Barry and Mark and Jose and Sammy and all the other home run hitters. Selig actually grew the baseball business from a $1B marginal entity to a $6B monster.

On the day that the Bonds indictment was announced, he said he had to PINCH HIMSELF to remember that MLB was rolling in dough to the tune of $6B.

Why would a grown ass man, like Canseco, who knows the bottom line for MLB – who knows that the game is protected by Presidents and governors and senators and Congressmen and the law and the media – why would that man shoot his load in his first book? Why would he structure his argument in a manner that would allow him to be consigned to the ghetto of irrelevance after the Mitchell Report?

I’ve always thought Canseco was out for blood – and this, for him, isn’t about Alex…it’s a vendetta. Baseball officials decision to end his career (prematurely in his mind) probably cost him millions of dollars…and when they gave him some bullshit rationale – he said, “Aiight, wait right here. I’ll be back.”

Baseball waited right there. So did Alex. They dismissed his claims, laughed at his credibility, denied his details. They lied. It’s time to pay the piper like a muhphukka. Bud – pay the man. Alex – pay the man. America – pay the man.

Twice, bitches!

P.S. – I could be wrong as hell on this, but if that’s where he’s coming from – it makes PERFECT sense to me. Folks assume Jose’s just a dumb juiced up spic without a brain. Shiiiiit.