Former A's teammate defends McGwire

Walt Weiss, a former Oakland Athletics teammate of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, said Tuesday he does not believe Canseco's claim that he injected McGwire with steroids.

"I'd like to vouch for 'Big Mac,'" Weiss, a Colorado Rockies coach, said from Hawaii, where he is vacationing. "I spent a lot of time with Mac in the weight room in spring training, on the road during the season, and in the off-season, we lived near each other and worked out. So I saw firsthand the time that (McGwire) put in both on the field and in the weight room.

"He was a tireless worker and a great teammate, so I certainly have no problem vouching for 'Big Mac' and the work that he put into his craft."

Canseco was the American League Rookie of the Year with the Athletics in 1986. McGwire won the honor the following year and Weiss made it three A's in a row when he was chosen in 1988.

After Canseco's career ended in 2001, he admitted using steroids as a player. And in his tell-all book — Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big — that is scheduled to be released Monday, Canseco said he, McGwire and Jason Giambi injected steroids together in a bathroom stall at the Oakland Coliseum.

In his book, Canseco also said he introduced Texas Rangers teammates Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez to steroids.

Canseco's book Weiss takes issue with Canseco Stars deny steroid allegations Bush says unaware of Ranger 'roid use Boswell: Easy to read, hard to believe Expert: Steroids will haunt spring training Vote: Do you believe Canseco?

Canseco played with the A's until he was traded to Texas during the 1992 season, Weiss' final year with Oakland. McGwire was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at the trading deadline in 1997.

Weiss said Canseco tended to move in his own orbit with the A's and spent little time with McGwire.

"It's hard to even (recall) seeing those two guys together outside of the clubhouse," said Weiss, who played for the Rockies from 1994-97. "I'm not saying they never were (together), but it's hard for me to remember that in my mind's eye. They just didn't spend much time together."

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, who managed the A's with Canseco and McGwire, told reporters Canseco was envious and jealous McGwire went on to have a career that likely will result in his election to the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2007.

La Russa also said when Canseco and McGwire were breaking in, Canseco was more talented and had more potential.

Weiss agreed with La Russa on both counts and said Canseco, who was very good to Weiss and his family when Weiss made it to the majors, was as gifted as any player he had seen.

Conditioning regimens were such in the late 1980s, Weiss said, that "lifting weights was a taboo. To get big and bulky was a no-no. To take it to another level, if steroids were being used back then, it was very hush-hush because there were many (general managers) around the game, if they saw one of their players in the weight room, they weren't very happy.

"Of course, all that has changed, but back then, it was a little bit different. Some guys had to sneak into the weight room, so it's not like guys were sitting around talking about steroids."

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