Chip Shots: White Sox Should Smell What the Rocco is Cooking

Chip Shots
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I'm Chip Ramsey a career broadcaster who has been a sports radio program director in Milwaukee and Nashville. I've covered everything from high school and college sports (including the SEC, Big Ten, MVC and OVC) to Major League Baseball, The NFL and the NHL. I have a few things to say, and when I want to say them, I say them here.

I mostly talk about my teams, which would be the White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks, but I do talk about other things as well. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you will bookmark this site and visit often!

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Chip Shots: White Sox Should Smell What the Rocco is Cooking

White Sox Should Smell What the Rocco is Cooking

Now that Tampa has put the finishing touches on a deal with former Phillie Pat Burrell, the Rays have little use for an outfielder who has been with the franchise for most of it's history. Despite injuries and a checkered past, Kenny Williams may want to take a serious look at acquiring outfielder Rocco Baldelli.

Baldelli fits the Sox profile like a glove. Untapped potential, priced probably in the economy bin and someone who can come in and have an immediate impact. Baldelli has good speed and a decent glove and would solve the Sox most glaring weakness, that of having Jerry Owens as their starting center fielder.

If Baldelli is healthy, I think he could contribute to the Sox lineup. The White Sox have a knack of picking up players who have had health problems in the past and turning them into stars. Both Scott Podsednik and Jermaine Dye came to the Sox with the reputation of being injury prone and both contributed mightily to the championship effort of 2005. Besides, if he has to go on the DL, you always have Owens and Brian Anderson in reserve.

The knock against Baldelli is that he is another right handed bat. Most likely, the ship has sailed for the Sox to acquire a left handed stick like Carl "The Answer" Crawford. Crawford may have been attainable for one of the Sox right handed power bats, but the Burrell signing makes it a moot point.

In addition to what he could do on the field, the name "Rocco Baldelli" opens up a world of possibilities for Sox marketing guru Brooks Boyer. The Sox could have the "Rocco Ball Deli" food stand, specializing in corned beef and pastrami sandwiches served on a Rocco roll. They could have a "get a piece of the Rocco night" where one lucky fan would win Baldelli's uniform. They could also have a chili cook off after the game hosted by Baldelli called "Can you smell what Rocco is cooking?" And "Rocco Socko Robots" where two enhanced bobble heads could punch each other out. With the Sox, it's all about marketing.

The chances of the Sox going this course are slim, but, hey, a boy can dream can't he, Brooks.