TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Baldelli Expected To Join Team This Week

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2007

BOSTON - A locker was available for CF Rocco Baldelli on Monday in the visitors clubhouse at Fenway Park. There was a No. 5 nameplate, a jersey and everything.

But no Baldelli.

Manager Joe Maddon said Baldelli, who has been out since May 16 with a bad left hamstring, is expected to join the team either the next two days in Boston or in Seattle over the weekend.

'He's a great team guy and he's a part of what we're doing,' Maddon said. 'We've got so many games left, we're on a road trip. It's a great place to be with the guys. I'd like to get him involved.'

Baldelli underwent unspecified tests two weeks ago, the results of which have not been made public. The case is no less a mystery to Baldelli's teammates and Rays support staff, many of whom plead ignorance when asked about Baldelli's status.

Maddon indicated Monday that there still might be a chance for Baldelli to play before the end of the season. But even if he can't, Maddon wants Baldelli around - similar to the 2005 season, which Baldelli missed entirely because of knee and elbow injuries but still accompanied the team on road trips occasionally, and even charted pitches from the dugout.

'I just would like to have him here, even if it's just taping ankles,' Maddon said. 'I just want him here to be part of the group.'

TOP ROOKIE?: Rays RF Delmon Young came into Monday's game leading AL rookies in RBIs (81), multi-hit games (50), hits (166), total bases (236) and outfield assists (16). He was third in batting average (.293) and home runs (12), second in doubles (34), fourth in runs scored (60) and second in extra-base hits (46).

With ballots for the major awards voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America due before postseason play begins in three weeks, and with so many AL Rookie of the Year candidates at Fenway Park, the timing was right Monday for Maddon to begin the campaign for Young.

'You look at the batting average and the home runs,' Maddon said, 'and the RBIs and the run production in general, and you combine that with his defense also, I think he's got to be very highly considered for this position.'

The Rays have been distributing a Heisman Trophy-style flyer extolling the achievements of Young in press boxes for about a month.

Maddon said he was aware of the stiff competition, which includes three Red Sox (2B Dustin Pedroia, RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, LHP Hideki Okajima), Royals RHP Brian Bannister and Orioles RHP Jeremy Guthrie. But his vote would go to his guy.

'On a daily basis,' Maddon said, 'I still believe Delmon deserves the award.'

WELCOME BACK: IF Jorge Velandia hadn't been in the majors since 2003. When he arrived Monday at Fenway Park to join the Rays after being promoted from Triple-A Durham, he was greeted warmly and congratulated by many of his new teammates, almost as if it was his first time.

'You keep on playing and see what happens,' said Velandia, who has played for the Padres, Athletics and Mets. 'It's good to be back. We were having a good time in Triple-A. We were going to the finals. I feel bad. I want to be there with my teammates, you know, but it's good to be back in the big leagues.'

Velandia will be used to spell SS Josh Wilson and 2B Brendan Harris, with IF Joel Guzman being limited to the corners from here on out. To make room for Velandia, SS Ben Zobrist (right oblique strain) was moved to the 60-day DL.

NOTEWORTHY: Rays C Dioner Navarro, a switch-hitter who homered batting left-handed Saturday against the Blue Jays, batted right-handed Monday against right-handed Red Sox starter Curt Schilling because of a sore right wrist. ... C Josh Paul also has a slightly sore back, another reason Navarro was in there for the third consecutive game. Paul had been anointed Kazmir's regular catcher. He was available Monday, if needed. ... Red Sox rookie LF Jacoby Ellsbury singled in the third inning to extend his hit streak to 10 games.

Carter Gaddis

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT