Canseco Takes Spot in Lineup for White Sox

Two nights after playing center field for the Newark Bears in the independent Atlantic League, Jose Canseco started at designated hitter Thursday night for the Chicago White Sox in their 6-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Canseco passed a physical earlier in the day and immediately was inserted into the lineup. He went one for five, with a double, three ground outs and a fly out.

“It felt like I was in a nightmare [in Newark], especially when you become adjusted to the major league level,” said Canseco, 23rd on the all-time home run list with 446. “You have to make the best of the situation, though. And at the time, it became a necessity.”

Canseco didn’t get any offers after being released by the Angels in spring training. So he decided to bide his time in Newark and wait.

“I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong,” said Canseco, who needs two stolen bases to become the second player in baseball history with 400 homers and 200 steals. “I don’t feel pressure. I’m just going to be myself.”

White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel welcomed Canseco, who hit .252 with 15 home runs and 49 runs batted in in 98 games with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the New York Yankees last year. Manuel realizes that it may take some time for Canseco, who has been on the disabled list three times in four seasons, to regain his stroke.

“I couldn’t put a number on that--10 games or 10 at-bats or whatever,” Manuel said. “I don’t think I could do that. We’ll obviously have to see if the bat speed is there and if he’s not getting beat on pitches.”

The Montreal Expos say they are prepared to lose $20 million this season.

“We have funded and completed the funding for the full $20 million,” Expo executive vice president David Sampson said.

Sampson admitted that the Expos will generate less revenue than projected, but he vigorously denied that owner Jeffrey Loria would go along with any plan to eliminate the Expos.

When pressed about repeated reports that the Expos might be part of a contraction plan, Sampson didn’t give a direct answer, saying, “It would not be fiscally prudent of me to comment on that.”

Expo pitcher Hideki Irabu has a partial tear in his right elbow and will seek a second opinion regarding possible surgery.

Nomar Garciaparra is expected to resume throwing today, when the Boston Red Sox open a home stand.

“I’m not sure how long, how many feet,” Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams said. “We’ll take it one throw at a time.”

The shortstop has been on the disabled list since March 21 because of an injured right wrist. He has spent several weeks strengthening his arm since surgery.

Garciaparra could return a few weeks after the All-Star break.

Chris Burke, taken by the Houston Astros this month with the 10th overall pick in the amateur draft, agreed to a contract with the team.