Baldelli's issues: "Abnormalities" that cause extreme fatigue

Rocco Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely - but is not retiring - because of what he said are "some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities,'' a condition that leaves him feeling extremely fatigued after just a brief workout.

"When I say "fatigued" my body is literally spent after a very short amount of time out on the field which makes it extremely frustrating and difficult, but it's kind of a reality right now,'' he said during a 13-minute session with reporters before Wednesday's game. "I feel like I've done a serious workout after a very short period of time, and it's a very odd feeling. ... I try not to be too dramatic when I explain what's going on, but it's not easy when you're out on the field for a very short period of time and you're done, and you're not really worth anything else out there. That's a tough thing to handle because you wonder why. You wonder why this is how your body feels.''

Baldelli, 26, said there has been no exact diagnosis but the consensus of several experts was the rare condition that limits the ability of his muscles to recover. "Basically somewhere along the line ... either my body is not making or producing or storing ATP the right way and therefore not allowing, apparently, my muscles to work as they should, and especially recover like they're supposed to on a day-to-day basis. It becomes very difficult to go out and literally be on the field every day and play.''

ATP, according to the website health.howstuffworks.com is a chemical, adenosine triphosphate, that is the energy source for muscles and "in order to continue exercising, your muscles must continuously make ATP. To make this happen, your body must supply oxygen to the muscles and eliminate the waste products and heat. The more strenuous the exercise, the greater the demands of working muscle. If these needs are not met, then exercise will cease - that is, you become exhausted and you won't be able to keep going."

Baldelli provided this description:
"I think the best way to describe it is literal muscle fatigue and cramping way before my body should be feeling these things. I would go out there and I was pretty much incapable of doing basic baseball activities, running and hitting and throwing. These were things I had done my whole life pretty easily and at some point within the last two years, we're not exactly sure why, these things started to change.''
Baldelli moved to verge of tears several times in discussing details of his condition for the first time. He indicated he did not consider the condition life-threatening, saying "it's not something I'm overly worried about as far as on a long-term basis right now. And he said he would do "everything in my power" to get back on the field, but there was no timetable for a return, whether this season or ever. The Rays will place him on the disabled list to start the season and "identify" a replacement to be part of a platoon situation in right field and provide depth at the other spots and DH.

"As far as my baseball career I'm not here to stand in front of you telling you I'm retiring,'' Baldelli said. "We're still going pursue any avenue that we can to try to figure out what is going on and have a better understanding of what is going on. But at this time throughout all of the extensive testing that we've  done, we don't have a concrete answer. The doctors' consensus is these are the problems that I'm experiencing and there's probably a lot of medical proof of these things but they have been unable to specifically identify an exact reason or an exact problem down to a specific name. That's kind of frustrating.''

Baldelli said he will remain on the disabled list "indefinitely until we find out something else that could possibly improve my situation.''

Executive vice president Andrew Friedman termed Baldelli's condition "extremely rare" for professional athlete but said the Rays will work diligently to find a way to get him back on the field.
"The most important thing is I think all of us are cautiously optimistic,'' Friedman said. "I don't have a medical reason to feel that way, but I know with Rocco's determination, with our training staff, with modern medicine the way it is, I refuse to believe there's not a way we can figure this out. It may prove to be naive. It may prove to be right. We don't know yet.''

Baldelli thanked the Rays for their support, saying "this is probably as difficult and frustrating a thing I've ever had to deal with as a person. And we're going to do everything we can to fix and hopefully solve this problem.''

Before Baldelli spoke, Rays manager Joe Maddon offered this perspective:
"It's tough to figure out. It's something that he feels. It's something that unless you're inside that body you have no idea what it feels like. And it's unfortunate because you're talking about a gifted athlete right here. One of the more gifted athletes I would think in all of the American League given a chance to play on a daily basis. So it's hard. It's hard for him. It's harder for him than for us. It's frustrating for us, it's a career for him. It's a way of life. It's supporting his family in the future. It's difficutl. So we're just trying to pay attention to him and respect, because you have no idea what he feels like and it's frustrating. But it's even more frustrating for him.''

