Here we are again.
Brian Roberts is almost set to return from his hamstring injury, suffered on April 4th while attempting to steal second in the ninth inning in Tampa. His imminent return has already begun to tug on the strings of O’s fans’ hearts, and we can only hope for less heartbreak this time around.
The saga of Brian Roberts in Baltimore is well documented, and we all remember the glory days of B-Rob from 2005-2009 when he was one of the premiere leadoff men in the MLB. Those times seem like a distant past, and instead have been replaced with the teeter-tottering of Brian on and off the disabled list.
Manager Buck Showalter and the rest of Birdland were hopeful that Brian might finally be able to stay healthy, and earn what is left of his 40 million dollar extension given to him in 2009. Well, this time the Orioles did not have enough time get their hopes up since Roberts went down in only the third game of the season. As usual, the injury was suffered on an unnecessary play, because the Orioles were already up 6-2 in the top of the ninth.
Though, the story continues as B-Rob is rehabbing down in Triple-A Norfolk, and plans to only make a short pit-stop in the minor leagues. Leading off Tuesday, B-Rob went all “Old school Brian Roberts” smacking a double, and then coming around to score on an RBI single by Jason Pridie. He ended up finishing 2-4 and scoring two runs.
Roberts is leading-off and playing second base for the Tides Wednesday, and as I write this, has already drawn two walks in his first two plate appearances. There is no set date of when they plan to call him back up to the O’s, but from the news around town it won’t be too long. Though I believe there is no need to rush him up before he is ready since both Ryan Flaherty and Alexi Casilla are swinging the bat well – I guess the pressure of losing their jobs has kicked their butts in gear. It is too bad they couldn’t do that the past 2-3 months, hitting a combined .208.
Nonetheless, B-Rob will return prior to the All-Star break, and one of the two second basemen will begin to pack their bags. The question is, who is it going to be?
With Flaherty you have a sure glove and hot bat. It’s clear he will not remain as hot as he is hitting in the last couple of games (.444 w/ 3 HR), but Buck doesn’t like to mess with players who are on a hot streak.
Though the same could be argued for Alexi Casilla, who hit a three-run homer to give the Orioles the lead and the win against Cleveland Tuesday. Not to mention that Casilla is C.C. Sabathia’s kryptonite – a career .556 hitter against the BIG lefty – which would be nice to have in our back pocket when the Yankees come to town this weekend.
But what might be the real difference is that Flaherty has options left, due to the fact that he has remained on the roster for 90 days (all of last season), whereas Alexi does not. Also, the Orioles already have a bench filled with left-handed batters, and could use Casilla’s switch-hitting as well as his speed off of the bench.
Either way, one of two will likely be given the boot to bring back Brian Roberts (though all three of them were on the opening day roster together), so let’s just hope that Brian can come back and stay healthy – but don’t get your hopes up too high!
