Brian Roberts interview

[wildcard]

Brian says he is a full go from day one and expects to be the starting 2nd baseman.

From 105.7 the Fan:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/01/15/orioles-2nd-baseman-brian-roberts-talks-staying-healthy/

[kyleott]

It is interesting to hear him talk about his injuries and his expectations. He certainly sounds optimistic.

It has been mentioned before, but a healthy and .700+ (hell, even .650+) OPSing Brian Roberts would be a great addition. If he can provide value at the top of the order and also play a decent 2B (if), it allows us to put forward a formidable 1-9. Hardy certainly would be out of the 2 spot.

However, based on his description of his hip ailment, and his statement as to it never having been previously injured, it would appear as though his body is going through a physical regression, and a healthy season is maybe a pipe dream.

I wish they had asked him about his strength and conditioning; he looked utterly wan in stature in 2012 compared to his past self.

[WEAVERMAN]

Brian says he is a full go from day one and expects to be the starting 2nd baseman.

From 105.7 the Fan:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/01/15/orioles-2nd-baseman-brian-roberts-talks-staying-healthy/

I enjoyed hearing from the Orioles 2013 starting second baseman. Brian's ready to go. Thanks for posting it wildcard.

[fearthenoodle]

I wish they had asked him about his strength and conditioning; he looked utterly wan in stature in 2012 compared to his past self.

I would imagine that had something to do with not being able to work out at all last offseason, and being extremely limited all the way through ST and the start of the season. By all accounts, he's been able to have a normal off-season this year, so we can at least hope to see some improvement. It will be interesting to see how he looks on Saturday.

[crawjo]

The odds on this working out are really, really long at this point. If he can stay healthy a full season, I can't imagine that offensively or defensively he'll be anywhere near where he was. The last time he had a full healthy season, he was 31. He is now 35.

[Frobby]

The odds on this working out are really, really long at this point. If he can stay healthy a full season, I can't imagine that offensively or defensively he'll be anywhere near where he was. The last time he had a full healthy season, he was 31. He is now 35.

I did a little study a week or two ago and concluded that, after age 31, the number of players starting is cut in half every two years. So, only 1/4 of the guys who were starting at age 31 were still starting at age 35 -- and I'm sure that few if any missed significant chunks of their age 32, 33 and 34 seasons. The odds for Brian are indeed very long.

I remember that back when Brian's extension was being discussed, a lot of us were projecting how we thought Brian would do over the life of the contract. Most people, including me, expected him to be a below average starter by the final year of his deal -- and that was before we knew he'd be injured in each of the first three years of the deal.

Even so, if Brian is healthy, I'm all in favor of seeing what he can do.

[panick]

Exactly why does Roberts EXPECT to be the starting second baseman?

[Frobby]

Exactly why does Roberts EXPECT to be the starting second baseman?

He's supposed to think that. And I don't know if you listened to the interview, what he actually said was, he expected to be the starting second baseman unless it got to early April and somebody told him he wasn't going to be the starter. So, it's not like he's claiming entitlement to the job.

[fearthenoodle]

Exactly why does Roberts EXPECT to be the starting second baseman?

Because if he is healthy (and he believes he is), it is his job.

[Il BuonO]

Exactly why does Roberts EXPECT to be the starting second baseman?

Do you know of any other second basemen on our team being paid $10 million who should be getting the nod?

[clapdiddy]

The thing I worry about more than anything is his defense. I always felt he was just a smidgen below average BEFORE his injury. I have a feeling we'll see a pretty big drop off with the glove.

[Il BuonO]

The thing I worry about more than anything is his defense. I always felt he was just a smidgen below average BEFORE his injury. I have a feeling we'll see a pretty big drop off with the glove.

Agreed, and for $10 million unfortunately we might have to see that for quite a while.

[zero1]

This is the third time he's said these things.

[fearthenoodle]

The thing I worry about more than anything is his defense. I always felt he was just a smidgen below average BEFORE his injury. I have a feeling we'll see a pretty big drop off with the glove.

Defensive metrics have him well above average defensively from 2003-2007, and anywhere from slightly above to slightly below average from 2008-11. He was not good last year, in an obviously miniscule sample size. The big question will be his range, especially coming off the hip injury. I don't think he'll have any problem with the balls he can get to.

[scOtt]

I Believe In Miracles

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