Baldelli, 26, has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring strain in a May 15 game, and has played just twice this spring, last on March 4, because his legs haven't recovered well and don't feel right.
"It's not really encouraging right now, it hasn't really been progressing,'' Maddon said before Wednesday's game. "It's one of those day by day situations and it's not moving forward.''

Comments

[tricia murphy]

I wonder if it has been suggested he obtain IVIG infusions? I have a similar condition and get an IV of immunoglobulin once a month. These treatments have DRAMATICALLY improved my quality of life. I know they can be beneficial for several conditions.

As I was recently diagnosed with the same illness, I hope he will contact me so that I can obtain more inform from him. This is a very frightening time for me.

[james]

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[TX-Rocco-Fan]

ROCCO BLASTS A HOMERUN! WAY TO GO!

Rocco, if you're reading this...you are the man. I know your Rays lost the World Series, but you should be so proud that your team MADE it that far. What a comeback from last season, not just for the Rays but for you.

You signed a ball for me 2 years ago and I have it sitting in my case next to your baseball rookie card. I knew your clubhouse manager's dad a few years back and he told you about a "fan in New York". That's me.

Best wishes for the future, Rocco. I wish you a long and succesful career in baseball.

[K]

I didn't the take time to read all of the post, but did see one or two very negative ones as I scrolled all the way down. I have the same disorder as Rocco, but it was discovered when I was 14 or 15, now I am 27. 10+ years later and I still wonder what could have been… all because something went haywire. Just as Baldelli I was/am a very gifted athlete. However, I was robbed of my dreams which I spent my first 13 years preparing for, all before they could even start. I spent from 15 to 21ish traveling around the country to visit the top doctors in the world (very few know about this disorder) only to come up with nothing and no other source of information to turn to. Life finished before it started. There is no explanation as to why he or I can not do simple things that we have always done. For me, I would have stroke like episodes that ended in 1 to 2 hour vomiting spells. If you only knew what it felt like to lose your abilities and feel the extreme muscle pain while gasping for what feels like your last breaths, then you wouldn't post such shallow/snide comments. Having this disease is probably one of the worst things anyone can ever imagine. You look fine and can perform at a high level and then boom it's all gone, leaving you lying on the ground half paralyzed and confused by the way your body feels. It robs you mentally just as much as it does physically, without any rhyme or reason. For those who left the negative comments, I am very disheartened that you could be so crude. Sadly, you have a perfect body and probably neglect it daily. If only you had a clue. If people like us only had your luxury, we’d do many great things! If you only knew what it was like you would never have bashed this guy... Having first hand experience and knowledge, I would never even think of wishing this on my worst enemy.

Kane

[TX-Rocco-Fan]

Heck yes, he is doing well! He batted over .400 in the ALCS. And one thing his stats don't show is that, even if he's not getting a lot of hits, he's finding ways to get on base--whether through walks or errors. His fielding has been very good. That one play in game 2 where he doubled-off the runner at first base all the way from RF was impressive!

[665]

Ok I have to say that even though im a PHILLIES fan i still feel sorry ffor him and i hope he does get better and i have to say even for a man with this kind of diease he is doing very weellll!!!!!

[Amy]

As a patient with recently diagnosed Complex I and IV deficiency (a type of Mitochondrial Disease), I am disappointed to hear that people would think that Rocco is faking his illness. He has been the embodiment of what a true athlete is- classy, confident and knows his limits. I commend him for how he has handled the media and criticism. This is a private matter for him, and if that is his choice, people should respect it.
With my Mitochondrial Disease, it causes muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, exercise intolerance, and a decreased immune system. I have had mono 5 times, and no, it is not a contributing factor, but a symptom of the disease (which could explain his Lyme). Being only 22, it is extremely hard to find out that you have any type of this disorder since there is not a cure. These types of diseases can take years to diagnose. It took a misdiagnosis of RA, skin biopsy (that came back negative 7 years ago) and a muscle biopsy from this past June to positively identify that I had a deficiency. Like Rocco, I have had many questionable symptoms for years- but they just wouldn't add up. I am glad that he finally has some sort of diagnosis, and as Rays fans, I think that everyone should support him. I'm not going to lie- I'm a die hard Cubs fan, but I will ALWAYS ROOT FOR ROCCO!

