Yardbarker: Rocco Baldelli

Lots of question marks for 2010 Red Sox starters

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:23:00 -0500

Well its officially that time again. The time of, "who should the Red Sox sign, re-sign, drop, and trade for" time.There are, indeed, a lot of questions. Here's a quick breakdown:The obviousJason Bay and Jason VaritekThe not as obviousAlex Gonzalez and Rocco BaldelliIn questionMike Lowell and David OrtizThis was the 2009 starting lineup for the most part:1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF2. Dustin Pedroia 2B3. Victor Martinez C/1B /Kevin Youkilis 1B/3B4. Jason Bay LF5. J.D. Drew RF6. David O...

Jeremy Hermida: Classic Theo Epstein

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:15:00 -0500

Last offseason, GM Theo Epstein opted against making a big splash in free agency and instead decided to make a number of "low risk, high reward" signings. Epstein went out and signed John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Takashi Saito, and Rocco Baldelli to 1 year contracts with plenty of incentives. All of those players were coming off injury plagued seasons, but their history suggested that if they were healthy, they could be productive and help the Red Sox.However, the plan did not work out. ...

Wagner And Baldelli File For Free Agency

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:41:37 -0500

Earlier on Thursday, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay filed for free agency. Later in the day, two of his teammates joined him. Reliever Billy Wagner and reserve outfielder Rocco Baldelli both filed for free agency on Thursday afternoon. It was expected that Wagner would file for free agency and we know the Red Sox will offer [...]

Bigelow-Induced Dementia?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:06:00 -0500

Teets, you know I love you. And you know I rarely criticize. After all, you've won two World Series titles, while I've... well, I write a blog. But tonight, with the chance to sweep away and crush the spirits of the Anaheim Angels, why in the heck did you pull Youkbacca out to the on-deck circle just to watch Rocco Baldelli pop out meekly to end the game? With two out and the tying run on first, would it not have made more sense to pinch-hit Ultra-Beard instead of Rocco, especially si...

Q+A with 'untouchable' prospect Ryan Westmoreland

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Ryan Westmoreland was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. He has been compared to Rocco Baldelli, given that both hail from Rhode Island. For Low-A Lowell, 'Westy' is hitting .298/.398/.491 with seven home runs, three triples and 15 doubles in 218 at-bats. He has 19 stolen bases and zero caught and is ranked the seventh best prospect in the organization by SoxProspects.com. He got on the radar for casual Sox fans this year who heard that Westmoreland was deemed untouchabl...

Baldelli to the DL, Reddick recalled, Youk to the OF, Ortiz to speak

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:14:19 -0500

Talk about cramming info into a Quick Post headline.... Going into Yankee Stadium and as much a "do or die" series as the Red Sox have reached this season, things are off to an interesting start. Rocco Baldelli has been sent to the DL after fouling a ball off his foot in batting practice at the Trop. Josh Reddick has been recalled to take his spot on the roster. With Jason Bay out of the lineup tonight as his hamstring is still sore, Kevin Youkilis will be manning left field at Y...

Red Sox Bench Big Papi

Fri, 15 May 2009 20:45:14 -0500

The Boston Red Sox are giving Big Papi a much needed break. The team has benched the one-time slugger for tonight's game against the Seattle Mariners. J.D. Drew moved up to the No. 3 spot in the order and Rocco Baldelli took the designated hitter assignment.

David Ortiz is having a horrendous season. It is mid-May and Big Papi is still looking for his first home run of the season. He is batting a paltry .208 with a .318 OPS.

Yesterday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Orange County and California, Ortiz went 0-for-7 and left an astouding 12 runners on base (that was more than any team left on base on Thursday). He hasn't hit a home run since last September 22nd -- 144 at-bats ago.

This is a good move for the Red Sox and Ortiz. People around the team say that Ortiz is pressing. He's been getting a lot of heat, locally, as well as questions coming from the national media. There also has been some bubbling that the crackdown of steroids and PEDs may have caused this slump (I don't believe that).

Ortiz needs to get away for a game or two, and doing so way out in Seattle is the best time to do so. It won't get as much notice as it would at home or, really, against any team on the east coast. I hope Papi can get his stuff together and turn around this ugly slump.

Red Sox Cautious - Cautiously Optimistic - with Baldelli

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:31:06 -0500

Outfielder Rocco Baldelli was once a young pup who played hard on the field, full-speed all the time. Now he's a bit older, a bit wiser, and diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder that can sap his strength and energy when he's not careful enough in managing his outputs. The Red Sox signed him to ...

Rocco Baldelli Remembers Where He Came From

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:21:53 -0500

Without once putting on the uniform, Rocco Baldelli has already distinguished himself as the classiest player on the Red Sox. That's because the former Rays outfielder took out a half-page ad in the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES thanking Tampa fans for all their support. Baldelli, a Rhode Island native, ...

Rocco Baldelli is a classy guy

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:30:39 -0500

Fresh off the heels of an anti-Red Sox post, I give you something good that their newest player did. Rocco Baldelli, the former Tampa Bay Ray who recently signed with Boston, took out an ad in the St. Petersburg Times to thank the fans. (Click image to enlarge) Baldelli missed most of the 2008 ...

Baldelli Wants To Play Closer To New England

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:00:28 -0500

Free agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli, coming off a positive rediognosis, is drawing interest from the Phillies, Reds, Mets, Red Sox, and Rays, among others. However, sources close to Baldelli have informed the Boston Globe that Baldelli prefers to play "closer to New England." The Red Sox, Phillies, and Mets are probably the best options, with the Rays as a dark horse. Baldelli hit .263 with 4 HR in 28 games for the Rays last season, but is a .281 career hitter.?
Baldelli's best fit would be with a team that would use him as a fourth outfielder, but would get him a couple hundred at-bats. The Mets and Phillies are solid picks if that is the case.
This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Rays' Rocco Baldelli Diagnosed With Muscular Dystrophy

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:50:20 -0500

Rocco Baldelli has suffered enough as a member of the Rays. Now that his team is having it's greatest season ever, it really seems downright unfair that the Tampa Bay outfielder has been diagnosed with a form of muscluar dystrophy.

Rocco Baldelli Career, Life in Jeopardy?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:37:21 -0500

After years of speculation that had people labeling Rocco Baldelli everything from "soft" to possibly having MS, the Tampa Bay Ray's outfielder finally has an answer to all those questionable injuries that have plagued his legs throughout his career.