Resilient Rocco Rules Rays

I’m fascinated with Rays’ centerfielder Rocco Badelli. Baldelli beckons notions of Lou Gehrig. Rocco is reminiscent of the iconic Iron Horse in stature, style and skillfulness. Their fragile but fluid manner is comparable. Sinuous and supply, the structured stars shine when they swing. In the field, all eyes extract their attention. Baldelli’s pure gift for the game and fielding forte effect affection in my heart. I am fond of his diamond displays and natural knack for baseball. Gehrig causes the same feelings to stir up in my soul whenever I read about him or watch film of his days in pinstripes. Gehrig was the prototypical, epitome of respect and humility. Rocco exhibits all those traits and qualities even if he is the least likely to ever break a consecutive games played record. Both players are the soft-spoken leaders who define their teams.
I declared Baldelli my favorite major leaguer in 2003 despite him playing for the division rival Devil Rays. His first season in Tampa Bay was incredibly over hyped. Many sportswriters, scouts and coaches declared him the next Joe DiMaggio. He shared the Clippers’ position and jersey number 5. Baldelli finished his rookie year with a standout 78 RBIs and respectable .289 batting average. He is a free swinger at the plate so his strikeouts were glaring numbers. The speedster stole 27 bases in 2003 and had a incredible .989 fielding percentage. As far as five tool players went, Rocco ranked right up there.
Maybe it was the Yankees’ lack of a homegrown kid with raw talent or the need to associate with an anonymous athlete that attracted me to Baldelli. Rocco drew me in somehow though and I’ve not stopped following his career. Through injury setbacks, struggling teams and being handed unfair standards and placed on a pedestal, Rocco remained the same player. He’s been on the disabled list more often than some who’ve been in the league for a dozen years. But, his endurance and overall perserverance deserve mention. Baldelli’s go-ahead hit against Boston last night was a sweet scene for this Rocco supporter. In Monday’s 9-1 socking of the Sox, Baldelli had 3 RBI’s. He’s an unsung hero, much like my hero Lou Gehrig was in NY. Gehrig played in the shadows of Babe Ruth. Rocco doesn’t stand out either. His team of up-and-comers Evan Longoria, BJ Upton and David Price overshadow the centerfielder. He is even considered one of the older, more experienced players on the team. The 26 year old has been almost a mentor to the newbies.
I was saddened by the news of Rocco’s mitochondrial abnormalities. It seems to hinder his performance and cause him fatigue. Some days, he cannot go all out because his body just won’t allow it. His muscles do not work or recover as they should. Gehrig suffered later in his career from ALS. We all remember his Fourth of July speech at Yankee Stadium with tears and the way he accepted the challenge of fate. Rocco’s condition is not terminal but Baldelli is proving he has the same demeanor and outlook on life and in baseball. He is proving adversity wrong in order to play. The Rays have an option of re-signing their farm product after this year. Baldelli becomes a free agent at the end of 2008. I can think of no better home than the Bronx for Baldelli. He’s injury prone and not the same prospect he once was, but would be a terrific Yankees. Looking back on the Rays of 2003, you can argue Rocco started it all. He was the focal point and centerpiece the team was built around. Look where they are now and how far they’ve come. Wednesday night, the baby Rays will play their first game in the World Series of baseball.
Parting points: I was happy to read Mark Ellis was given a two year contract with Oakland. The A’s second baseman has also been a favorite of mine, along with third baseman Eric Chavez.