[TX-Rocco-Fan]

I didn't realize that Rocco had Lyme Disease several years ago. (Maybe I should have read the previous posts before writing.)

Lyme Disease can have long-term complications, especially if you don't get it treated early. I wonder how long Rocco went before it was treated. Complications can include chronic arthritis, weakness/fatigue, heart damage, and neurological problems. I'm not sure if it can affect the mitochondria or the cell's ability to produce ATP, however. It would be interesting to know if Rocco believes, himself, that the Lyme Disease triggered all this. Has he ever spoken about the relationship? Considering that he batted .370 for the first half of his rookie year (which was after he had Lyme), it doesn't look like a strong case. Then again, Lyme can hide out and then pop up again with a later infection or complication.

[Paul Sivo]

Being a Marlins fan, I didn't hear about Rocco.s illness'til the ALCS.
I suffer with the same affliction as Rocco and specialists made studies as well as testings. I am diagnosed with a muscle deteriation didorder in both legs and my body always feels tired. I have been active since childhood in sports. Baseball,racquetball,tennis,bowling have always been my sports without being tired until the last few years.
Being a resident of south Florida (Boca Raton)I would like to know.....
"is it possible for Rocco to divulge the name(s) of the specialists sought who have brought him to the point of his playing abilities as displayed in the last two Phiily games?"

[Wyatt Sexton]

Did someone say Lyme Disease?

[TX-Rocco-Fan]

There must be a link between Rocco's previous injuries and his mitochondrial disorder. Maybe since his muscles suffer from early onset fatigue and can't recover as quickly, that explains why his hamstrings are prone to injury. I bet on it.

Previous posters mentioned supplements. I sincerely hope Rocco is taking Coenzyme Q10, which has been proven to improve the funciton of cell mitochondria and help produce ATP--which he has a shortage of. Does anyone know if he is on this? I wish I had access to that information.

Rocco is a true fighter. He is still a great player even with this disorder. I can only hope that he stays in the big leagues. He is exciting to watch.

[DeonaZog]

I know what it is like to have your muscles just stop working and you have to sit, lay down, and/or sleep for a while. The spasms can be so severe that they leave a bruise. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Rocco needing to rest, we know of nothing to prevent this from happening. It even causes us to miss out on events we had planned. It sucks to be ill like this and it’s even harder to deal with when people make fun of you because they do not believe/understand you. If people don’t see a cast or something they think you are fine. It shows their ignorance.

I had to retire June 2, 2001 and that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do because you never want to hear that you are disabled and cannot return to work, especially around the age of 37. I loved my job, I was a work-a-holic, and I drove an hour both ways just to work for a specific company for 17 years. I even paid out-of-county tuition so my children could go to one of the best schools in the next town over from my work... Towards the end of my employment I had to take a deep cut in pay and work for someone in the town I lived in which was five minutes from my house. I had to go home and nap for my lunch break, leave early, come in late and/or work while dealing with pain and cognitive issues. The pain and spasms can be very debilitating.

Rocco Baldelli, I wish you the very best of luck! I hope there will be something that can cure/help you very soon. I know it is a scary time, “but… You can do it”!

Deona

Peace!

[Tom Wann]

Rocco
I was watching the 2nd game of the World Series and the announcers were talking about you illness you are suffering from. I don't know if you have already heard it or not but I felt I had to ask if you have heard of "Monavie". If not and you would like to learn more about it go to The-team.biz/1005183 website and check it out. You can contact me through that site if you want more information. I can't promise you anything but it sure tastes a lot better than a handfull of pills

Tom Wann

[David]

Best of luck to Rocco.

I'm sure that some Yankee fans of the 1930's thought that Lou Gehrig was slacking off before he had to retire with ALS. Guess we will have to ignore the ignorance.

I have just read about Ben Petrick, formerly of the Rockies, who had to retire after being misdiagnosed with Parkinsons.

