Roberts to be examined by knee specialist

Roberts to be examined by knee specialist
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is flying to Dallas on Wednesday to visit with a knee specialist after an attempt to take light batting practice in Sarasota didn't produce the desired results. Roberts will be examined by Dr. Daniel Cooper, who previously worked with Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria. Roberts remains on the 15-day disabled list after suffering the injury during the third game of the regular season at Tropicana Field. It's classified as a hamstring injury, but...

In non-Bundy news ...

In non-Bundy news ...
Tsuyoshi Wada worked four innings today in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, striking out six and throwing around 68 pitches. The reports on him remain favorable. Not a single setback in his recovery and return from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow, which took place on May 11. Wada's progression will take him to five innings in his next outing, assuming the elbow feels good Wednesday. Wada is on the 60-day disabled list, which makes him eligible to be activated...

Wieters' success rate behind the plate and more in pregame notes (updated)

Wieters' success rate behind the plate and more in pregame notes (updated)
The Orioles are 8-for-9 (88.9 percent) in stolen base attempts this season following Chris Dickerson's swipe of second base last night, the second-best percentage in the American League behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who are 14-for-15 (93.3). On the flip side, the club's catchers have thrown out 8-of-10 runners to lead the majors at 80 percent. Matt Wieters has thrown out seven of the nine runners who have run on him, including Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings last night. Credit goes to...

Latest on S. Johnson, Wada, Roberts and Urrutia

Latest on S. Johnson, Wada, Roberts and Urrutia
Steve Johnson tossed four innings today in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, throwing 70 pitches and withstanding a line drive off his thigh. The Orioles will send Johnson on a rehab assignment, with the affiliate to be determined. He's finally getting out of Florida. Johnson will be a starter during his assignment. No relief work, though he came out of the bullpen today. There's a good chance that Johnson will join Triple-A Norfolk and make a start in Charlotte. Manager Buck...

Pregame notes on Roberts, Wada, Steve Johnson and more

Pregame notes on Roberts, Wada, Steve Johnson and more
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts hasn't been cleared for baseball activities, and he won't be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible on Saturday. It was considered a long shot anyway after an MRI revealed a ruptured tendon behind Roberts' right knee. He sustained the injury on April 4. "He's feeling a little better each day," said manager Buck Showalter. "Still not doing baseball activities, though, so I would think the 20th isn't going to be an option for us." Steve...

Positive reports from extended spring training

Positive reports from extended spring training
NEW YORK - Besides the full-season minor league affiliates that began playing this month, the extended spring training games in Sarasota also hold a great deal of importance to the Orioles. Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia served as the designated hitter again for the second straight day and is scheduled to play right field on Monday and Tuesday. The Orioles are close to assigning him to an affiliate, with Double-A Bowie his likely destination. Steve Johnson pitched three innings today and...

Quick update on Roberts and other notes

Quick update on Roberts and other notes
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said second baseman Brian Roberts, on the disabled list since April 5 with a ruptured tendon behind his right knee, still hasn't been cleared to begin baseball activities. Roberts isn't walking with a limp, which is a good sign. However, Showalter said it would be a "challenge" for Roberts to be ready in two weeks since suffering the injury. Steve Johnson and Tsuyoshi Wada are still scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game Saturday in...

A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
It's been a quiet Sunday morning at Camden Yards. Not much to report. Second baseman Brian Roberts still plans on flying to Sarasota later today to rehab his right knee. He intends to meet up with the Orioles sooner than first anticipated. Wilson Betemit is here today, on crutches, to be examined by a team physician. His right knee is feeling much better since we last spoke with him. Betemit will return to Sarasota on Wednesday. He should know the timetable for his return once he's...

Showalter on Roberts, Davis and Arrieta

Showalter on Roberts, Davis and Arrieta
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will fly home to Sarasota on Sunday to begin his recovery and rehab after an MRI this morning revealed a ruptured tendon behind his right knee. Manager Buck Showalter regarded the findings as "actually good news." "Considering that's the same tendon area they take out of your leg for Tommy John, which tells you some doctors think it's not a part of your body you necessarily have to have in that area," Showalter said. "We're hopeful in a three- to...

Alexi Casilla: Ready when needed (Frederick's roster added)

Alexi Casilla: Ready when needed (Frederick's roster added)
When the Orioles picked up Alexi Casilla off waivers from Minnesota in November he was a player that added some infield depth who could also be a second base option if Brian Roberts needed to start the season on the disabled list. Well, Roberts was placed on the DL today, after the third game, and Casilla, one of the club's backup plans, now could get more playing time while Roberts is out. Ryan Flaherty is starting this afternoon, but Casilla said he's ready for anything the club...

