DODGERS NOTEBOOK: DODGERS TO SAY: NO WAY, JOSE.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Jose Canseco unofficially started his book's promotional tour here Monday morning, and even made an effort to try out for the Dodgers, albeit apparently a half-hearted one.

In an embarrassing end to a fascinating career, Canseco flubbed groundballs and flailed at offspeed pitches, then claimed that he had been systematically blackballed by baseball and framed by police.

Of course, Canseco wouldn't go into detail about any subject because as he said in response to almost every question, ``it will all be in the book.'' Canseco said his tell-all book, in which he supposedly will discuss his and other players' steroid use, will be released in September, but he hasn't written one word.

Canseco will have plenty of time to work on the book now. Only one or two of the 107 players who attended Monday's open tryout will be signed, and Canseco won't be one of them. He will get an official ``no-thank-you'' call from the Dodgers today, and he said he's not interested in playing in the minors.

The Dodgers told Canseco before the tryout that there was a 99 percent chance they wouldn't sign him, but Canseco showed up anyway, wearing a tight T-shirt, sweatpants and a backward cap.

``It could have gone better,'' Canseco, 39, said of the tryout.

``I'm not going to hold my breath. It's basically out of my hands. You don't want to get too high, so I'm just being realistic.''

If one is to believe Canseco, he won't try out for any more teams and attended the Dodgers' camp only because he lives in Encino near his daughter. Canseco's representative, Doug Ames, claimed Canseco has three action-movie offers on the table, but Ames seemed to struggle with the truth in several assertions.

Ames claimed Canseco worked out for six weeks, five days a week. Canseco said he trained for 10 days. Ames said Canseco worked out with the UCLA baseball team, then backtracked when confronted with contradicting evidence and said Canseco actually worked out with a friend at the UCLA field.

One point that was clear was Canseco's view on steroids. Canseco hasn't admitted using steroids, but repeated his claim that in his days, 80 percent of players used them. Canseco has backtracked some, probably because of baseball's announcement in November that 5 to 7 percent of players had tested positive, but Canseco seemed to downplay the significance of the steroids.

``It's not a big deal,'' Canseco said. ``It's not as taboo as it used to be. Players are starting to voice their opinions, but most of them are probably pitchers who are tired of seeing balls hit 500 feet.

``I don't think it's as big a deal as players and teams are making it out to be. Steroids don't give you hand-eye coordination, all they do is help you build stamina behind it. ... It's all about use vs. abuse. One drink a day won't kill you, but 15 or 20 will do some damage.''

Canseco said he hasn't spoken with Barry Bonds, who has been the subject of many steroid-related questions this spring, but Canseco did offer some empathy.

``No one individual should have everybody pointing their fingers at him,'' Canseco said.

The book, tentatively titled ``Dare To Truth'' in a nod to his romantic fling with Madonna, will supposedly include chapters on why Canseco believes he has been shunned by baseball, and his assertion that someone in law enforcement switched urine samples and caused him to spend two months in jail.

Canseco, who hit 462 home runs in parts of 17 seasons, had not played a game since May 2001.

He showed up seemingly in great physical shape, but the rust became evident.

Ames said Canseco was serious about the tryout, but in a timed sprint at the start of the workout, Canseco started a half-second early, then refused a request to run again. As his colleagues lined up to field grounders at shortstop, Canseco walked to the dugout and didn't participate in the drill.

In 18 batting-practice swings, Canseco hit one home run and four balls to the warning track, then went 2 for 5 with two singles, a walk and two strikeouts in a game among the tryout participants. He played an awkward first base during the game, apparently believing he could fill that vacancy for the Dodgers.

``You've got to hand it to him for trying,'' said Matt Slater, the Dodgers' director of pro scouting.

--Status report: The Dodgers played their first six-inning intrasquad game Monday afternoon, and Jason Romano led off with a home run against Jeff Weaver (Simi Valley High). Another game is scheduled for this morning, with Wilson Alvarez and Edwin Jackson penciled in as starters. ... Manager Jim Tracy said that Weaver will start Thursday's exhibition game. ... Second baseman Alex Cora, recovering from a broken right arm, threw 30 balls at a range of 30-40 feet and might begin fielding groundballs today.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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Jose Canseco participated in an open tryout with the Dodgers in Vero Beach, Fla., on Monday, but the team is not expected to sign him a contract.

Richard Drew/Associated Press