Decision looms on Baldelli mystery

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

The status of outfielder Rocco Baldelli remains a mystery.

He has not played since March 4 when he had two at-bats in a game against the visiting Twins at Al Lang Field. When he will return is something he nor Rays vice president of baseball could answer Monday.

“As far as a timeline, I don’t have a timeline,” Baldelli said. “My goal is to get back out on the field. I don’t know when it’s going to be at this point, but I’m doing everything I can to get back out there.”

Baldelli stated that his legs are bothered by something more than the hamstring injuries that have forced him to miss 127 games last season and 70 games in 2006.
“To classify my problems as just a hamstring problem, it’s probably a little bit beyond that,” Baldelli said.

He denied the rumors that his problems stem from a degenerative muscular disorder and expressed optimism that he will return to the field. He just doesn’t know when.

“I’m trying to get to the point where my body feels good and I can go out there and not have to worry about it,” Baldelli said. “I’ve been having trouble getting to that point, so that’s the reason for the extended time off.”

Friedman said the team is close to deadline when they need to know if Baldelli is healthy enough to be included in their plans for this season or if they need to seek an alternative, possibly a trade or signing a free agent.

“The point’s coming pretty soon where we need to get him out on the field and get a clear sense of what we can expect in April and beyond, but we’re not there yet,” Friedman said. “We have (17) days of spring training left to figure things out, but it’s fast approaching.”

As for being ready to play when the season starts March 31 in Baltimore, Friedman said: “I don’t have a good feel. I really don’t. I think the only way we, including Rocco, can have a good feel for that is to get him on the field and see how he does and how he feels and (until we) get him back into a fairly routine way of playing, it’s hard to say. If we don’t get him back into a fairly routine way of playing, than no.”