Elephant Rumblings: Bash Bros talk reconciliation

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving and are enjoying an extra long weekend. I am thankful for both of these things, my lovely wife, and our two cats, who I assure you are the World’s Best Felines. I’m thankful for our health. Lastly, I’ll express gratitude for this community, which is holding up admirably well considering the catastrophic trajectory the Athletics organization has taken over the last couple years.

Thanksgiving is about recognizing the good in our lives, and setting aside old grudges against estranged relations surely complements a sprit of gratitude. No, I’m not suggesting that you text your ex. But it’s a fitting time for Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire—the legendary A’s slugging tandem known as the Bash Brothers—to consider burying the hatchet and making peace with mistakes of the past.

Canseco made huge waves—and a lot of enemies—in 2005, when he published a tell-all about steroid use in MLB. “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ’Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big” included confessions of Jose’s own steroid use, but also outed McGwire and other stars that Canseco alleged used PEDs. The book triggered a wave of scrutiny and a congressional inquiry on the matter.

McGwire vowed never to speak with Canseco again after the book was published, though he did later admit to using PEDs, and Canseco has repeatedly apologized for the “mistake” of writing the book.

To date, Canseco’s reconciliatory gestures have reportedly been rebuffed by McGwire, but according to John Shea and Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle, Big Mac may finally be ready to forgive his old teammate’s trespasses and move on, telling the Chronicle that “if we ever meet and talk, I’d be happy to talk to him.”

Canseco was both a great player and a controversial one. The sensationalist approach of his book alienated many players as well as fans like myself. But Jose has seemed sincere in his desire to make amends. His emotional outpouring at the final A’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony certainly touched me.

In a world that desperately needs peacemakers, I’d love to see baseball’s first 40/40 man and the A’s all-time leading home run hitter bring it in and become Bash Brothers once again.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics 2024 Season In Review: Aaron Brooks
• Are Bash Brothers Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco ready to make peace? ($)
• A’s help Sacramento celebrate holidays
• Former hard-throwing St. Louis Cardinals prospect signs with A’s
• Former New York Mets prospect moves into top-10 of A’s system rankings
• A’s sign former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect in interesting addition
• A’s extension candidate: Brent Rooker

MLB News & Interest:

• Bowden: 24 reasons I’m thankful for MLB in 2024 ($)
• Blake Snell gets his payday, while the Dodgers hope they got an ace: Law ($)
• Orioles Sign Franklin Barreto To Minor League Deal
• Giants legend Brandon Crawford retires after career that ‘far surpassed any dream’ ($)
• Shohei Ohtani asks judge for baseball cards seized from former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara ($)
• Blue Jays Interested In Alex Bregman, Luis Severino
• Angels Sign Yusei Kikuchi
• Latest On Juan Soto
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.