Ron Paul, Rick Santorum Suggest Foul Play From Romney Campaign
Ron Paul Reacts To Maine Caucus Results
Rocco Baldelli is back in a Rays uniform, but don't look for him on Joe Maddon's lineup card anytime soon. The 28-year-old outfielder, who was Tampa Bay's first-round draft pick in 2000, has signed on with his original team as a "special assistant" after spending last season as a Red Sox reserve. Baldelli is slated to help Tampa Bay's minor leaguers with their baserunning and outfield play, but he said the assignment doesn't necessarily mean his playing days are finished. As has been the case throughout much of Baldelli's star-crossed career, an injury is once again keeping him from the field -- this time an unspecified shoulder ailment he said he played through during the latter half of last season.
The shoulder problem comes on the heels of Baldelli's mysterious bout with an energy-sapping mitochondrial disorder, diagnosed early in 2008, that relegated him to part-time duty during the Rays' run to the World Series that year and kept him from playing every day last year in Boston.
The Rhode Island native posted a .253/.311/.433 line in 62 games for the Red Sox after agreeing to an incentive-laden one-year deal last winter, but his shoulder issues apparently kept him from competing for a bench role in somebody's camp this spring.
Baldelli's physical decline has rendered him almost an afterthought around the game, making it difficult to remember he played in 156 games as a rookie in 2003, but his presence should make for a firsthand object lesson for the Rays' young prospects. Baldelli was just as hyped in his day as Desmond Jennings is now, but his story reminds us that nothing is guaranteed.
Adele Wins Album Of The Year
Greek Protests Continue As Lawmakers Debate Severe Austerity Measures
2012 Grammy Awards: Celebrities Remember Whitney Houston
Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Country Considers Bills Lifting Gay-Marriage Ban
Updates On Whitney Houston's Autopsy
The Week's 5 Juiciest Apple Rumors
Michael Smerconish: A Response to Sean Hannity
Blogger Faces Possible Death Penalty For Tweets
Costa Concordia Video Shows Crew Reactions To Cruise Crash
GOP Bill Would Strip Workers Of Overtime, Minimum Wage Protections
Mitch McConnell Not Accepting Obama Compromise
WATCH: Nasim Pedrad As Arianna On SNL's Weekend Update
Syrian Forces Rocket Homs As Arab League Meets In Cairo
Paul Ryan On Obama's 'Accounting Trick'
Sarah Palin 'Not Convinced' Of Romney's Conservatism
Mitt Romney Once Backed Provision He Now Decries
Some States Using Funds From Foreclosure Deal To Close Budget Gaps
Rick Santorum: GOP Race A 2-Man Contest
Mitt Romney Wins Maine Caucus
TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads
