Back to the Rays Report

Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

 @RMooneyTrib
 TBO_Rays
Send us your questions

More Links:

• Schedule/Results
• Player Stats
• Team Stats

Most Recent Entries

• Rays-Red Sox, Round II: Can Rays afford a beanball war?
• Robinson product Gibson advances to NCAA track finals
• Panini previews Gold Standard autographs
• UD unveils Military Machines inserts for 2012 Goodwin Champions set
• Rays @ BoSox: Guyer out for the season, Jennings close to returning and lineups
• USF softball: It’s game day
• Weekly Tampa Bay fishing report
• Rays at BoSox: Rivalry renewed
• Karen Cooley returns as Zephyrhills girls swimming coach
• USF beats Pitt, stays alive
• The Nerds head north
• Jeffrey Shank out as Gulf boys basketball coach
• Berkeley Prep captures Academic Team Champion Award - again
• This week’s signings and offers
• Berkeley Prep wins FHSAA Academic Award standings

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011

Rays hire Baldelli as assistant

Posted Mar 2, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Mar 2, 2010 at 01:22 PM

PORT CHARLOTTE – The Rays today brought back popular outfielder Rocco Baldelli, hiring him to a behind-the-scenes post as a special assistant.

He’ll work primarily with minor leaguers in the Rays’ minor league camp and take on special assignments working with select players, Rays vice president for baseball Andrew Friedman said.

We’re going to hash it out more in the coming days, but obviously we’re thrilled to add Rocco and his experience and what he can bring to our younger players,” Friedman said.

Looking strong and fit, Baldelli, 28, said he is not retiring as a player but that a “shoulder issue” has kept him from going for a playing job this year. He said the shoulder ailment is “significant enough to where I’m not going to be throwing any time soon.”

A gifted athlete with a power, Baldelli played for the team from 2003-2008 but battled injuries and a medical condition that made him prone to muscle fatigue. He played in only 28 regular season games in 2008, hitting .263 with four home runs.

After spending last season with the Red Sox, appearing in 62 games and hitting .253 with seven home runs while fighting through a variety of physical ailments, he became a free agent after the season.

“It’s going ot be fun,” Baldelli said of his new post. “I think it’s going to be good for me to stay in the game. It’s a good transition because this will be the first year that I’m not actively trying to get out on the field as fast as possible.

“Hopefully, I can help some of the young players out. I don’t’ think I would want to do it in any other organization. I feel like this is my home.”

Friedman would not rule out the possibility Baldelli could rejoin the Rays as a player. He emphasized that Baldelli was not hired with that in mind but said “anything is possible.”

Baldelli said he isn’t considering a second career as a coach or manager at this point but is interested in finding out “what I like to do and what I can do well, I guess.”

- Tony Fabrizio