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Extra lumber Yankees cut LHP Choate to make room for Canseco
Updated: Saturday October 21, 2000 8:56 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Left-hander Randy Choate was cut from the New York Yankees' active roster before Saturday's World Series opener against the Mets to make room for Jose Canseco. The Yankees wanted to add a bat for the Series because there could be three games at Shea Stadium, where a designated hitter will not be used. "Physically, I'm probably 90 percent right now, even though my calf is not 100 percent healed," Canseco said. Choate was the second left-hander in the Yankees' bullpen, but the Mets have only one left-handed hitter in their starting lineup, third baseman Robin Ventura. The 25-year-old Choate pitched one-third of an inning in the league championship series against Seattle, throwing a called third strike past John Olerud in the ninth inning of Game 1. He allowed one run in 1 1-3 innings in Game 4 of the first-round series against Oakland. During the regular season, Choate had a 4.76 ERA and 0-1 record in 22 appearances, throwing 15 innings. Canseco, third among active players with 446 homers, was on the roster for the Oakland series but did not get into a game against his former team. "Feeling part of the team, it's extremely difficult right now for me," Canseco said. "Even when I'm playing day in, day out, and I don't perform, I really don't feel like I'm part of the team." He was dropped for the ALCS roster in favor of right-hander Jason Grimsley, who also remained on the roster for the World Series. Canseco could see action as a designated hitter, with Chuck Knoblauch moved back to second base, but more likely will be limited to pinch hitting. Because Canseco hasn't batted much of late, his timing is off. "It's going to be probably extremely difficult," he said.
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