Rocco Baldelli, Red Sox OF

Another guy who has had his own share of health issues in the past has signed a contract to become the newest member of the Boston Red Sox. Heck he's my neighbor I mean I live in rent them he lives across the line in Cumberland Rhode Island. But he will be out patrolling the outfield at Fenway Park this year joining us on the AT&T hotline at eighteen to your world delivered. Is Rocco Baldelli Rocco it's -- Michael how aria.

It got really don't know that congratulations. -- I appreciate you don't. Pretty. Pretty cold there yesterday.

Rocco how did the process oh how did you come how did you become a red -- and where their other teams. That were pursuing you as well.

Well look this stops where. You know pretty aggressive. Starting with the -- as well but. I just thought it was pretty nice. -- for myself then and then and I think it just I think everything worked out. You know kind of as a -- it.

I I have to say at least from my point of view looking on from a far I think I had him a misperception. About what happened here in the fall. I said that you had a missed diagnosis. Prior to this and that that you your new diagnosis was better you were clear pointing out yesterday that it really wasn't a misdiagnosis initially.

I don't know what you know work -- work with a lot of doctors work a lot of good doctors and you know at the time. Miles -- dealing with that. -- You know they eat eat eat -- that the time which result all anyone could ask for. A you know a lot of a lot of typical you know while to come back and what that finally got. Some of -- back you know appointed to something similar but you know but still different so I guess I guess but I probably just you know -- diagnosis.

Rocco are you able to say right now if you're able to play. Four games in a row if they needed you out there for 350. At bats for example. Can you say that right now or is this say touch and go situation for you.

I think you know being January. -- night that I think it stop me to say you know exactly what I can't can't Duchscherer out yet. A very good idea that you know what they get out of Fort Myers and start working out in my feet again. You know being from deep in the northeast. You know obviously it's cold outside the media get outside and run around I think -- Other obviously not going to happen very also. I'm sure within a month I'll be down there and working out and you know are very good at their well.

You know when we looked at debt and we don't know the details but that the general outline of the contract that you signed here -- the said the same thing. Why the heck wouldn't Tampa Bay bring Rocco back under a deal like that why didn't that.

Well you know what. Not really something not right I think about too much I mean you know I'm pretty happy with the situation got a -- now I think that's what it. Where my focus on -- it is just getting ready for the season with with stocks and you know. Try to go out there and help the team you know what a championship and that's that's pretty much my focus that sit just sit back in. And think about you know what -- happened I mean it's really not worth. You know what my -- energy that that worried about that you know -- pretty excited about format.

Let's talk about what did happen last year. You're a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. And I have to tell you that took away a lot of my jokes and they took away a lot of jokes from. A lot of other people because they were the best team in the American League what was that like being part of that process after all that losing. That --

That was probably one of the most you know amazing years of my -- you know started out a little bit -- neat. You know physically but you know -- want to -- sat on the bench in the you know for the for the beginning of the season and watched the team. You know. Change you know kind of you -- front of everybody sides better a lot of time and won very many games. But it was it was still are just the CE you know young guy progress in. You know everything kind of happen at the same time by the end of the season. If you were at I would have thought that any team based soccer because that -- obviously. You know the Phillies. Billy bitter and you know you can't -- anything we're and they they had a great team and they played they played really well. But you know to go from being a the worst team in baseball year after year that all the sudden just waking up one game and being hurt -- the chance it was it was very worthwhile that this sit. All those years there and you know. And struggle and end up being being -- thought it was not that work that.

You won the American League pennant by getting by the team you're playing for right now the Red Sox you've had a big part of it to hitting a big home run. What kind of response did you get from your friends and family. After the race got by the Sox in the playoffs.

Well I need a lot of our friends still were rooting for the Sox to be what you would lose. You know couple even a couple of close family friends are still root for the -- at bank. -- you know they -- me to do well and they were open at the Red Sox were going to go to the World Series but. You know I kind of deal -- don't look up my whole my whole career being from up here obviously you know -- Sox fans -- different than. You know any other bands in those references Bentley than that that are big you know they're they're athletic group to do so. You know I as much as any player I think understand you know what it what it needs you know to be Red Sox and.

You were a member of the best team in the American League east in the American League champions. You are you're now a member of the team that you beat in the ALCS and you've seen the Yankees. Re loaded and -- huge way in this offseason how do you see this division playing out.

Well you know I think it's tough to argue that. It's I mean knowing what the coming out they are to the toughest division in baseball but I mean I think I think that the topic argued because you look at that in. You know he even look at the Blue Jays to a US anyone with a baseball about Blue Jays you know they lap and they think that thirteen was a playoff contending team to because. You know no one understands it more because they're so much talent and then our people so many different things. You know it it stuff I mean you show up ready to play every day in if you don't know that the team on the other side uses -- vacancy I mean there's so much talent. Obviously with. With the start looking -- that I mean you know the they have a great team -- no one politics that for granted at any point in need just -- in the division record while it.

I ask you about your manager last year can't. I can't think that my finger on what he reminds me history professor English professor. Neat nick poet I don't know oh what was it like playing for him and and how how would you describe his personality.

