May 12, 2010|By Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun
Roberts said his back felt better Wednesday than it has in the past two-plus months and he is hoping to begin "small baseball activities" soon. Still, he hasn't swung a bat.
"Even if I started tomorrow and I really started getting ready to go, it would still take me at least three weeks to be ready," Roberts said. "We talked a lot about it [Tuesday], and the best-case scenario is I might be back seven days before [June 9]. … So this gives us a little bit of extra time to make sure I don't rush anything. Hopefully, by that time, I'll be ready."
MacPhail's video State of the Union
MacPhail taped a nearly three-minute "state of the Orioles" address for fans that appeared on mlb.com Wednesday.
Reiterating what he has said for much of the season, MacPhail explained the Orioles' rough start was a combination of an early implosion of the back end of the bullpen and an offense that hasn't been able to hit in clutch situations.
He didn't mince words when describing the Orioles' 2-16 record to begin 2010.
"We have all had to endure a terrifically horrendous start. The first 18 games were terribly problematic for us and really a miserable way to start the season," MacPhail said.
But he asked the fans to stick with him and the team.
"We appreciate your support. Keep the faith," MacPhail said. "We're going to get this thing straightened out.
Around the horn
Julie Harwell, daughter of late Hall of Fame and former Orioles broadcaster Ernie Harwell, asks that fans who wish to send condolences to the family write to this address: P.O. Box 2066, Farmington Hills, MI, 48333. Ernie Harwell died May 4 from cancer.
dan.connolly@baltsun.com
jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com
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