Hopefully, Rocco will contact Ben to see if there might be some parallels to research. Apparently, chronic Lyme disease can be treated.

It would be great to see Rocco back at full strength.

Thanks to Rob for the references.

[Amanda]

Nick-
Don't worry about those old posts with people being jerks. There's a little force in life called "karma". It'll catch up.
As for you, I wish you the best. You're a strong young man. Keep it up!

[Nick Hoy]

hey i am 14 and have the same disease, it really does suck for all of you who arent believing this i am an athlete too and am now playing waterpolo at a high level for my age too, i know how it feels after working out and everyone will never know how much it sucks especially the idiot at the top and the other unsympathetic people commenting here!

[Rob]

De-ja-vu ?

Remember Petrick from the Colorado Rockies? He was MISDIAGNOSED with Parkinsons Disease and had to retire in his late 20's. It was LYME DISEASE all along.

Goto youtube and search for Under Our Skin trailer. The guy is getting better every day:

In May 2004, when Petrick announced his retirement from baseball, he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000. He revealed that as time went on, it had become clear that despite the medication and treatment he was receiving, the effects of Parkinson's would no longer allow him to play baseball at a high level. Later he learned that he was misdiagnosed. He had Lyme disease all along.

Petrick has done numerous interviews and has spoken publicly about his story at various events and fundraisers in order to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease. His father Vern (former athletic director at Glencoe) also suffers from Parkinson's. Ben Petrick now coaches baseball and football at Glencoe.

Ben Petrick's aunt is Connie Ballmer, wife of Microsoft CEO and billionaire Steve Ballmer.

Petrick is also featured in the documentary film "Under Our Skin". The film profiles the Lyme Disease epidemic and the struggles of doctors, patients and families fighting the disease. It seems as though Petrick was possibly misdiagnosed as having Parkinson's, but, in actuality, is suffering from Lyme Disease.

[Susan]

Do the doctors realize that Baldelli suffered from Lyme Disease in High School? He was bed-ridden and treated for one month. Oftentimes that is NOT enough to kill the Lyme and years later, it can relapse.

Also, a tick carries many other diseases such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever and those, too, can cause a relapse if gone untreated.

Lyme Disease, if not attended to properly and efficiently can burrough into the bones, tissue and brain. Every second is precious.

Please contact me and I can give recommendations for excellent LYME LITERATE doctors as even the best mainstream doctors (including my father who was an orthopedic surgeon) don't know the intricacies of Tick Borne Illness'.

As a reminder to Rocco and his doctors:
Rocco Baldelli didn't know much about Lyme disease until it hit home.

Baldelli, the Devil Rays star outfielder, tested positive for it in
high school and missed the state baseball championship.

"It was a pretty rough experience," he said Saturday.

Lyme disease, named in 1977 after children in Lyme, Conn., inexplicably
showed signs of arthritis, is caused by the bite of a tick carrying a
rare bacterium.

Baldelli said he was so fatigued he felt as if he were on prescription
medication. He would lay on his couch and doze all day. He tested
positive for mononucleosis and a strain of meningitis. But he also had
a red mark on his right leg - an insect bite - and tested positive for
Lyme.

"It very well could have been Lyme disease because I was always in my
back yard, out in the woods and stuff," he said.

Infection is most common in the late spring and early summer; ticks are
more active and people are outdoors more. (It can't be passed from
person to person). It usually takes 7-14 days for symptoms to appear.
They often include a red, slowly expanding "bull's-eye rash,"
tiredness, fever and joint pain, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.

If untreated, patients may develop arthritis and neurological
abnormalities such as facial palsy and inflammation of the brain. In
rare cases, Lyme disease has led to heart problems, such as
inflammation of tissues around the organ.

There were 23,763 reported cases in the United States in 2002,
according to CDC data. Most were in upstate New York, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts and, Baldelli's home state,
Rhode Island. Just 79 cases were reported in Florida. But the CDC says
the disease is "greatly underreported."

It's also misunderstood ... until it hits home.

"It was over a month before I even started to feel better," Baldelli
said. "I honestly didn't do one thing for a whole month. I sat in my
house. I didn't really feel better until the end of the summer."

