Baldelli savors playing a part

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - There were times in the American League Championship Series when the Red Sox could have used a solid righthanded hitter off the bench.

They didn't have one, and it's not an easy commodity to find.

Which is why Rocco Baldelli has proved to be such a valuable weapon for the Rays, despite fighting mitochondrial disorder, which makes his muscles prematurely fatigued. Baldelli is expected to start Game 2 of the World Series tonight against the Phillies in right field. And if not for a last-minute change of heart by manager Joe Maddon, who felt Ben Zobrist was a better match against Game 1 starter Cole Hamels, Baldelli would have started two straight games.

All indications are the Rays would like to bring back Baldelli, 27, but they did not exercise the $6 million option on his contract for 2009, making him a free agent after the World Series. This would seem a good opportunity for the Red Sox to slide in and offer the Cumberland, R.I., native a contract.

Risky? There are certainly ways to minimize that with incentives, but over the last 46 games, Baldelli started 16. He had a big home run against the Red Sox in the playoffs.

Used as a fourth or fifth outfielder, Baldelli could solve Boston's need for a righthanded bat. He could play right field occasionally when a tough lefthander is facing the Sox, so J.D. Drew would sit. And he could occasionally play center.

There are no guarantees about how much Baldelli can play in the future, and that's what you'd have to live with. That's what the Rays have had to live with, and it's worked out for them.

There are signs Baldelli would be able to play more, but not even he knows the answer to that.

Which is why the Rays paid him a $4 million buyout, a prudent move considering that if they had picked up the $6 million, they would have had to exercise his options for 2010 and 2011 for a combined $17 million or buy him out for $2 million.

Baldelli missed the first four months of this season trying to regain his health after missing the final 124 games of 2007 with hamstring injuries and general soreness.

After visiting doctors across the country, he hasn't come up with a lot of concrete answers, but there are signs that his skills have not eroded. When he plays, he plays well.

Asked about his future, he said, "I guess I'll say what I usually say when I'm asked. I just don't even want to think about what happens beyond this. I've been with this organization for so long and I've been through the hard times here, [so] being in the World Series is just something I want to soak in and enjoy and never forget. I really want our team to appreciate how far we've come, and if we could ever win this, the memories would be for a lifetime. I've always loved playing here, and I have no idea what to expect next year.

"I do know this: I want to play next year. I feel I can play."

Baldelli has no special affection for the Red Sox. He acknowledges he was not a diehard fan growing up, though "I wanted them to win and I watched their games."

Yet what a thrill it would be for a kid from Rhode Island to play for the Red Sox.

After all he's been through, Baldelli is just pleased to be in a baseball uniform. A five-tool player, he isn't picky about playing time these days, but he wants to test his physical restrictions as much as possible.

Baldelli's return to baseball has been an inspiring tale.

The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation started a "Root for Rocco" campaign during the ALCS.

"The Rays have gone from last to first place in the American League East and Rocco personally has made one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history," said UMDF CEO and executive director Chuck Mohan. "Rocco's miraculous comeback from the devastating effects of mitochondrial disease is an inspiration to all those suffering from this heartbreaking and often debilitating illness."

Baldelli was diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy, a disease caused by malfunctioning mitochondria in the cells, which starve muscles of the energy needed to function.

According to the UMDF, "every 30 minutes a child is born with a mitochondrial disease. Many do not survive beyond their teenage years. Because mitochondrial diseases can affect any organ or body system at any age, they are often misdiagnosed. Symptoms can include blindness, deafness, strokes, seizures, cardiac disease, liver disease, diabetes, the inability to digest food, and susceptibility to infection.

"Researchers have linked mitochondrial dysfunction to a range of other well-known diseases, including autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and even cancer."

Baldelli seems to be one of the fortunate ones whose condition did not deteriorate to such extremes, and he hopes to help others gain awareness of the disease while at the same time continuing to improve so he can play more.

Baldelli seemed to appreciate the pomp and circumstance of the World Series at Tropicana Field last night. Asked when he's seen so many people on the field here, he quipped, "The boat show."

For the longest time, Baldelli was sinking, but he's risen again, and whether it's with Tampa Bay or elsewhere, he's going to provide someone with a very good extra righthanded bat.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.