So how about Brian Roberts today?

[Ruzious]

If he has a .310 OBP and a .430 SLG, would you consider that a great year?

You really need to be put on Ignore.

[El Gordo]

You really need to be put on Ignore.

Simple question, why don't you answer it?

[Frobby]

Do you really think that all Roberts will be able to do is hit singles if he has a .350 SLG? or that he can't possibly have a decent OBP with that level of SLG?

What do you consider a "decent" OBP? .320 was league average last year.

I think if BRob has a .350 SLG, chances are pretty good that his OBP will be .320 or below. I'm hoping that neither will be true.

FWIW, here are some players who from 2008-12 had a .340+ OPB with a sub-.350 SLG:

Ryan Theriot .282/.341/.342

Juan Pierre .287/.341/.342

Jamie Carroll .280/.357/.337

Gregor Blanco .253/.349/.331

Chone Figgins .258/.344/.323

So, I'm not saying it's impossible, just not very likely.

[El Gordo]

What do you consider a "decent" OBP? .320 was league average last year.

I think if BRob has a .350 SLG, chances are pretty good that his OBP will be .320 or below. I'm hoping that neither will be true.

FWIW, here are some players who from 2008-12 had a .340+ OPB with a sub-.350 SLG:

Ryan Theriot .282/.341/.342

Juan Pierre .287/.341/.342

Jamie Carroll .280/.357/.337

Gregor Blanco .253/.349/.331

Chone Figgins .258/.344/.323

So, I'm not saying it's impossible, just not very likely.

Jaun Pierre 2010 340 OBP 316 SLG. You need Roberts to have a 340+ OBP to have value to the team? Anything above a .320 OBP would be good in my book.

[Grt 2BA FL Gator]

I'm projecting at least a 745 OPS like he had in his age 32 season (albeit partial season). There is no doubt this is the healthiest he has been in a while.

Now, I can't wait until we get to stop speculating and actually watch.. Opening day come quick!

[Orioles4Life21]

Isn't Brian like 0-4 today? He's clearly finished.

[DrungoHazewood]

Jaun Pierre 2010 340 OBP 316 SLG. You need Roberts to have a 340+ OBP to have value to the team? Anything above a .320 OBP would be good in my book.

I said I'd quit this thread, but what the heck...

Since 1990 there have been 13 replacement or sub-replacement second basemen who played regularly and OBP'd .320 or better. Isn't Robbie Alomar's age 35 season exactly what you're looking for out of Roberts' age 35 season?

[Frobby]

Jaun Pierre 2010 340 OBP 316 SLG. You need Roberts to have a 340+ OBP to have value to the team? Anything above a .320 OBP would be good in my book.

I'm not sure if you are speaking rhetorically to me, or to other posters. I did not say that Roberts had to have a .340+ OBP to have value to the team. Whether he has value to the team depends on numerous factors, including overall offesnive performance, overall defensive performance, and the performance of those with whom he is competing for playing time.

[SrMeowMeow]

There's a reason pride is a sin. It backs you into arguments like the ones El Gordo is making right now.

[MachadOboutManny]

There's a reason pride is a sin. It backs you into arguments like the ones El Gordo is making right now.

Eh, not even a top 4 sin though. Wouldn't even be a 1 seed.

[SrMeowMeow]

Eh, not even a top 4 sin though. Wouldn't even be a 1 seed.

Pride doesn't need to be a top 4 sin to succeed, just a slightly below league average OBP.

[markakis8]

Didn't look so good today. But....can't get hits every day. Hopefully he bounces back next game!

[fearthenoodle]

Roberts with an RBI single, walk, and 2 stolen bases today. One headfirst slide into 2nd.

[Frobby]

Roberts with an RBI single, walk, and 2 stolen bases today. One headfirst slide into 2nd.

Birds-eye view: On offense, BRob has looked way better than anyone had a right to expect. He's not only hitting pretty well, he's running the bases pretty well, too. On a scale of 1 to 10, BRob is at about a 9 in terms of where I'd hoped he'd be offensively this spring. By the way, he's only struck out twice in 35 PA.

Defensively, Brian has looked shaky. To me, it's a little hard to tell how much is rust, and how much is loss of skill. The longer spring training goes, the clearer it should be.

Buck is going to play BRob in 3 straight games starting today, so we'll learn some more as this week progresses.

[fearthenoodle]

He turned a double-play today with runners on 1st and 2nd where he fielded a ball up the middle, stepped on 2nd, and threw to Machado at 3rd for the tag out.