Blessings to Baldelli!!!

[Susan Southmayd]

I agree with the comment above re: the Lyme Disease. He was diagnosed with it in highschool and was bed-ridden for a month. I have Lyme Disease and it can relapse if not treated for the right length of time.

A tick can also pass on many other diseases such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever, etc

All of these, left untreated, can effect the entire nervous system and CANNOT be ignored. Steroids suppress the immune system and make these illness' worse.

Please, PLEASE get him to a Lyme Literate Doctor asap. I have names so please contact me.

Blessings to Baldelli!

[lymie]

has he been checked for lyme disease?
i heard he "had" it before in the past. it doesn't go away but lays dormant for periods of time. he did, afterall live in rhode island, where there is a lot of lyme and other tick borne illnesses.
if he had cortisone injections for his hamstrings, that is enough to wallop his immune system so the lyme can come out strong.
i know, that is what happened to me. countless others, too.
his symptoms sound VERY much like lyme.
lyme is linked to MS, ALS, and many other neuro diseases and autoimmune diseases.
and that's a fact, jack!

[Sue Dolan]

To those who are not educated on this subject and think that Rocco is playing up this medical condition, I urge you to do this simple search. Look at the Muscular Dystrophy website. Mitochondrial Disorders, although all of them do not fall under this umbrella, most do and you can get a wealth of information there. Also, even more specific to his condition there is this website: http://www.umdf.org/site/c.dnJEKLNqFoG/b.3041929/ just click!

The fatigue we feel is like a wet noodle....complete and utter lack of anything to hold any form. And it's a tiredness that goes not only down to the bone but INSIDE the bone. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy...I wouldn't wish this on my ex-husband and let me tell you, he dodged his child support for 14 years! This condition is VERY real, and you can't imagine how much it truly sucks (for lack of a better word....sorry...I am tired). I was watching the playoffs and I heard the announcer having difficulty say "mitochondrial" often shortened to MITO. Here is a brief synopsis of the disease. I hope you find it informative and I hope those of you that said truly awful things here on this site about Rocco have the courage to say a simple "I'm sorry Rocco and I hope you feel and get better soon." And Rocco....I hope you find a support group and take extra care of yourself!

Happy reading: Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth. When they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell. Cell injury and even cell death follow. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the life of the person in whom this is happening is severely compromised. The disease primarily affects children, but adult onset is becoming more and more common.

Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause the most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney and the endocrine and respiratory systems.

Depending on which cells are affected, symptoms may include loss of motor control, muscle weakness and pain, gastro-intestinal disorders and swallowing difficulties, poor growth, cardiac disease, liver disease, diabetes, respiratory complications, seizures, visual/hearing problems, lactic acidosis, developmental delays and susceptibility to infection.

[Susan]

Dr. Foster said...
The body produces ATP through a process called oxidative phosphorylation that cells undergo during aerobic metabolism with aerobic respiration. ATP is the body's fuel, or energy. Could the problem be of a different sort, such as myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder causing the destruction of acetylcholine receptors in the synaptic clefts of neuromuscular junctions (the connection where the muscle and the nerve come together)? This also causes EXTREME fatigue yet it is, well not curable, but can be offset by medication.

I am only a brand new doctor, and I am sure that Rocco has expert docs who have been studying these diseases for much longer than me, but my experience is that the metabolic disorders and enzymatic disorders usually present in childhood. It seems as though Rocco would have been afflicted with the signs and symptoms of one of these diseases much earlier.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) however, can have an adult onset, triggered perhaps by a virus or bacteria. I hope his docs have tested him for myasthenia, seeing as it is a simple procedure.

I feel for Rocco and hope he can overcome this setback. He is an excellent athlete and I hope he has many, many more years of being one of my "boys" in Tampa Bay.

--Susan Foster, MD

[Danette Jett]

Let me remind you unemphathetic folks, this is not about religion, freedom of choice, another baseball team that is competition, money, an injury that is resolved by rehabilitaion, steriods, a choice to give up a career, or how you think his team will be without him.

