12:46pm: Baldelli has officially been signed to a minor league deal, according to a Rays press release.
12:09pm: Rocco Baldelli is expected to sign a minor league contract with the Rays this afternoon, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. Topkin says Baldelli is set to DH tonight for the team's High A club, the Charlotte Stone Crabs. The Crabs boast familiar names such as Tim Beckham, Matt Moore, and Matt Bush. Baldelli is transitioning from a special assistant role and trying to come back from a shoulder injury. He hit .253/.311/.433 in 164 plate appearances for the Red Sox last year.
baldelli should just skip to the end of this story and go back to coaching. hes a nice guy and he got the shaft with things he could not control, but come on really?
Mark Prior keeps getting mad props, but a guy who was actually productive in the last decade needs to go back to coaching?
show me where i can rake on Prior and believe me I will. and yeah Baldelli was productive in 2007 but hasnt been since then, he could actually be a good coach but that stupid voice in his head is making him play and its a mistake.
The guy is 28 years old. Give him a break, it’s not like he’s Jim Palmer trying to come back with the Orioles in 1991. If he thinks there is still something to offer at his age, he’s owes it to himself to find out now. Good for Rocco.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/06/mark-prior-to-audition-for-mlb-teams.html
i didnt see a comment from you here… maybe you can go offer your wonderful insight to this thread too?
I dont have to, ive read the results of that session prior threw and it was judged mediocre at the very best, helping prove what I am trying to say, guys who cant admit its over need to move on. Prior was great in 2003, he got the shaft from the cub curse that year. 2003 was he first and last chance, nobody has exactly lined up to sign him. Back to the point of THIS post though, I have nothing against Rocco who was cheated out of a good career by some strange disease and I wish him luck in his endeavor, but if you had to bet on his comeback, needless to say him reaching the big club and staying there in a prolonged role is not the safe bet
Maybe he’s happy just to play baseball. Maybe he aspires to make it to the big leagues again, but will take the chance just to play because he has passion for the game. Maybe you don’t know what it’s like to have a medical condition like him and still be able to overcome it just to play pro ball. Maybe it’s not the majors, but it is pro ball and that is his passion. So who cares if the odds are stacked against him? Are you going to tell little leaguers they should give up since they’ll never make it to the majors? Some people just relish the opportunity to play the game, troll.
Your very name is clinging to six years ago and other people are obligated to move on. Classy.
Maybe you should stop making decisions for him and let Rocco do what he loves most…. play the game..
i didnt see your comment either?
uh…he’s actually above replacement level. He hits lefties hard and plays good outfield defense. An ideal bench player.
Hard not to pull for the guy. It would be nice for Kevin Mench to have to watch on TV while Baldelli is fifth outfielder on a playoff team.
Best of luck to him. I always liked Rocco. I agree with aap… it’s hard not to root for him.
Whats wrong if a player still has love for the game and wants to see if he can still do it? If you love something keep fighting for it. I applaud him.
Rocco is a great guy and his story is heartfelt but if the Rays are in anyway relying on him to be the “big RH’ed bat” they need, they are mistaken. He may be a nice September call-up for depth..if he can get back in shape and avoid the loss of muscle strength that aflicts him..but that may be about it.
Better to trade for Jose Guillen or Mike Sweeney(from the Mariners when he gets off the DL) a add a true RH’ed DH type, IMO.
I’m guessing this is closer to a favor than it is to a puzzle piece in their eyes.
Rocco is still one of my favorite people in baseball. Its a shame that he has had the health problems that he has had over the years, he may have made a few All Star games if not for them.
Better than nothing? Wait what? DH in High A?
With some tuning up in the minors I can see Baldelli becoming the valuable OF that many teams have coveted, sure he has that disease but he is a OF and should be on a MLB team by the end of this season or in 2011. Baldelli is a good ball player and a great guy he deserves this opportunity. I’m just upset he didn’t get signed sooner.