Baldelli update ...

Devil Rays CF Rocco Baldelli will miss at least a few days of spring training games due to a right hamstring injury and said it's possible he could be out longer.

Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday he didn't expect Baldelli to be out for more than a few games: "I don't think it's anything serious at all.''

But Baldelli, who was out until June last season with hamstring problems that popped up around the same time of spring, said he had no way to know how severe the latest injury was and couldn't say whether it was more likely he'd  be out for three days or three months.

"I hope it's not the latter but I can't say. I honestly can't,'' Baldelli said. "If I told you guys I'd be lying.''
Baldelli said he couldn't tell if this injury was more severe than what happened to him last year.

"I can't tell anymore,'' he said. "I don't know. I've strained it and it's felt better in a day or two, and other times like last year in spring training I thought it was going to be fine and it wasn't. I wish I knew.''

Maddon said he did not think it was as serious as last spring and described it as "only a mild piece of tightness back there.'' He also said he would not come up with a contingency plan because Baldelli "is going to be there" on opening day.

Baldelli went through a light workout on Wednesday, including some jogging, and said he would be evaluated on a daily basis. It seems unlikely he would return before Sunday. He left Tuesday's game after four innings with tightness in the hamstring.

In Baldelli's absence, Elijah Dukes was to start in centerfield on Wednesday and Ty Wigginton was to move up to third in the batting order.

Also Wednesday, the Rays reduced their roster to 40 by optioning LHP Jeff Ridgway to Triple-A Durham.

Comments

[skeals]

Hamstring a fluke??? As much as a doubtful situation this appears, I'm still wishing it goes away.

Mix in a soak in the cold tub and hot tub!

[Jeremy]

If there's one person that's happy that Rocco's up to his usual pre-season shenanigans it's good ole Jonny Gomes...haha...and the fact that Maddon and Rocco are in the same club house and saying different things about the length of time the injury is gonna keep Rocco out, should tell everyone with some mass of thickness between their ears what's what.

[Jeff]

OOPS - almost forgot this in the Rays alt promo package (see Feb. 22 heater). Baldelli "Hamstring Night" - a colorful green, white and blue string to tie up those Easter hams!