Roberts has ruptured tendon

Roberts has ruptured tendon
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts suffered a ruptured tendon behind his right knee yesterday while stealing second base at Tropicana Field, and he's expected to miss two to four weeks of the season. Roberts underwent an MRI on his knee this morning in Baltimore, and team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens passed along the results to Orioles officials. Roberts had to be carried off the field in the ninth inning yesterday after hearing a popping sound behind the knee. The Orioles officially...

Showalter on Roberts: "It will heal and he will play for us again"

Showalter on Roberts: "It will heal and he will play for us again"
Yamaico Navarro walked into the Orioles clubhouse around 11 a.m. today, carrying an equipment bag and bats. He's expected to stick around while Brian Roberts goes on the disabled list, but that move won't become official until Dr. John Wilckens reads the results of an MRI taken on the second baseman's right leg. "I keep reminding myself that Dr. Wilckens has other patients who are just as important, so when he's able to break away from that, he'll give us an idea of what we're looking...

Matthew Taylor: Knocking at the door of franchise's all-time marks

Matthew Taylor: Knocking at the door of franchise's all-time marks
Happy opening day, Baltimore fans. I'm sorry to report that I won't be at Camden Yards for the opener. Nevertheless, I have taken the day off from work to watch the game at home. It's not an official holiday, but it should be. Each new season brings the promise of the unknown, so we start the year with predictions and projections that typically focus on expected team and individual totals. Given my interest in Orioles history, I decided to look at where some current players might end up on...

The pending roster move

The pending roster move
Something doesn't feel right about this morning's blog entry. Must be the missing Florida dateline. I'm back in Sykesville, but not for long. It's opening day at Camden Yards and I'll be arriving at the ballpark about 5 1/2 hours before the scheduled first pitch. I'll be feeding you plenty of blog entries, updates and tweets, so save room. More will be written about second baseman Brian Roberts, who injured his right hamstring yesterday and will undergo an MRI to determine the...

Some impressions on the series with Tampa Bay and other notes

Some impressions on the series with Tampa Bay and other notes
So the Orioles are 0-1 in one-run games so far, but they are plus-5 in run differential. So there is that. It wasn't completely a one-man show - sure, it was close - but the Orioles offense just put up seven, seven and six runs over three games against a pretty good pitching staff. The Rays led the American League in ERA easily last year at 3.19 and they finished second in the league in ERA the two years before that. Anytime you can score 20 runs in a series against that staff, that's a...

Showalter talks about Roberts, Gonzalez and more

Showalter talks about Roberts, Gonzalez and more
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will undergo an MRI on his right leg Friday in Baltimore after being carried off the field in the top of the ninth inning. Roberts said he felt something pop behind his right knee as he was about to dive into second on a stolen base. Dr. John Wilckens will examine him in the morning. "Just the bottom part of the hamstring, where he felt it," Showalter said following the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. "It's early....

Roberts carried off field with injury (O's win 6-3, Roberts update)

Roberts carried off field with injury (O's win 6-3, Roberts update)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts appeared to injure his right knee in the top of the ninth inning and had to be carried off the field. Roberts dived head-first into second on a stolen base after leading off the inning with a single. He beat the throw, but had difficulty standing up and eventually crouched as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells ran onto the field. Bancells and first base coach Wayne Kirby carried Roberts to the dugout, and Alexi Casilla entered the...

Anthony Amobi: Roberts off to good start, but can it continue?

Anthony Amobi: Roberts off to good start, but can it continue?
It has been quite a journey for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts for the past several seasons. Roberts is the longest-tenured member of the Orioles, having played his entire 12-year career with the team. However, he has spent more time as a bystander than on the field in recent years. Now the question for Orioles fans is this: Can Roberts still be a productive player, or is he no longer viable for the organization? So far, in a two-game sample, it looks like he can still play in the...

It's Flaherty's turn to DH

It's Flaherty's turn to DH
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Three games, three different designated hitters. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is shuffling the DH deck again today, going from Steve Pearce on Tuesday to Nolan Reimold yesterday to Ryan Flaherty this afternoon in the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. Nate McLouth remains in the leadoff spot. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty DH Brian Roberts...

Reimold and Roberts talk about their return to the lineup

Reimold and Roberts talk about their return to the lineup
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The first Tampa Bay batter of today's game, Desmond Jennings, sent a long fly ball to left field that Nolan Reimold ran down before slamming into the wall. He held onto it despite the impact. A few of the Orioles probably held their collective breath. Reimold didn't play after April last season because of a herniated disc in his neck that required surgery and a lengthy rehab. He got the start in left today, collected two hits and had one scary moment. "Well, I got...