This is about an honest, young, ethical, hard working, courageous athelete that has been stricken down by an illness so dramtically that leaves him no other choice but to resign.

We live in America, we have the right to exercise our freedom of speech but some of you guys are infringing on Rocco's privacy and right to make a decision in his best interest. Who do you think you are?

[Danette Jett]

****** Attention all:

Those of you who are interested in a medical explanation for Rocco's condition I challenge you to
read this - you might be surprised.

I am a 45 year old female who was a bodybuilder, areobic instructer and a runner for 15 years. I exceeded in all of these areas. In tip top shape, strong and healthy. Mind you, it was never my intent to become a bodybuilder, my muscles and strength developed over a long period of time out of my desire to be healthy. I also had a college education, and a highly demanding and successful career in Property Management.

I became ill with what I thought was the flu-like symptoms muscle weakness and malaise. I wasnt diagnosed over night but finally two neurologist specialist diagnosed me with the Epstien Barr Virus, Fibromyagia, Chronic Fatique Immune Dysfunction Syndrome or (ME Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) which many good but
uneducated people in the US know very litte about. So here - keep on reading and I will educate you on this. Those who are so quick to judge Rocco please continue to read this for I feel it is necessary for me to advise you that what he has is real and a severe medical condition.

It is a nuerological disorder that causes lack of strength, muscle weakness, NARP pheripal nueropathy, ataxia, and Leigh's syndrome. This virus and immune function disease (also called ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) affects the
mitochondria -tiny energy factories found inside the cells that interfere with the function of our muscles. With this viral infection or gene marked disorder toxins invade the central nervous system and injure deep brain structures, especially the hypothalamus, resulting in damage to the DNA of energy producing mitochondra. This loss of mitochondria puts a normally active healthy peoples
body into a weak, no energy,
fatiqued state.

Medically fatique is defined as exhaustion with little or no exertion. Please be advised that according to the CDC there are millions of Americans with this condition.

OUR FATIQUE is not like the typical fatique you are accustomed to: the result of being tired from work, mental stress, over exertion, jet lag, active recreation, depression, lack of sleep, and vitamine deficiences. This fatique is much more than this...Some people are bedridden, others are confined in wheel chairs and the less severly effected ones arnt. I personally was bedridden for 4 months and have recovered some.

This is what Rocco is experiencing and is a nuerological disorder that is a serious one. The CDC classifies this illness as determental as (Lupus, Aids, MS, serious heart conditions ect.) Research reveals that chronic severe cases are considered more weakening to the system than someone who is recieving chemotheraphy for cancer and worse than MS. So far there is absolutely no cure and I am here to varify that is most certaintly is a disabling condition. It is not unreal and isnt self inflicted. It does take your active life away - you are unable to function and as a result have to live under your limitations. I is a frustrating illness especially for an athelete.

Come on people - or the ones who are being ridiculous here.....
I hardly see how you people consider yourselves medically inclined or competant to judge his illness. I am apalled at some of this unemphathetic responses and replies. Again, let me reiterate, this disease is not self inflicted.

I can only hope that you all never have to walk in our shoes, the less unfortunate sick / disabled ones. For with your attitudes you would fall short of your own expectations. You will crumble and be held responsible for yourself and noone will believe you or care. Please people have a heart and if you arent a competant medical doctor (nuerologist that specializes in this) dont be so quick to form all these negative opinions.

What comes around goes around and you may not leave this world in a perfect health condition - never say never...I just hope that if you are ill...someone believes and helps you.

[Judy Bintliff]

My son has mitochondrial myopathy and is currently playing with the Sheboygan As baseball club in Wisconsin. He can relate to Roccos' situation. He has continued to play baseball at a fairly high level. He is on L Carnitine, which has helped him continue this. We have had no hospitalizations while on it. He will be on it for life. Wondering if Rocco Baldelli takes this?

[Pastor Ann]

This is the major league ballplayer who probably has a mitochondrial disorder simillar to Graham. Good news he has been rehabbing in AA and will be coming back to Tampa after he's reevaluated. The story is so familiar. Judy B.

