Rays of Light

Lunch Break - 8/7/08 - Really better with Rocco?

Are the Rays REALLY a better team with Rocco Baldelli? Well, I suppose that depends on what the corresponding roster move to bring him in is.

As currently constructed, here’s how the Rays’ 25-man roster looks:

Pitchers (12): Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Jackson, Sonnanstine, Hammel, Howell, Balfour, Reyes, Miller, Wheeler, Percival

Catchers (2): Navarro, Riggans

Infielders (6) : Pena, Iwamura, Bartlett, Longoria, Aybar, Zobrist

Outfielders (4): Crawford, Upton, Gross, Hinske

DH (1): Floyd

(Of course, calling Cliff Floyd an “outfielder” might be a bit generous.)

Certainly, in my opinion, the least useful player of all is Cliff Floyd since he can only DH and he can only play against right-handed pitching. At least that’s what Joe Maddon seems to think. At the same time, though, Cornelius isn’t going anywhere unless he gets hurt, so get any thoughts of the Rays cutting him out of your little head right now.

Ben Zobrist and Willy Aybar are both very useful because they can play multiple positions; at this moment, Zobrist is hitting better than Aybar and can play more positions (outfield, and he’s a better shortstop), plus he’s a better runner.

Eric Hinske can play third base and first base, which eliminates some of Aybar’s utility, and B.J. Upton could technically play the infield in an absolutely dire emergency in which the outfield HAD to consist of Carl Crawford, Gabe Gross, and Cliff Floyd.

One problem I’ve had with this team’s construction from the beginning is that the 12-man pitching staff handcuffs Joe Maddon and the decisions he can make over the course of a game or a week as it relates to substitutions and resting position players, but is there really a pitcher from that group you could just outright dump? Hammel has been effective as a long-reliever. Miller is very good against left-handed batters. Balfour, Howell, Wheeler, and Percival have their spots locked in. That leaves just Al Reyes as a question mark, but I don’t see the Rays simply cutting him loose to make room for Rocco.

So, that really leaves two players - Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist - who the team would consider dropping in order to activate Rocco from the disabled list, and I’m not sure the team is “better” with Rocco instead of either of those two right now, simply based on roster construction. Those two are extremely valuable for their positional flexibility, whereas Rocco will be nothing but a right-fielder who can’t play every day and hasn’t seen big league pitching in over a year. You really mean to tell me that ANOTHER part-time outfielder/DH type (the opposite Cliff Floyd) makes this roster better than it is right now?

Don’t get me wrong - I love Rocco and I want to see him succeed, but I don’t necessarily know that he should be added at the expense of either Aybar or Zobrist. Maybe the team invents another injury for Cliff Floyd to get him to miss a little it of time and see what we really have with Rocco. But, barring that, SOMEONE is going to have to go…

Gun to my head, I pick Aybar, simply because Zobrist has even more flexibility and, frankly, he’s hitting better right now. But again, it’s an interesting choice because I don’t think there’s a clear indication that Rocco Baldelli - in his current state - makes this team any better by being on the roster.

Tags: Rocco Baldelli
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Giddy

The thought of Rocco Baldelli being anywhere near the Trop tonight gets me all sorts of giddy. I know that there’s many people who feel like he’s overrated, and others who feel like there’s nothing he can add to the team, but he’s one of my favorite players in franchise history, and I will certainly applaud his return to the lineup if it happens tonight.

Tags: Rocco Baldelli
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Rocco’s Modern Life

Per Marc Lancaster…

oe Maddon said before the game he assumes Baldelli will make his way back to St. Pete sometime tomorrow to get checked out by the Rays’ medical staff, and he didn’t rule out Baldelli being activated as soon as tomorrow.

“I can’t say it’s impossible, but I have not discussed that specifically with Andrew [Friedman] for tomorrow,” said Maddon. “But I can’t say that it’s impossible.”

Baldelli would not be a full-time player for the Rays, so if he comes through tonight with no complaints, it’s conceivable that he could be deemed ready. The Rays could throw him straight into the fire against lefty Kenny Rogers, but that would seem to fly in the face of the cautious approach they have taken so far. Or, they could give him a couple more days to rest and mull their various options before making a move.

Tags: Rocco Baldelli
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Crawford renewed, Baldelli declined, Wheeler extended

According to MLB Home Plate on XM Radio, the Rays have done the expected and exercised Carl Crawford’s 2009 option and declined Rocco Baldelli’s 2009 option.

Also according to Home Plate, the Rays extended Dan Wheeler’s contract for 3 years and $10 million. Not sure if that includes any kind of no-trade clause or anything, but it’s not a bad deal if you consider how expensive quality relief pitching has been. It makes him easy to move if there isn’t a no-trade clause involved.

Tags: Carl Crawford, Dan Wheeler, Rocco Baldelli
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D-day for Crawford/Baldelli contracts

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the Rays need to make the decisions on Carl Crawford’s and Rocco Baldelli’s contracts today. Essentially they exercise the 2009 options on the deals or else pay huge buyouts to both players.

One would assume that Carl’s option (something like $8 million) will get picked up, while the Rays will pay the $3 or $4 million to buy out Baldelli’s contract.

