Rays welcome back Rocco

Posted Feb 27, 2009 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Feb 27, 2009 at 11:36 AM

PORT CHARLOTTE—Old home week continues here today as the Rays welcome Rocco Baldelli to their new home field two days after Jonny Gomes paid a visit.

Baldelli looks good and has been warmly greeted by all involved. He had a lengthy chat with Joe Maddon as the Rays wrapped up batting practice and is now in the cage himself taking some hacks. Baldelli isn’t going to address the media until after BP, but Red Sox manager Terry Francona talked a bit about the constant adjustments taking place in terms of what Baldelli can and can’t do.

“We’ve tried real hard to get a read on him, and the idea is to get the most out of him on the field and not wear him out before he gets to the field,” Francona said. “We’ve tried a lot to make sure he understands that – because he is a really conscientious kid – OK, you don’t have to lead the rundown drills. We understand.”

Check back later for some of Rocco’s thoughts on the matter…