I can’t think of a better way for Tampa’s Rocco Baldelli to go out in his career with the team that drafted and developed him. The crack of Rocco Badelli’s bat sent the ball over the outfield wall in Citizen Park. This tied the game 3-3 and certainly had many of the Philly faithful ready to jump off a bridge. This hit had the Fox broadcast crew scrambling to find a recap of the incrdible comeback that Baldelli had endured since Spring Training when his career was in doubt.
Rocco battled back slowly from the disease that nearly ended his career. When Carl Crawford went down with a devastating injury towards the end of the season, it was fitting that Rocco was able to step in and stabilize the lineup. Nobody expected Rocco to play this crucial a role and he showed flashes of the talent that once had him pegged as a future star. The talent is still there, but the fact is at this point it is hard for him to play back to back games.
Just like the Atlanta Braves of 1990s, who over their run had seen alot of their homegrown players eventually change addresses as their farm system continued to pump out younger, cheaper alternatives.
The Rays and Rocco have a mutual interest in reuniting for 2009. However, this is a business and each party will do what is in their best financial interest. Rocco will certainly draw interest, and at this point the Rays have said they will wait and see. The Rays seem only likely to offer a minor league deal which probaly means an end to their relationship. Rocco is from the North East and and raised a Red Sox fan. His exit from the Rays is likely. Rocco Baldelli is as good of a person as he is talented. It will be sad to see him go.
Rocco Baldelli is as good of a person as he is talented. It will be sad to see him go.
yeah… it sucks