Baldelli officially gone?
Wednesday, 7. January 2009
The Heater has put out a post that Rocco Baldelli is all but gone. Rocco has basically become an afterthought now with the signing of Pat Burrell and the limited funds left that we assume will go toward the bullpen. That’s fine. The Rays owe nothing to Rocco and Rocco owes nothing to the Rays. I do find myself lost at the destinations that are being mentioned though. Here’s the list being reported.
- Pirates/Orioles:The Rays just got themselves out of the perennial losers club and Roc got to be a part of it, why go back to one? Either of these teams would be a horrible decision for Roc unless it was a one year deal just to prove he can play again, but he has even stated that he’s unsure if he can play the field everyday. Bad Choices here.
- Yankees: Why why why?! It’s bad enough that Roc has drawn comparisons to Joe DiMaggio, why go and put that type of pressure on yourself? Injuries, the Joe D comparison and the pressure to win would make Baldelli target practice for the firing range of reporters and fans in New York. Bad!
- Reds: Can’t DH there and they’re another non contender. The Reds could get better though and Rocco could be in a platoon situation there. This is puzzling only because of Rocco’s statements about playing the field, but if the money is right I could see it.
- Phillies: There is a combination of things I see wrong with this, though it’s not as bad a choice of the previously mentioned. First, don’t you think it would bother a guy playing for the team that just beat you in the World Series? It would bother me, but maybe I’m being a little juvenile about it. The same things about pressure and playing the field come into play here also, but the city bothers me most. Why would someone as laid back as Rocco want to go to that hellhole? The team seems classy, but the fans are the worst in sports. He might as well go play soccer in Germany!
- Red Sox: This would be the toughest for all of us Rays fans to swallow. How could Rocco do this?! I realize he’s from Rhode Island and it would basically be going home, but why? The Sox are generally a classy team and the city would embrace him like a long lost son, but why?! He could DH on occasion and be a fourth outfielder, but….never mind.
The most frustrating thing to me with all this is that all signs point to Boston. He’s a homer, a great guy and a great story. It would probably be a childhood dream come true for him, but damn, why Boston? Given the rivalry that the Rays have developed with the Sox over the years, even before the Rays were good, how could he switch sides like that? It’s just sickening to me.
I’ve heard people tell me they think Rocco should give the Rays a discount and come back for a year because they were so patient with him and his condition, but I don’t agree with that. He couldn’t help what happened and neither could the Rays. Giving guys money like the Rays gave Rocco are always a risk and that’s why. It’s not like Baldelli didn’t want to play, he couldn’t. Again, no one owes anyone anything here. My problem with this whole thing, and I think I speak for most fans, is the rivalry part of it.
The bottom line is this whole thing is this, Roc will most likely be in a Red Sox uniform next year and that will suck. It is a scenario I’m not used to as a fan. It’s not like Clemens going to the Yankees or anyting. It’s a guy going back to play for his hometown team and continuing his baseball career. As easy as that is to understand, I’d like to think that we mean as much to him here as he did to us and that would prevent him from going. It’s so hard to wrap my head around because I don’t think he’ll chase the money, I think he wants to go home. I understand it all, but it’s still hard for me to get.
For me it’s like this. I was a Marine. Marines are a department of the Navy. Anyone who’s been in the military knows there is a huge rivalry between branches and we all talk shit about each other. That being said, there is no Marine Corps football team. There’s an Army, Navy and an Air Force, but no Marine Corps. Being a department of the Navy, we root for Navy when these teams play each other, but I would never want to be in the Navy. Get it? I respect everyone, but I’m a Marine and I take pride in that and could never don another’s uniform. The problem with me relating it this way is because there isn’t big money involved. Every jarhead I know would tell you the same thing I just did, but if someone offered me a couple mil to put on the ice cream whites, well.
Capping this drawn out thing off, I wish Rocco well where ever he goes, I just hope it’s not Boston.
