Post by John on Jun 7, 2006 11:48:20 GMT -4
Baldelli ready to play
June 7, 2006
The Bradenton Herald
Jun. 7--ST. PETERSBURG -- On the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year of the century, the team with the Devil in its name was pounded by the Los Angeles Angels because its ace, who looked like the best pitcher in baseball only 16 days ago, looked ordinary for his third straight start, and the offense went missing again.
And still, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays managed to end the night on a positive, uplifting, perhaps even spiritual note -- Rocco Baldelli returns today.
That's all you need to know about Tuesday's events at Tropicana Field.
Forget the 12-2 loss to the Angels.
Or that the Rays grabbed the player they wanted -- Evan Longoria -- with the third pick in the draft earlier in the day. He's still a least two years away from helping the big club.
Forget that Scott Kazmir was out of rhythm again and lost for the second time in three starts.
Rocco Baldelli is back.
"I just want to see him on the field," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I want to see him playing. He's a high-end player."
The center fielder, who hasn't played since the final day of 2004 season because of a series of injuries (reconstructive knee and elbow surgeries and a strained left hamstring), will be in the lineup this afternoon when the Rays conclude the three-game series with the Angels and the six-game homestand.
"If everything is cool (with his left hamstring) he'll be in the lineup," Maddon said when announcing the news after the game.
Where Baldelli plays will be determined this afternoon after he is officially reinstated from the disabled list. There was talk of him playing right field for the first few games or even a week or two to cut down on the running and not over-tax his hamstring.
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Maddon said.
Baldelli has not played in 602 days, missing 221 games in that span.
On Nov. 5, 2004, Baldelli underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He sustained the injury while playing baseball with his younger brother, Dante, in the back yard of the family's Cumberland, R.I., home.
While rehabbing the injury last summer, Baldelli tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and required Tommy John surgery.
Just when it looked like Baldelli was ready to join the team for Opening Day, he suffered a severe strain in his left hamstring late in spring training. The Rays first pick in the 2000 draft, who signed a six-year contract in the offseason, spent the last two weeks playing himself back in shape at Triple-A Durham (N.C.).
"We talked about a 15- to 20-day (rehab assignment), and it turned out to be quicker because he was playing so well," Maddon said.
Baldelli, who hit .404 with Durham, will rejoin the team one day after second baseman Jorge Cantu, who returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing 39 games with a broken bone in his left foot.
Maddon expects Baldelli's return to give the struggling Rays offense a lift.
"Presence matters also. When you have you're normal people in (the lineup), that serves as a boost," Maddon said.
Joey Gathright was optioned to Durham to make room on the roster for Baldelli.
Maddon said he will go easy on Baldelli during the first few weeks, giving him plenty of time off to avoid a relapse.
"Make sure there are no setbacks," Maddon said. "That will be my daily concern."
Angels 12, Rays 2
TODAY'S GAME: Tampa Bay hopes Seth McClung (2-7, 6.21) can win the rubber game of the series against Los Angeles rookie Jered Weaver (2-0, 1.35),
4:15 p.m., no TV, 1250-AM
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.
June 7, 2006
The Bradenton Herald
Jun. 7--ST. PETERSBURG -- On the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year of the century, the team with the Devil in its name was pounded by the Los Angeles Angels because its ace, who looked like the best pitcher in baseball only 16 days ago, looked ordinary for his third straight start, and the offense went missing again.
And still, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays managed to end the night on a positive, uplifting, perhaps even spiritual note -- Rocco Baldelli returns today.
That's all you need to know about Tuesday's events at Tropicana Field.
Forget the 12-2 loss to the Angels.
Or that the Rays grabbed the player they wanted -- Evan Longoria -- with the third pick in the draft earlier in the day. He's still a least two years away from helping the big club.
Forget that Scott Kazmir was out of rhythm again and lost for the second time in three starts.
Rocco Baldelli is back.
"I just want to see him on the field," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I want to see him playing. He's a high-end player."
The center fielder, who hasn't played since the final day of 2004 season because of a series of injuries (reconstructive knee and elbow surgeries and a strained left hamstring), will be in the lineup this afternoon when the Rays conclude the three-game series with the Angels and the six-game homestand.
"If everything is cool (with his left hamstring) he'll be in the lineup," Maddon said when announcing the news after the game.
Where Baldelli plays will be determined this afternoon after he is officially reinstated from the disabled list. There was talk of him playing right field for the first few games or even a week or two to cut down on the running and not over-tax his hamstring.
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Maddon said.
Baldelli has not played in 602 days, missing 221 games in that span.
On Nov. 5, 2004, Baldelli underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He sustained the injury while playing baseball with his younger brother, Dante, in the back yard of the family's Cumberland, R.I., home.
While rehabbing the injury last summer, Baldelli tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and required Tommy John surgery.
Just when it looked like Baldelli was ready to join the team for Opening Day, he suffered a severe strain in his left hamstring late in spring training. The Rays first pick in the 2000 draft, who signed a six-year contract in the offseason, spent the last two weeks playing himself back in shape at Triple-A Durham (N.C.).
"We talked about a 15- to 20-day (rehab assignment), and it turned out to be quicker because he was playing so well," Maddon said.
Baldelli, who hit .404 with Durham, will rejoin the team one day after second baseman Jorge Cantu, who returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing 39 games with a broken bone in his left foot.
Maddon expects Baldelli's return to give the struggling Rays offense a lift.
"Presence matters also. When you have you're normal people in (the lineup), that serves as a boost," Maddon said.
Joey Gathright was optioned to Durham to make room on the roster for Baldelli.
Maddon said he will go easy on Baldelli during the first few weeks, giving him plenty of time off to avoid a relapse.
"Make sure there are no setbacks," Maddon said. "That will be my daily concern."
Angels 12, Rays 2
TODAY'S GAME: Tampa Bay hopes Seth McClung (2-7, 6.21) can win the rubber game of the series against Los Angeles rookie Jered Weaver (2-0, 1.35),
4:15 p.m., no TV, 1250-AM
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.