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Baldelli's mysterious illness

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Is Rocco Baldelli's baseball career finished? Baldelli and the Rays won't know how to respond to those questions or many others until they learn more about the "metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities" that have sapped the 26-year-old's strength. Baldelli said the problem stems from his body's inability to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which keeps his muscles from recovering like a normal person's during exercise.

Tampa Tribune

Rocco Baldelli, AP Rocco Baldelli, AP
March 13, 2008  09:04 AM ET

Just thought i'd take a moment from the "fun" on the other thread to say i am truly sorry for this young man and i hope he has the the good grace to hang in there no matter what cards he has been dealt.

March 13, 2008  09:15 AM ET

hope your feeling better Rocco

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March 13, 2008  09:37 AM ET

New England guy.........hope for the best for him.

March 13, 2008  10:01 AM ET

Sounds like some sort of autoimmune disease to me. Very hard to differentiate though...I wish you well Rocco. Keep your head up and stay positive not matter what you find out.

March 13, 2008  10:23 AM ET

Seriously, if the diagnosis is correct in that he isn't producing ATP which the body needs to fully recover exercise, then shouldn't he be prescribed HGH ?

March 13, 2008  10:29 AM ET

IT IS CALLED SINCE AM NOT USING ROIDS OR HGH ANY MORE, I CAN'T RECUPERATE AS I USED TO NOW I AM WORTHLESS RIGHT!!!

March 13, 2008  11:40 AM ET

TN_FAN, you sir or madam are a fool. The man is sick, have some compassion. Pesonally, i do not know why nor do i care why he is sick. I care that another person faces a dilemma that is devasting and maybe life threatening. I hope the guy finds the grace he needs to face whatever is in his immediate future bravely and with dignity.

March 13, 2008  11:41 AM ET

next they'll try to blame this on the Yankees too

March 13, 2008  11:48 AM ET

What a shame...figures it happens to the rays

March 13, 2008  12:02 PM ET

All the best Rocco

March 13, 2008  12:05 PM ET

He had all the talent in the world.. Too bad he was never allowed to make the most of it.

March 13, 2008  12:07 PM ET

my cousin played against Roco in high school. despite the injuries, Rocco's always been a favorite of mine and i wish him the best. i hope he can come back and play at some point. he could've been one of the best CFs in baseball if not for the injury bug...

March 13, 2008  12:23 PM ET

Maybe he should drink a Monster.

March 13, 2008  12:27 PM ET

Hmm... Not funny Gruv. Too bad para Rocco, tis truely a shame when a youngster fades away after having so much potential.

Remember in 2003 when peeps were comparing him to DiMaggio? Poor kid, he's my age and still has a lot of life to look fwd to.

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March 13, 2008  12:39 PM ET

He thought he had mono for an entire summer, it turns out he was just really bored. Dr. Wayne Campbell

March 13, 2008  12:47 PM ET

Seriously, if the diagnosis is correct in that he isn't producing ATP which the body needs to fully recover exercise, then shouldn't he be prescribed HGH ?
snognshag | 03/13/08, 10:23 AM

Which makes me ask the question that if he uses hgh and can then get strong enought to play MLB again, is he still eligible to play? does a real reason to use the drug make you exempt from the rules?

March 13, 2008  01:08 PM ET

Isn't it obvious? Hank Steinbrenner did something to poison this courageous man....damn you Hank..DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!!!!!

 
March 13, 2008  01:33 PM ET

It's sad; his legacy is more likely to recall his disease than his career. 70+ years ago another ballplayer left baseball with a mysterious illness. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the technical tag for what is now commonly called Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Maybe one day we'll be calling this Rocco's Fatigue or Baldelli's Disease. I hope Rocco has the strength to play ball again. If not, maybe he can champion work for a cure.

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