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

[The Glass Guinea]

don't worry, i can still rock out with the other guys ... I don't get too tired doing that

[steven]

Just curious Steve, how much is he making over the next couple of years. I am pretty sure he inked a deal up and through 2011 but I'm not sure of the annual salary. I'm not even a Rays fan I just like having baseball arguments. My thinking is that the team isn't going to compete this year so they might as well see if he can come back strong in '09. Either way we can all agree it's a sad story because we've all seen he can play when he's healthy.

[ryan callahan]

well, now i feel kind of bad for calling him rocco balDLi and for all of the times i ripped on him. i hope one day he can get better.

[ryan callahan]

well, now i feel kind of bad for calling him rocco balDLi and for all of the times i ripped on him. i hope one day he can get better.

[steve]

I agree there is the slight risk that after 3 or 4 non-productive years he will be able to come back. But if I was his employer and he was one of my best paid employees and hasn't produced anything for me in the past 4 years, I would cut ties and take that risk.

[steven]

Steve, it just seems like a big risk since he's on the payroll for 2008 already. He's only 26, if they are able to find out what is wrong with him and doctors can fix it then he ends up becoming a good pro in 2009 and the rays miss out. They don't have an immediate replacement that is going to improve the team. Look at Josh Hamilton everybody counted him out and he looked pretty productive last year at 27 with the Reds.

[steve]

They can release him before April 1st and then they are not obligated to pay him anything in 2009.

[Joe]

Having lived in the area long enough, this eerily reminds me of the late Ricky Bell. Hopefully, this will have a much better result. Good luck, Rocco! Get well.

[al]

He has been seen in photos playing basketball in the off season in Rhode Island, playing touch football etc. Just cut the guy already.

[steven]

The Rays have been a basement dwelling franchise since they entered the majors. Who are they gonna replace Baldelli with that can make a significant difference right now? Besides you can't just release players in the major leagues because contracts are gauranteed so the kid is gonna get paid regardless. If he retires the contract is then void but if he can get healthy and rehab he's young enough that he can make a difference on a big league club for the next decade. All in all its another bad break for what appears to be a talented athlete.

[Chris]

I have a disease called myasthenia gravis . Rocco's symptoms sound very similar to mine. I am 25 years old and had to give up most physical activity for 2 ½ years after my diagnosis.

[JB]

Rational..Have a clue.. The guy is worthless. We are just finding out now he is tired??!! Please..It has been his leg for 3 years.. Rocco himself has said he was ready and now this.. Just saying it might be HGH and Steroids...

[steve]

The Rays need to release Rocco now. Wish him the best but let's move on. They can use his salary to pick up some more middle relief. Baseball is a business so you can't keep paying someone because you feel bad for him.

[Rational]

"Maybe he should try a nap... maybe it has been steroids..When you pull hamstrings and such it is because the tendons are tight from useage...

not buying it Rocco"

Hey, douchebag. If you've been paying attention for the past couple years, you'd know that MLB tests for steroids, and several players, including at least one Devil Ray, was caught and punished.

Rocco was not one of them!

You have no legitimate reason not to believe him!

[Mike]

Clearly something above and beyond an injury is affecting Rocco. I hope that it is nothing serious and that he can go onward living a normal life, with or without baseball.

[Zac]

I don't care how long it takes, as long as we keep Rocco a Ray. The moment we let him go, he will be an MVP on another team, he is way too valuable as a leader, and a player. Bring him in the clubhouse even if he can't play if you ask me.

[vinny]

you cant help but feel for a guy. I am 27 so I am just slightly older. I cannot imagine having somehting like this happen to me at this age. I wish he could recover, you never want to see someone's career get taken away through somehting that is not their fault. It makes you appreciate what you have, because this poor kid is a reminder of how tragic life can unepectedly be. I will pray for you Rocco and hope you can recover

[JB]

Maybe he should try a nap... maybe it has been steroids..When you pull hamstrings and such it is because the tendons are tight from useage...

not buying it Rocco

[Tony]

Maybe now everyone can stop criticizing Rocco like this is somehow his fault. This guy has been nothing but a class act the entire time he's been in the Rays organization. I hope for his sake that he can someday be cured, but I can't imagine how hard it must be for him to know that will probably never happen.

[Laura]

Wow, maybe nutritional deficiencies are playing a part, like magnesium. Also, I wonder if autism specialists/geneticists might be able to help since it is related to the mitochondrial disorders. I feel for him because I struggle with FM, CFS, MCS, and the post-surgical pain from back surgery and many sports injuries as well.

[Gene]

Rocco has been nothing but honest and hard working every day he has been a Ray. I hope there is something that can be identified that will correct this problem. He never slacked off in his effort to the team and I will not stop supporting him. I am glad the team has an option to move on without having to cut him so he can be back when a solution is found.

[Sarasota Ralph]

T-
The video game comment was the most senseless heartless remark anyone could have made. How would you like to be 26 years old, and have to face the fact the one career you have trained for and preparded for all your life may be taken away through no fault of your own? I pray to God you never suffer a debillitating illness, that you never have to deal with issues such as diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or worse yet, cancer. Grow Up!

[T]

Too bad the Rays keep counting on him every season rather than looking for help. At least now he can get paid to stay home and play video games-unless his thumbs get tired too

[raysfan]

wow...sad.