Looks Like The Sox Won’t Be Retiring Nomar’s Number

From Boston.com:

Baldelli on wearing Nomar Garciaparra’s and George Scott’s No. 5:

It was brought to my attention that obviously this has always been a special number in this town and I recognize that as much as anybody. It was brought to my attention that there was a possibility that I was going to be able to wear it. It being the number that I have worn my whole career. I accept it and I think it’s great and I am very happy about it.

Red Sox Set To Sign Rocco Baldelli

From Boston.com:

According to sources close to the talks, the 27-year-old Baldelli is inching closer to a deal with the Sox. Boston has done extensive background work on Baldelli’s health, including a mitochondrial disorder that has been rediagnosed as the less severe channelopathy this winter.

Sox general manager Theo Epstein declined to comment on Baldelli.

There’s hope Baldelli, through diet and medication, can play more than previously anticipated and not suffer the same muscle fatigue to his legs that nearly ended his career a year ago.

Since losing Coco Crisp in the Ramon Ramírez deal with the Royals, the Sox have been in need of a fourth outfielder, preferably one who bats righthanded. Baldelli, a Cumberland, R.I., native, also has drawn interest from the Reds and Pirates, but would prefer to remain closer to home.

Red Sox Yet To Contact Rocco Baldelli

Things are starting to look up for Rocco Baldelli. It’s been revealed that Baldelli has been misdiagnosed with Mitochondrial Disorder. Which will certainly make him a hot commodity for teams to pursue now. You think he’d be a perfect fit for the Red Sox, since they need a fourth outfielder and Baldelli is a native New Englander. But, according to ABC6, the Red Sox have yet to contact the outfielder:

GREAT NEWS FOR ROCCO BALDELLI. A VISIT TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC LAST WEEK REVEALED THAT DOCTORS HAD MISDIAGNOSED HIS ILLNESS.

BALDELLI MISSED MUCH OF LAST SEASON, AND WHEN HE DID PLAY, HE WAS LIMITED BECAUSE OF EXTREME FATIQUE. DOCTORS THOUGHT IT WAS MITOCHONDRIAL DISORDER WHICH CAN BE FATAL.
THE BALDELLI FAMILY TOLD ME TONIGHT THAT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC DIAGNOSED HIS CONDITION AS CHANNEL-OPATHY, A NON-PROGRESSIVE, HIGHLY TREATABLE DISEASE.

CHANNEL-OPATHY IS A DISEASE INVOLVING DYSFUNTION OF AN ION CHANNEL. CHANNEL-OPATHIES ARE KNOWN TO INVOLVE THE ION CHANNELS FOR POTASSIUM, SODIUM, CHLORIDA AND CALCIUM.

ION CHANNELS ARE CRITICAL TO THE MEMBRANES SURROUNDING EVERY LIVING CELL.

BY THE WAY, THE BALDELLIS TELL ME ROCCO HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE RED SOX.

Rocco Baldelli

From Baseball Prospectus:

Tim (DC): With Rocco Baldelli’s mitachondrial disorder, is there enough known to say “He can only be a P/T player going forward”, or is it more “we have NO idea how it will play out”? BTW, very classy to acknowledge Doug Pappas. I am sure Dr. Carroll is proud!

Will Carroll: There’s not. Peter Gammons had some great info on him that I’m not sure if he’s written yet, so I’ll not step on that. There are certain teams that can handle Baldelli on both a p/t basis and medically.

Also, Frank Carpano of Providence’s WJAR-10 NBC  just reported that Baldelli has discovered that he was misdiagnosed:

We begin tonight with some potentially great news for Rhode Island’s Rocco Baldelli: the Tampa Bay Ray who is currently a free agent has discovered his health condition was misdiagnosed.

Baldelli, who has spent nine months being treated for mitochondrial disorder, which causes extreme fatigue and was likely career-threatening, has now been diagnosed with channelopathy.

The word came after Rocco was tested at the Cleveland Clinic. It’s a far less debilitating disease that is treatable.

Rocco’s dad told me tonight that the doctors have changed Rocco’s medications and in about two weeks he should know for sure if the new treatment plan will work and allow him to return to baseball as a full-time player.