In an offseason of disappointing signings – or lack thereof – the Baltimore Orioles and their fan base have yet another tough blow to stomach. Second baseman Brian Roberts is a New York Yankee.
The oft-injured former All-Star signed a 1-year, incentive-laden $2 million contract to become the starting second baseman for the Yankees, leaving many to wonder how the Orioles weren’t able to pony up a similar contract for the hometown favorite.
If you had told me at any point this offseason that Brian Roberts would sign that type of contract, I would have sworn it would be with the Orioles. The fact that it is with the hated Yankees makes it a tough pill to swallow; not Mussina-esque, but tough nonetheless.
For the avid fan, it is not hard to look back on Brian Roberts fondly. Though he played in 113 games in 2001-2002, it was a hard fought spring training battle in Ft. Lauderdale in 2003 that kick-started Roberts’ stellar career.
Incumbent second baseman Jerry Hairston, Jr. had started at the position each of the previous two seasons, with Roberts spending time on the shuttle between Triple-A Rochester and Baltimore. And Hairston actually won the job in 2003. But Roberts was not destined to play in frigid Ottawa in 2003.
Hairston suffered a foot injury in May that caused him to miss action until September, clearing the way for Roberts to take over. It was an opportunity that Roberts would take full advantage of as he would go on to become one of the most decorated second basemen in the history of the ball club.
Starting in 2003, Roberts would hit .270 or better and swipe at least 23 bases in eight straight seasons for the Baltimore Orioles. Roberts would go on to have five seasons of 40 or more doubles, including three of 50+, four seasons of 100 or more runs scored, and four seasons of at least 30 stolen bases, including a league leading 50 in 2007.
His banner year came in 2005, when Roberts made the first of his two All-Star appearances. While the team was up and down, becoming the first team in MLB history to ever be 14 games above .500 at any point in the same season in which they finished 14-games below .500, Roberts was a steady as they come.
In 143 games, the second baseman would hit .314 with 18 home runs, 73 RBI, and 27 stolen bases to go along with his 45 doubles. A gruesome arm injury prevented Roberts from 100 runs scored and perhaps his only 20 home run season.
While it is easy to look at the numbers and lament Roberts’ signing with The Evil Empire, it is not hard to look at Roberts in think, “Good riddance.”
For all the stats-sheets, one sheet of paper stands out, and that is the sheet in the Mitchell Report that points to Roberts’ steroid use; a black eye on the player and a franchise riddled with juicers (side note: for all the Orioles players listed in the Mitchell Report, how did they manage to lose so many games for so many years?).
Roberts would admit to using PED’s just once in his career. Whether you believe it or not, his numbers didn’t seem to take a dive after his admission of guilt, and Roberts was rewarded after the 2009 season with a 4-year, $40 million contract from Peter Angelos and the Orioles.
Now, if Albert Belle was a deterrent for Angelos to never hand out a lucrative contract ever again, boy was Brian Roberts ever the deterrent for what happened next.
Roberts would play in just 192 games over the course of his contract. From a back injury to a concussion to a torn hamstring, Roberts was never again the player the Orioles thought they had signed. Many fans feel as though Roberts stole $40 million from the organization.
The way I see it, the guy simply ran into a string of bad luck. God bless him for continuing year-in-and-year-out to get back on the field. Many other players would have taken their money and hung it up halfway through, but Roberts refused to quit and in 2013 was the Orioles best hitter with runners in scoring position in the second half of the season; a testament to his will and determination.
While Brian Roberts leaving to play in New York stings a bit, I liken it to Ed Reed leaving the Baltimore Ravens. At this point in his career, will we miss what he does on the field? Probably not. But that doesn’t make the image of the player in a different uniform any easier to take. Much like Ed Reed will always be a Raven, Brian Roberts will always be an Oriole. And to that, I say this: Cheers, Brian. Thanks for everything.