Well I mean that the question that we get out a lot out there because Joe would definitely different than in most. You know baseball people but but the thing if you really as a baseball guy but he just. Take it a different direction then than most of any he's a great guy -- a great relationship. I mean he even when the team struggling. At the beginning of this kind there key he still you maintain that. Attitude that almost seen. It was so positive but it you know you wonder how a person could stay so positive you know what in the state -- losing some games and you know he just said that he told to just this just trust that you know we eat we kept our planet and stay positive. That we end up winning games and you know there's no way to. -- you know going to happen I mean I'm sure some people you know just thought that you know he was talking not -- but obviously he wasn't. He -- is as big part of any -- down -- that that you know turn this culture around.

What do you know by two new manager I mean he was sitting there with yesterday but what are you know what Terry Francona.

Well I know that -- as you come across the way a lot of heard nothing but. Unbelievable things that you know I can't say how many people and you protected Mir called team players that. That a play early -- that you're going to love this study. It's great got to play or. And you know exactly what I've seen from moment in the Utah -- madam you know we met. Earlier this offseason and you know again last night he called me you know the other day to -- gradually Ian welcome aboard.

Knows that you played in Tampa we can ask you about guys up from afar that we we have admiration for BJ Upton. Evan Longoria. Carlos Pena. And now coming back here I'm wondering when you weren't Tampa. What did you think from afar looking at players like Kevin Youkilis and especially Dustin Pedroia it was MVP of the --

Well -- They're -- to you know there are players you can -- mean that they do everything. That there is in the game you know -- they peak value every every game you go out there you know you're gonna have to beat these guys in. They are at -- it -- and certain baseball so which it was going to be seeing a kind of just hope that air. They have a topic which doesn't come around very often for those those guys you know the Red Sox lineup. You know we're going -- you have to hope that your pitcher throws you know an unbelievable game. And that your your bat collide and -- there end and and do well get their pitchers because our whole you look at the group that that. You know. But the -- parents and it's not easy to win a game against them I mean you really you have to play extremely well to be direct.

I'm a young kinda curious about this says site as I think about it I mean I'm sure he could growing up New England you know the history. You know nobody's won that number five since 2004 right.

I like I I didn't think about that a little bit this he's an. You know when I thought that there was a chance that would come here. I wasn't going to go out of my way and and ask for that number obviously the only number that I -- know that it it holds you know special place in the count and you know like it senility and I was going to go up there and ten or obviously. But. It was soft and it was brought my attention by you that there was a chance that. You know the number would would be available you know -- you know setting it aside for a couple of years and I'd sit. To build on it looked to to have any -- it's not -- perfectly okay let me.

Some guys work out hard before spring training some guys take it easy in the say. I'll get in shape in spring training what's what's going to be your approach and the next month.

Well you know most of my career I think get that taken a couple of months completely up and just rested and you know started out. But the new year and I don't this year I decided to you know a little bit. And not start throwing or running a little bit earlier than. Than before I don't really. -- A little early in the in or around the you know I like gig on what they get -- Florida little early. You know get -- might be you know Bruce weekly -- beat her little bit a couple of days before we're really -- don't.

Right now either bishop Kendrick and isn't that tough academically. Or your wicked smile up four point 25 GPA.

Well you know the long time ago I don't regardless -- in awhile so. I don't know how much of that actually retain. -- a little bit but not. Now I mean -- and -- it's a great school I mean that the -- you know extremely well load there. -- ready you know and the -- Who are at the school's bill and I have nothing but good day to sit up late you know that the whole you know. What are the grade point average they -- mean I guess he takes a lot of class negated some points or but you know that all there are a lot of people headed in the there.

I was told you were a better volleyball player than baseball players that --

I don't know why you know put it that struck me to pick it I had a great time you know plain -- in the fall it played volleyball. In high school and you know some that I picked up. You know my freshman year and I had a great -- line and -- I don't know that serpent in a you know you know what sport. You know ended up working out obviously based on the report now -- but I I definitely did have a lot of fun but volatile new.

Final question before we -- ago you can obviously play all three outfield positions you have a preference.

Are you know I don't think. In the role that I'm probably going to happen -- net I have a preference and that that department LB who. I think yesterday you know it would -- was that he let you know prefer to do what I don't have -- have a preference to not help but he's not anywhere near.

Have you played right field at Fenway.

Actually it did last year. -- but yet that was the playoffs.

Oh yeah it and let -- end of the game right.

Mark -- thought there but all my memory is really got back -- coming out of my -- particularly. It's pretty large out there. -- it's definitely a different -- outfield when I first came up. Playing center field over there at you know everything looked kind of -- center when you're out there that believe he placed the plate but. You know over the years that I've gotten a bit more comfortable out there you know. It's fun it's actually -- was the -- to.

And unless the offseason building program is more extensive than I expect there are no cat walks out there.

Now we are the that are have to deal with that anymore that was you know deal with that. What the -- the year now on and that's it you know you kind of get used to when he played -- can't but I mean that becomes. I don't know kind of positive for the team because we're so used to playing in in that environment. You know other team by -- east of but it is definitely. A different place but it is 72 every bit.

Congratulations again on the new deal will look forward to seeing in not only down Fort Myers that here at Fenway.

Thank you guys -- appreciate it.

Rocco take care. And that's what the newest member of the Boston Red Sox Rocco Baldelli. Will be as he said playing all three outfield positions.