Rocco Baldelli Confirms New Diagnosis
Earlier this morning we reported that two stations in Rhode Island had been told by Rocco Baldelli's family that his condition had been misdiagnosed and that his new diagnosis is treatable.
ABC6 now has a video report (which does not use all-caps).
Marc Topkin spoke with Baldelli who says the new diagnosis is "an encouraging development."
This is certainly great news for Baldelli and could open the door for a return to the Rays in 2009. However, it is still unclear how much "more" Baldelli would be able to play and whether this opens the door to regular work as an outfielder.
Baldelli became a free agent after the Rays bought out his 2009 option for $4 million.
Rhode Island TV Station: Baldelli Misdiagnosed [Rays Index]
After 2nd Opinion, Baldelli May Become an MLB Force [ABC6]
Baldelli: "An encouraging development" [The Heater]
ABC6 now has a video report (which does not use all-caps).
Marc Topkin spoke with Baldelli who says the new diagnosis is "an encouraging development."
OF Rocco Baldelli clarified the Rhode Island TV report this morning, saying there has been an updated diagnosis and it is "an encouraging development" and with adjustments to his current medication he hopes "to be on the field on a much more regular basis.''"Misdiagnosis" or "Updated diagnosis" may be semantics as it sounds like the original doctors did not have the necessary tests available to them.
Baldelli said he was not orginally "misdiagnosed" as reported by WLNE-TV, but that the original diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder was "the best diagnosis at the time.''
His doctor at the Cleveland Clinic has since reviewed further and more sophisticated testing that indicates his condition is a less-severe and treatable channelopathy. With a modification of medicine Baldelli is currently taking and having good results from, he is optimistic about his health and his baseball career.
This is certainly great news for Baldelli and could open the door for a return to the Rays in 2009. However, it is still unclear how much "more" Baldelli would be able to play and whether this opens the door to regular work as an outfielder.
Baldelli became a free agent after the Rays bought out his 2009 option for $4 million.
Rhode Island TV Station: Baldelli Misdiagnosed [Rays Index]
After 2nd Opinion, Baldelli May Become an MLB Force [ABC6]
Baldelli: "An encouraging development" [The Heater]
Labels: Rocco Baldelli
posted by The Professor at 11:37 AM
9 Comments:
did Rocco speak in caps? If so i am going to assume it is bunk.
Seems to me like this would possibly make Rocco more attractive on the open market, and thus less likely to re-sign with the Rays.
Either way, I can't express how happy I am that Rocco seemingly has a much better prognosis.
It's confirmed.
It will take a long time to know if this will really make a change in his output.
kyle, i think some people are hoping that Rocco would prefer to stay with the Rays and be willing to sign with the Rays for less.
I don't necessarily think Rocco "owes" the Rays anything, but he may feel that he does. they stuck by him for a long time, and they are paying him $4 million this season already.
but you are right. he is going to get bigger offers elsewhere. i think this just increases the chances the Rays will be willing to open the door.
I'm just wondering how much this 'updated diagnosis' really changes Rocco's ability to get on the field more often? After coming back the fact of the matter is that Rocco could only play for small stretches at a time before having burning sensations throughout his legs -- and that was after swollowing handfuls of pills at a time. Whatever he has is a seriously dehabilitating illness. Was he just taking the wrong medication the whole time? Are they saying there's another medication out there they missed that can cure him altogether? I'm no doctor, but I don't see how any of this really increases the amount of playing time Rocco will be able to put in, and isn't that really the only thing restricting his value as a free agent?
I'm very glad to hear that Rocco is doing better. I wholeheartedly wish him the best wherever he ends up. I do hope that we all try not to let our sentiment towards him get in the way of diagnosing what player would be better for our team. I think some of the FA options may be a better (and more cost efficient) way for the Rays to go.
Also, the whole "Whose is bigger" thing going on between this site and DRB is beyond getting old. Both sites are absolutely amazing. You each provide great info and I read both sites at least once a day. However, please end the pissing contest.
why doesn't anybody ever give me a hard time when i criticize a Red Sox blog or a Yankees blog?
there is no pissing contest. if somebody writes something about the Rays that needs correcting, i will correct it.
i do that with ALL sites not just drb. it just so happens that they write about the Rays more than other sites, so i comment on them more.
I work in the medical field, but am no expert in it, however I explained Rocco's updated diagnosis with some liscensed professionals and they say there are medications that can help this condition in theory. By that I mean that it depends on Rocco's exact condition. So, it may be very likely that he can play on a daily basis. However, no one was sure how long it would take him to respond to a new treatment.
Prof is too polite to say it, so i hope he will allow me this chance to paraphrase Col. Jessup
Prof shouldn't have to waste his time or have the inclination to explain himself to somebody who rises and reads the very information that he provides, and then questions the manner in which he provides it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way
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