Rocco’s Back

After failing to land Jason Bay at the trade deadline, the Rays put a positive spin on their lack of an acquisition to help their offense, pointing to the impending return of Rocco Baldelli as an alternative to Bay. Considering Baldelli’s medical condition, however, it seemed a bit optimistic to be counting on him for any kind of real production.

Sometimes, though, optimism pays off. Baldelli has played in eight games since coming off the DL, and though it’s only 26 at-bats, his .308/.357/.577 mark has to be making people smile. The mitochondrial disorder that sidelined him all year is known best for sapping strength, so the fact that he’s already knocked a pair of home runs and a double is extremely encouraging. If the lingering health problems were going to weaken him physically, it’s pretty unlikely that he’d be driving the ball immediately upon his return.

Trying to project what Baldelli will do the rest of the way is a fool’s errand, as there are too many variables involved with his health, but we know that he can be a very valuable player when he’s 100%. His 2006 performance showed that he can hit for average and power even with his aggressive approach at the plate, and the Rays could certainly use a right-handed hitter who can drive pitches into the gaps.

If Baldelli is able to produce even as a part-time player, the Rays have to like their chances in the playoffs. Their pitching and defense have been outstanding, and adding another potentially productive bat to the line-up serves to make their Cinderella story less likely to strike midnight anytime soon.