Cumberland native Rocco Baldelli has discovered his comfort level is higher in his second season with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

08:24 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2004

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The best thing about playing at Fenway Park for Rocco Baldelli is the home cooking and a good night sleep in his own bed.

The 22-year-old Cumberland native and former Bishop Hendricken standout has begun his second season as a major leaguer with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and he's back in town for a three-game series against the Red Sox.

The Devil Rays arrived here on Monday after a weekend series in Chicago, so Baldelli was able head south on Route 95 for a much-needed homestand of his own. It's been five months since he's slept in his own bed.

The homecoming aside, he still has a job to do. He's found that his

second year in the majors has been an easier adjustment than the first.

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson "Nothing that happens this year will be completely new," says Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli.

"You know what is going on," said Baldelli. "Nothing that happens this year will be completely new. Nothing will shock me. It's makes it a little easier in some aspects, but you still have to play in the field and get the job done out there and that's always going to be the toughest part. The lifestyle is a lot easier."

At this time last season, he was surprising the baseball world with his all-around ability. Now that he's had his first go-around, the opposition knows what to expect from the speedy center fielder.

Baldelli is hitting .258 with 16 hits in 62 at-bats through 17 games, including one home run and three RBI. A year ago he had set a major league record for most hits by a rookie through the first month of the season with 40, surpassing Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who had 39 in 2001.

"He had success last year and he's probably getting more scrutiny in the lineup [this season] than he did," said Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella. "Pitchers are more aware that he's in the lineup than they were last year. They probably (scout) him a little more and work him a little harder. But that's part of your second year in the big leagues. There are adjustments you have to make, but he's starting to do the right things."

Baldelli doesn't seem to think opposing pitching staffs are working him any differently this season, but he said he's had to make some adjustments at the plate.

"I've been feeling fine," he said of his somewhat slow start. "I've been hitting the ball fine a lot of the times, but things just weren't working out. There's no way to explain that, because the box scores tell the only story people want to hear."

Baldelli, who stands 6-foot-4, arrived at spring training tipping the scale at 215 pounds. But since then he's dropped to a more comfortable playing weight of 205. As a result, his numbers are beginning to climb.

He's hit safely in five of the last six games and has boosted his average from .195 to his current .258. Also, he stole his first two bases of the season against the White Sox last weekend.

"He's starting to swing the bat better," said Piniella. "I haven't noticed anything (different this season from last). He's starting to get more aggressive and he's feeling better at home plate. He's starting to drive the ball better."

At the start of spring training Piniella was hoping Baldelli would hit with more power this season, but because of a slow start the Devil Rays are just looking for more consistency.

"If we can get him to hit the ball consistently hard," added Piniella, "I think the power will come naturally. Right now, we're looking for him to get a good swing at the ball and drive it, and we'll go from there. We need for him to drive in more runs."