More on this as the day goes on.

Tags: Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli
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Go flame this guy

Normally I don’t say things like this, but I can’t help myself. Rays Index picked up a thread on some douchebag who writes for FOX Sports making light of Rocco Baldelli’s health problems. Go make life miserable for that guy until he is forced to issue an apology to Rocco for the things that he wrote.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7909858 

Tags: Rocco Baldelli
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So much going on, where do I begin?

So much happened yesterday that it’s hard to figure out where to begin, but it seems like the most logical place is with Rocco Baldelli - since that’s actually a much more important and vital story than a Yankee scrub with 40 games of big league experience trying to act like a tough guy.

As I’m sure everyone’s heard by now, Rocco is shutting it down - perhaps forever - because of an unidentified muscle disorder. They can’t fix him since they don’t know what’s wrong, and it is making it nearly impossible for him to perform basic workouts like jogging and batting practice without feeling severely fatigued. (St. Pete Times)

Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely, but said Wednesday he is not retiring. He said there hasn’t been an exact diagnosis but that doctors have told him he has “some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities.”

“Basically somewhere along the line … either my body isn’t making or storing ATP the right way, therefore not allowing my muscles to work as they should, and especially recover like they’re supposed to on a day-to-day basis.”

Rocco, to his credit, has vowed to keep trying to work and fight and make it back to the big leagues, but is - of course - at the mercy of the doctors who are working on him. The Times’ Gary Shelton put it very well in a column in today’s paper:

After all of this time, perhaps you have run out of tears for Rocco Baldelli. After all of these injuries, perhaps you are no longer able to feel his pain.

It is a cold world, and his is an old story, and by now, perhaps you are eager to see the Rays move along without him. Baldelli has been injured for so long now, and he has said goodbye so many times, that perhaps you have become numbed to the continued ache of a lost career.

Even for a good guy, even for a talented player, sympathy has a shelf life. And so it is understandable that so many fans seem to have become weary of Baldelli’s continuing struggles.

After hearing the news about Rocco yesterday, I felt exceptionally guilty for all of the negative things I had posted in the past. None of the things I said were meant with malice, of course, but had I know that he suffered from a life-altering disease I never would’ve made light of his constant injury problems. Mr. Shelton is exactly right when he says that “sympathy has a shelf life” and that there were plenty of people that had grown tired of the “Will he, or won’t he?” routine surrounding Baldelli and his big league prospects.

At the end of the day, though, we’re talking about a human being who now knows that his livelihood may be over long before it really hit its prime. Sure, he’s made a decent amount of money so far - and will make even more from his contract buyout - but as an idealist, I like to think that the money isn’t ALWAYS what its about. I like to think that these guys take pride in putting on the uniform and busting their asses every day to try and help the team win and to entertain the fans. I get the feeling that Rocco honestly tried as hard as he could to get back into uniform and get back onto the field, and the only reward he really got out of it was more fatigued muscles and a littany of questions about his heart and his makeup.

On a personal level, I’ve always loved Rocco. When he’s on the field, he’s my favorite player out there. To think that he may have played his final big league game is, in a way, robbing baseball of one of its finest talents and someone who should have been at the center of the Rays’ breakthrough here at the end of the decade. Instead, he will just go down as a footnote to Rays history, likely forgotten or lumped in with the Joe Joe Charbonneaus of the world.  And that, I think, is nearly as much a tragedy as his current medical condition, because he truly was one of the most talented players to ever put on the Rays uniform.

Tags: Rocco Baldelli
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Baldelli to start season on DL

Rocco Baldelli addressed the media today and informed the group there that he has some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities. He has been seeing numerous doctors around the country to figure out what is wrong with him. The Rays have placed him on the disabled list and his return date is unknown.

After Baldelli talked, Rays VP Andrew Friedman said that the team is not likely to pick up the 2009 contract option on Rocco’s contract. The Rays have until April 1st to accept or decline the option. He went on to say that he hopes that Rocco plays his entire career with the Rays.

Tags: Rocco Baldelli
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Lunch Break - 3/7/08

To piggy-back on what I wrote earlier this morning, who do you think fills Rocco’s spot on the roster if he’s not ready to go come opening day? Justin Ruggiano, the most natural outfielder of the bunch? Eric Hinske, the lefty threat? Joel Guzman, who they will attempt to teach the outfield? Someone else that I’m not mentioning?

I still stick by my statement of Justin Ruggiano because he’s the most natural - and therefore best defensive - outfielder of the group. They Rays will need SOMEONE out there who knows what he’s doing; Ben Zobrist as an extra outfielder just isn’t going to cut it.

Tags: Eric Hinske, Joel Guzman, Justin Ruggiano, Rocco Baldelli
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Lunch Break - 2/18/08

Am I REALLY asking about the trading deadline in February? I sure am!

Which of the following players would YOU most expect to be traded on or before July 31st: Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler, Rocco Baldelli, or Jonny Gomes?

I’m going with Wheeler - I think the Rays have the least future use for him when you also consider the value he would bring to another team down the stretch.

Tags: Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler, Jonny Gomes, Rocco Baldelli
Posted in Discussion | 7 Comments »