Bill Koch

Tuesday

Sep 3, 2019 at 6:05 PM

BOSTON — Rocco Baldelli played more career games at Tropicana Field than any other ballpark, but there is still only one place he truly calls home.

It’s more of a small detail that the former multi-sport superstar at Bishop Hendricken spent just one season as a player with the Red Sox in 2009. Fenway Park is where Baldelli searches for extra tickets and sets aside additional time to fulfill both personal and media obligations. This storied venue within an hour of both [...]

BOSTON — Rocco Baldelli played more career games at Tropicana Field than any other ballpark, but there is still only one place he truly calls home.

The potential favorite for the American League Manager of the Year award guided his Twins into town for a three-game series with Boston beginning on Tuesday night. Minnesota sat 5½ games ahead of Cleveland in the A.L. Central race and boasts a historic offense that is rewriting the baseball record books.

“The first 12 years of my life were in Woonsocket,” Baldelli said. “Then when I was in high school we lived in Cumberland – my family still lives in Cumberland.

“But really, it’s the same to me. When I go home, I’m going home.”

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The Twins carried 85 wins into their 7:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch with the Red Sox, matching or exceeding the total they posted in every season since 2010. It’s been a strong debut for Baldelli, who steadily climbed the coaching ladder with the Rays beginning in 2011. His eight years of experience in various roles made the 38-year-old a popular candidate to take over his own club following the 2018 season.

“It wasn’t something when I was playing where I was trying to think about the game that way,” Baldelli said. “I tried to think about a lot of different things, but it wasn’t necessarily pointed in the direction of trying to manage.”

Baldelli had the luxury of playing for a certain trio of World Series winners along the way – Lou Piniella, Terry Francona and Joe Maddon. Piniella is certainly the most fiery of that group, while Francona and Maddon are more modern prototypes in terms of temperament and communication. Baldelli’s lone year with Francona in Boston included 62 games and an appearance in the A.L. Division Series.

“They’re good with people,” Baldelli said. “I think that’s probably one of the best things you can say about them. They have the respect of everyone. You definitely pick out certain things and you see certain situations.”

Minnesota smashed 269 home runs through its first 137 games, surpassing the all-time record of 267 set just last year by the Yankees. The Twins are also on a 91-game streak with an extra-base hit, which sat second in club history. Eleven different Minnesota players have totaled double-digit homers, topped by 36 from Max Kepler and 34 from Nelson Cruz.

“There are many moments in the dugout over the course of games where we kind of look at each other and raise our eyebrows and go, ‘Wow, what we’re watching here has been pretty special,’” Baldelli said. “We have no reason to believe it’s going to stop now.”

Baldelli fielded more than 40 ticket requests to fill over the course of three nights, including a pair for parents Dan and Michelle. Much like during his playing career, there are still frequent postgame messages awaiting Baldelli sent by his immediate family. Their evaluation of his performance has changed from what they saw on the field to the decisions he’s making from the dugout.

“It’s not my mom – it’s my dad, mostly,” Baldelli said wryly. “All you guys that know him know that he’s probably got a few words of advice for me sometimes.

“This is a new job for me this year. It’s been a new experience. There have been a lot of great things that have happened and it’s been a lot of fun.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

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