Rocco Baldelli Photo by Al Behrman/AP
You know what I really want? A surprise. I don’t mean a “Here’s a picture of your new President having sex with his dog” surprise, I mean a HAPPY surprise. Something to make me feel good. We all deserve a surprise like that some time.
Announcing that the Red Sox are signing Rocco Baldelli at tonight’s Boston Baseball Writers Association dinner would have been one such surprise and, seemingly, that was the plan. But Peter Gammons et al decided we needed to know NOW so now there’s no surprise. I mean, hell, it’ll still be nice when they announce it (which, I imagine, will come when he receives the Tony Conigliaro award) but it would have been a bit more exciting had we no idea the announcement was coming.
How do you not like this story? Kid from New England…Red Sox fan…doesn’t suck…coming back from major health issues and now he’s going to be the fourth outfielder on his hometown team. It’s the feel-good story of the off-season!
I’m a wee bit stoked about the possible addition of Mr Smoltz to the roster as well. But that’s for another entry.
I’ll be at the Writer’s dinner tonight and really look forward to seeing Rocco and hearing the announcement live. Even if I already know what’s coming.
“To make room for Baldelli on the 40-man roster, righthanded pitcher Charlie Zink was designated for assignment.”
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090107&content_id=3736388&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos
I was just reading that, Dave. Zink is one of my boys. I’m really bummed for him.
Still happy about Rocco. I just wish Charlie wasn’t the one to get the boot.
Awwww, that is sad. I was really looking forward to Charlie getting a chance with us again in spring training. ::sighs:: These moves are always so bittersweet.
Really happy about Baldelli and Smoltz.
Could have done without the President and the dog mental image, though. ;)
And imagining Rocco knocking out Big Game James with a left hook in the next donnybrook between the Sox/Rays has me smiling.
Have fun at the dinner, Cyn!
That’s a bugger about Zink. I really thought the Sox wanted to continue developing a knuckleball pitcher to replace Wake eventually. Zink’s MLB.com page already shows ‘waived’ :( Zink’s middle name’s Tadao. I did not know that.
Yup — gotta love low risk, potentially great return on investment additions to the roster!!
Plus, Baldelli’s such a “feel good” story, how can anyone not be happy about that?!?!