[Hawksmom]

I don't understand how people can be so cruel and mean. Rocco went to high school with my son. He has always been respected and honored by many as an outstanding athletic. Rocco graduated from high school with an above 4.0 average and could have gone to any colleg of is choice. Instead he followed his love for sports. It is amazing how cruel and judgemental people without even know this person. And how easy it is to kick someone when they are down.
This is a boy who's dad spent many many years coaching and teaching his son about baseball. Although Rocco played and excelled at other high school sports, baseball is his love. How can you condem such a person. A person that attended one of the greatest high school's in RI. Where Christanity and respect for one another were taught. Perhaps you loud mouths don't know about or understand those important values. Believe me Rocco does. I just hope those you people that are making unjust remarks about a person you don't even know never have to face "rough times"!..The world would be a much nicer place without you bashing fools.

[Amanda]

Good call, "From Boston"! How dare people offer him hopes and prayers! You're right, it's a totally useless inactivity. If we really wanted him to get better we would... um... what? What do you propose we do?
Seriously, you're going to make fun of people for wishing someone the best? Just... wow. You're stretching for insult slinging, there.
Nice name by the way, I love the way you talk trash and hide behind a name which only has the use of proving that you have no personal identity, and must simply resort to identifying yourself with a sports team that you're NOT ACTUALLY PART OF. Is your life really that sad and meaningless that your only joy in life is trash talking another baseball team on their message board, and revolving your entire self identity around a team? I guess if your team is a winner, and your life is a failure, clinging to that could make you feel better... Pathetic.
Rocco, we do wish you the best. Hope they can figure out exactly what's wrong and put you on a speedy road to recovery.

[raysfan]

from boston -- why do you feel compelled to go onto a rays board and spew your trash? is it because you're getting scared? you saw what we did with the yankees and you couldn't even manage to beat us today. it's a new day in TB, whether your @$$ likes it or not. here's wishing manny takes a ball to the face and your best prospects break their knees. go rays!

[From Boston]

You Floridians are awesome! Half of you condemn him for being a slacker despite an obvious medical condition. The other half offer up your "hope and prayers", just more useless inactivity. Meanwhile the Sox are going to walk all over your Rays on the way to another World Championship.
Enjoy your ignorance.

[Thomas]

This seems like deja vu all over again as it might be a Mycoplasma infection which can cause the Mitochondrial Dysfunction...?
When I was in the Marine Corps back in Desert Storm, I was in the best shape in my life...6 foot 2, 210lbs and I received a perfect score on my PFT(physical fitness test.) I was exposed to something in the Gulf War(either the meds they gave us to help prevent nerve gas exposure, oil well exposure, as well as many other things possibly in combination) and not too long after this I started having the same identical problems plus symptoms such as: sleeping issues, joint always hurting, memory and cognitive problems and I HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME! I found out ONE of the problems affecting me was a mycoplasma infection, which is very difficult to address.
I send my prayers and best wishes to Rocky since I know the battle he may face, if his condition is similar. Another aspect they may want to pursue is Chemical Sensitivity Exposure...Just something to consider. GOD BLESS YOU and I hope they find out what the problem is. If they find out, please let me know!

[interested]

No way I wanna bag on this guy like some other people on this string are doing. This was a guy who was hearalded and played like one of the next "Superstars" of the game. 99% of players who had that potential and present and future star power, would not just walk away from the game--for financial reasons, and fame--let alone love for the game. However, he is making a bit of money now, so of course there might be some suspicion that maybe it might be he fell out of love for the game, and it may not be fun for him anymore. Or maybe some psychological/mental/fear situation that obviously must be rare--that is preventing him from wanting to take the field. Until that is proved, I have to sympathise that this great athlete has a physical medical condition that that is a horrific issue for him and frustration for the team and fans.

[Lisa]

Wishing Rocco all the best. Prayers for a recovery.

I think it is sad to see people that must be completely miserable in their own lives coming out and trashing a person who is sick. Your lives must be very miserable to be such nasty human beings.

[Rodger]

Rocco was done long ago. of course he wont retire when he is under contract, gettin payed to do nothing is almost as good as getting paid to play baseball.

