FanHouse DaveStewart

Jose Canseco has fired back in a war of words between him and his teammates from 1989 A's.

Before the A's hosted a reunion of the World Series championship team on Tuesday, Giants hitting coach Carney Lansford said he was glad that Canseco wasn't coming because Canseco had not endeared himself to teammates by writing a tell-all book.

On Wednesday, Canseco responded on SportsNetCentral, a sports news show produced by Comcast Sports Net Bay Area.

I don't know if you know this or not, but since he's commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig seems to think this gives him special privileges that nobody else in America is entitled to. Why, as commissioner of baseball he's not bound by the ex post facto laws of our society, which means he's allowed to suspend Alex Rodriguez for breaking rules that weren't yet in place.

Jeff Kent's angry tirade last week -- only the most recent in Kent's long history of discontent -- drew the ire of the younger teammates he was criticizing as having no sense of "professionalism," as if unloading to the media at the end of the year is in any way professional.

Kent's teammates fought back, and now former pitcher Dave Stewart, blogging at NBX, has some words for Kent: Lead or shut up.

There's no question that experience is a tremendous asset, and Kent's right, you can't give someone experience. However, you can mentor and teach. Every winning ball club I was ever on had a combination of solid veteran leadership and good rookies who knew how to take constructive criticism when it was presented to them properly. In other words, a veteran player like Kent should have been pulling the younger players aside and guiding them. Instead, he chose to publicly blast and blame the younger players on the Dodgers for the team's demise.

Bottom line ... I think the way Kent handled this whole situation is complete garbage. I wasn't in that clubhouse, but chances are he didn't say a damn thing all year long and waited until they got eliminated to criticize and cry like a baby. If you have concerns speak up. Don't wait until September to let your frustration come to a head. Furthermore, if a veteran player doesn't want to play a leadership role, that's obviously their choice. However, if you don't want to be a leader then you need to shut-up.

Hear hear, Dave. Kent backers might have his back, bit Jeff's history of locker room antics precedes him. There were at least three or four different ways to handle the situation, and Kent chose the most incendiary. He deserves the criticism, and some of the blame, for the Dodgers' disappointment this year.

(HT: BBTF)

The Fanhouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups

Florida Marlins (13-14) vs. San Diego Padres (15-13)-7:05PM Est.

Dontrelle may not have the stones to pick up a phone and call Dave Stewart, but he does have more wins than any other pitcher in the National League. Tonight Willis will try and enter the Josh Beckettosphere of 6 wins on the season. He'll be facing off against Greg Maddux in a battle of pitchers the Cubs got rid of a bit too soon.

St. Louis Cardinals (10-16) vs. Houston Astros (12-15)-8:10PM Est.

I always enjoy watching the Cardinals and Astros play each other because there's the small chance Brad Lidge might wet his pants on the mound should he have to face Albert Pujols. It's what baseball is all about. Also the Cardinals are going to try and get past the news that Josh Hancock was a little too drunk and chatty last week, and finally honor his memory with a win.

Los Angeles Angels (16-12) vs. Chicago White Sox (12-13)-10:05PM Est.

Since I'm a Chicagoan and a White Sox fan, I hope the Sox realize how lucky they are that the Bulls are still in the playoffs. They've lost four in a row and continue to hit as well as a blind midget holding a Dixon Ticonderoga. If they don't get their butts in gear, it's likely Ozzie Guillen will ground them after the game. Kelvim Escobar goes for the Angels, and he shut the Sox down last week. For the Sox it's Jose Contreras, and he was the only starter to manage a win against the Angels last week.

Dontrelle Willis has referred to Dave Stewart as his hero and inspiration. Dontrelle had flattering things to say about him while he was discussing Jackie Robinson Day:

"I wouldn't have picked up a baseball if it wasn't for Dave Stewart," Willis said. "As much as he will shy away from that, that's the honest truth. If there was no Dave Stewart, I wouldn't be playing. Not at all."

What would he be doing?

"I have no idea," he said.

It's a friendship, but in a strange hero worship/schoolgirl crush kind of way. You see, even though the two have developed a friendship, Dontrelle is scared to pick up the phone and call his hero. Stewart has tried to reach out:

"The last time I called him was two weeks ago. I'd read an article on MLB.com in which he said he wouldn't even be playing baseball if it wasn't for me. I didn't know that. In the article he said he and his family used to schedule what time they would go eat dinner around me pitching. I was like, 'Wow.' So I just left him a message saying, 'I appreciate you giving me that kind of respect. Holler at me when you can.'"

But Dontrelle is a little reluctant to reach back.

"I don't think he can ever realize how much he meant to me and my family, but you don't just call your hero. You don't just call Michael Jordan," said Willis (5-1), who leads the league in victories and starts tonight at Dolphin Stadium against San Diego's Greg Maddux. Told about Willis' reluctance, Stewart said quietly: "I wish he'd get over that."

Aww, how cute!

This month, baseball celebrates the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the major league color barrier. Many players will don the number 42 in honor of Robinson, including a whole team. For Dontrelle Willis, there are other ways to honor the legend of Robinson that would probably be higher on his list, and more beneficial.

When asked how the sport can increase its presence among African-Americans, Willis quickly said: "Promote more African-Americans in baseball. "Beat it in people's heads. I think that's what our world is kind of built around. You could do more promoting the players in the game. They have guys like Minnesota's Torii Hunter -- guys who have been here and been doing it for a long time, and have been successful. And they have great charisma."

Willis would be a perfect candidate to have a high profile job in baseball. His own charisma has ensured him that people will eventually forget about events like his drunken driving adventure back in February.