Rocco Baldelli--WTF?

[BYH]

Sorry I didn't put this on the baseball thread, and mods can feel free to merge, but I was hoping someone from tampaSportsJournalists.com had an inkling as to what the hell is going on with Rocco Baldelli. He's apparently undergone an extensive battery of tests and neither he nor the D-Rays will talk about it.

He had such a brilliant start to his career and now he can't stay on the field. And his last ailment--called "general soreness" after he played in all of two rehab games--coupled with the radio silence over his test results makes it easy to think worse-case scenario.

Any rumblings from down that way?

 

[mike311gd]

Remember when Tampa Bay was dead set on building a team around Baldelli? It's a shame he can't get healthy again, and even more so because he no longer has a place in what used to be his outfield.

 

[BYH]

He was so good they signed him long-term AFTER he blew out his knee and elbow.

I really think something bizarre/sinister is going on down there. Why the Belichickian secrecy?

 

[mike311gd]

You think it's something like a Greinke situation, like a mental thing where he doesn't feel like playing anymore or a legit injury?

 

[andyouare?]

I have "general soreness" all the time, how come I can't get off from work?

Baldelli's hammies have been a problem for a while. He was doing a minor league rehab stint when they got "sore" again. Last I heard was that they were still holding out hope he could be back at the end of the year.

That dude has had some bad luck. He was recovering from another injury (I think in 2005) when he ruptured a tendon doing some simple throwing.

It's pretty amazing the Rays' outfield is as loaded with talent as it is (Crawford, Upton and Delmon Young). Imagine if they had had a healthy Baldelli, a drug free Josh Hamilton and non-psycho Elijah Dukes.

Not to mention Toe Nash!!!

 

[GB-Hack]

The optimist tells me it's a setback due to his relearning how to run, similarly to what the Mets did with Jose Reyes when he was having hamstring troubles. His body is still adjusting to the new technique, and he'll be fine, and be ready for spring training next season.

The pessimist doesn't know what to tell me. The silence is deafening.

I like Rocco, hung out with him and another Ray, can't recall who, in a bar watching the Angels play in the playoffs. It was odd to me that no-one in the place recognized him in street clothes with a ball-cap on.

 

[BYH]

I have "general soreness" all the time, how come I can't get off from work?

Baldelli's hammies have been a problem for a while. He was doing a minor league rehab stint when they got "sore" again. Last I heard was that they were still holding out hope he could be back at the end of the year.

That dude has had some bad luck. He was recovering from another injury (I think in 2005) when he ruptured a tendon doing some simple throwing.

Blew out his knee playing baseball with his brother in the back yard. Which, let's face it, is a pretty suspicious explanation.

Then he snapped his elbow just throwing the ball, as you mentioned.

You add these up and he's got a lot of bizarre injuries. And their silence makes me think that they worry that Baldelli is about to end up...

...a drug free Josh Hamilton and non-psycho Elijah Dukes. Not to mention Toe Nash!!!

...like one of those guys.

 

[terrier]

As a fellow Bishop Hendricken alum, please say this **** isn't so (I've never met him, but have dealt with members of his family at my last stop). He was just inducted into our athletic Hall of Fame last year.
The injuries go back to breaking his leg playing freshman football. Maybe he should've stuck with volleyball - he made All-State without hurting himself.

 

[Armchair_QB]

I have "general soreness" all the time, how come I can't get off from work?

Baldelli's hammies have been a problem for a while. He was doing a minor league rehab stint when they got "sore" again. Last I heard was that they were still holding out hope he could be back at the end of the year.

That dude has had some bad luck. He was recovering from another injury (I think in 2005) when he ruptured a tendon doing some simple throwing.

Blew out his knee playing baseball with his brother in the back yard. Which, let's face it, is a pretty suspicious explanation.

Then he snapped his elbow just throwing the ball, as you mentioned.

You add these up and he's got a lot of bizarre injuries. And their silence makes me think that they worry that Baldelli is about to end up...

...a drug free Josh Hamilton and non-psycho Elijah Dukes. Not to mention Toe Nash!!!

...like one of those guys.

Drug problem didn't cross my mind. I was thinking something more along the line of a serious health issue.

 

[wickedwritah]

I can see it now: J.D. Drew for Rocco Baldelli, straight up.

One can't play. The other can't play.

I hope Rocco is OK. This silence reminds me of Magic Johnson's "flu-like symptoms" forcing him to miss a pre-season game in Utah 16 years ago. And we all know how that turned out.

 

[Double Down]

Then he snapped his elbow just throwing the ball, as you mentioned.

Ok, wait a minute ... didn't his "just throwing" involve something like trying to throw a strike from the centerfield fence without bouncing the ball? Or some other stupid, teenage **** like that? Seems like I heard (or read) that somewhere.

 

[mike311gd]

I can see it now: J.D. Drew for Rocco Baldelli, straight up.

One can't play. The other can't play.

I hope Rocco is OK. This silence reminds me of Magic Johnson's "flu-like symptoms" forcing him to miss a pre-season game in Utah 16 years ago. And we all know how that turned out.

Baldelli's going to get really fat and have a bad talk show?

And turn into a black man?

 

[Boom_70]

I'm hearing that he developed a big gambling problem betting on college basketball .

Some friends from hendriken turned low level Providence mobsters got him involved.

 

[wickedwritah]

I'm hearing that he developed a big gambling problem betting on college basketball .

Some friends from hendriken turned low level Providence mobsters got him involved.

If that were true:
-- Redefines the "throwing injujry."
-- I would think it would've leaked out by now.

 

[LiveStrong]

D-Rays REALLY should have traded him this past offseason.

 

[Football_Bat]

Those no-good Hendricken alums .... ;D

 

[Boom_70]

Sorry I didn't put this on the baseball thread, and mods can feel free to merge, but I was hoping someone from tampaSportsJournalists.com had an inkling as to what the hell is going on with Rocco Baldelli. He's apparently undergone an extensive battery of tests and neither he nor the D-Rays will talk about it.

He had such a brilliant start to his career and now he can't stay on the field. And his last ailment--called "general soreness" after he played in all of two rehab games--coupled with the radio silence over his test results makes it easy to think worse-case scenario.

Any rumblings from down that way?

There is also a rumor that he tested postive for an experimental growth hormone developed by an East German chemist called Havenbol.

 

[BYH]

Boomer, as always, you are right on.

 

[terrier]

Boom, if you're thinking of the same clan I'm thinking of re: Providence mobsters, would that be the Irish family (not quite the Caffees from "Brotherhood") which runs a certain flesh emporium with which many prominent Boston athletes are well acquainted?
I've been in that place when it was just a bar, before it became a fleshpot. Given that I overheard conversations about plans to assault and rob gay men, its current incarnation may be a little safer.