[yogi berra]

I don't blame him. Of course he is going to do whatever he can to try and be successful. What I don't understand is that everyone in baseball but the Rays saw this kind of thing coming down the tracks for a few years now. Maybe not this weird, but you could just see he was not physically able to be a professional athlete. Hamstrings, back, etc. This is all on management.

[PrimeTime]

Now do we consider Bonds as a 1 year fill-in to rotate with Cliffie and Gomes at RF and DH?

[Doug Sheffield]

This is a real shame. I have a disease called Fibromyalgia but now much better due to treatment. Has he been mapped for this debilitating disease as it involves fatigue and muscle aches-weakness?
I hope it something can be done for such a fine young athlete.
God Bless,

[Daniel]

Are you guys seriously gonna make funna him cuz of this? You guys should rot in he**.

[Mark]

Get rid of Rocco we are wasting our money on this guy. He is playing video games and getting huge $$$ to do it. This guy is a made of straw, lets get a real outfielder who wants to play everyday. I'm sure Rocco makes it to the ball park every day to get his freebies.

[Kris]

It seems that Rocco has Mitochondrial Disease (mito) (www.umdf.org). This is a very serious disease that is much more common that people realize. My daughter suffers from mito. It is amazing how much energy it saps from you. He is lucky, however, to have not had any symptoms until this point in his life. That is a positive for him. In my daughter's case, we are lucky still have her and she is only 6. Mito has many different forms and is linked to both Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's, as well as a few cancers. I am a huge baseball fan and I understand the business side, but folks need to understand that if Rocco truly has mito that it is a very serious disease and EXTREMELY hard to diagnose. Best wishes to him and his medical team to help him understand his energy loss and pain.

Kris.

[Alex]

Reminds me of Ricky Bell

I wish the best for Baldelli, but now we know to stop counting on him year after year.

[MD]

Rocco, how about giving back a couple years of your salary.

[Matt W.]

LOL at Little Dog trolling this page and calling people out, saying that they are hiding behind their computers like cowards. I don't agree with the harsh comments about Rocco but I find it HILARIOUS that Dumpig is calling someone out for hiding - this is the guy who makes a career out of dumping on Gruden from behind his mic yet wouldn't say crap to the man if they were face to face.

Just listen to his a**-kissing of Bruce Allen on the air and then hear what he says all the other times...it's pathetic. He dumped on the Dunn signing and made a crack about how giving away houses shouldn't get you a roster spot but I guarantee he'd be sniffing Warrick's haunches were he to come on the air.

[Tony]

Wow, sure am glad we got rid of Delmon Young...NOT!!!

The Rays SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sh*t can Josh Hamilton right when he is turning his life around and release the most talented young player in the game in Delmon Young. Makes a lot of sense. When their new stadium isn't built this nightmare of an organization will be some other area's head ache.

Good Riddance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JB]

some clown on the Radio is now claiming he knew about his "sickness" but held back.. that is pathetic that some radio wannabe says, "hey look at me I know all"

[steve]

The Rays have to decide by April 1 on a $6-million option for 2009 or a $4-million buyout.

I am sure he is a great guy and has the potential to be a great player but at this point I would cut him.

[Jason]

I was thinking the same thing about Ricky Bell and what happened to him with this story about Rocco that Joe stated. Hopefully, what Rocco has isn't as serious as what Ricky Bell had and his doctors can do what they can to help Rocco lead a long and healthy life. It does help to explain why Rocco was having so many problems coming back fully.

While it does seem like this might be the time to cut bait with Rocco and his 2009 option, I hope the Rays can keep him around in some role.

[Cali]

we do not live in a sympathetic world; rocco's world is even less sympathetic. i feel ya' roc', had FMS for a year or two before docs even knew what is was. family, friends, etc. don't believe you're ill unless you're in a wheelchair. you look fine, but your body feels terrible. i realize know that people don't understand, unless they go through it themselves.

[Harry the Horse]

Rocco is one of the nicest young men I have ever met. We can only hope and pray for his health to improve so he can do what he wants to do the most and that is to play baseball. Give this kid a break. Some of your comments are mind boggling.