In Other Fetishized Bit Player News

Rocco returned to Tampa and hit a towering home run (hooray for video!) on the very first pitch he saw in his second ever start as a visitor. The 3 dozen Tampa fans and 20000 gathered Red Sox horde gave Rocco a nice standing ovation, something I'm sure he appreciated. Quietly (as quietly as a Red Sock can do anything, so about as loud as your kid sister after 4 Pomtinis) Rocco is coaxing his OPS back up over .800, with 7 home runs in 138 PAs.

Basically, Rocco offers a Rocco-sized contribution. Most of his rates are right on his career numbers though his home run per fly ball is still a little high. Rocco in Boston is working out almost exactly to plan with two unfortunate trips to the DL thrown in for good measure. Playing for the Red Sox put a slight damper on my all-consuming Rocco love but, considering the way things are looking around here ahead of this long weekend, this seemed like as good a time as any to resurrect the Rocco love train.

Yup, long weekend. Do something fun. Watch the Jays and appreciate whatever you can find to appreciated. Grab your damn glove and heave a ball at your best friend's head with Jerry & Alan on the radio. Read Jon Hale's continuing work with Hit F/x at The Hardball Times. Read Jimjam and Manny's ongoing adventures at the Dugout. Just enjoy baseball. This season is surely trying our last nerve, but we'll miss it like crazy when it's gone.

Photo by AP via Daylife with an assist to the Providence Journal