masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBrian Roberts said he is making solid progress as he attempts to get in some exhibition games soon and be ready for Opening Day.

Roberts was a guest today on the phone on the Scott Garceau show on MASN and 105.7FM the Fan during MASN’s Brian Roberts report.

“I’ve taken batting practice three times now with no ill effects of that. The swing is starting to feel better and I’ve taken ground balls and run around. I’m very close to getting into game action and preparing for April…Brian Roberts said he is making solid progress as he attempts to get in some exhibition games soon and be ready for Opening Day.

Roberts was a guest today on the phone on the Scott Garceau show on MASN and 105.7FM the Fan during MASN’s Brian Roberts report.

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“I’ve taken batting practice three times now with no ill effects of that. The swing is starting to feel better and I’ve taken ground balls and run around. I’m very close to getting into game action and preparing for April 6th.

“Looking at the schedule, you realize games are dwindling. When I play the first game, you’ll probably need a day off just to see how you do the day after. It’s been essentially about six months since I’ve played in a game.

“I’ll probably play a day, then take a day off, play another day and possibly another day off. The amount of games are dwindling, but you do have the possibility to get into minor league games. I could leadoff every inning and get eight or nine at bats in one day and that’s at least a small way of making up at bats in a short time. That could be an option next week if I feel like I’m not as comfortable as I’d like to be at the plate.”

Earlier, Roberts had discomfort when batting from the left side of the plate, but he said he has made progress there as well.

“The left side was giving me more trouble, that was why we shut it down for a while and went up and did the epidural. If that had not been the case two weeks ago, I probably would not have had the epidural and the minor setback. It just wasn’t where I wanted it to be and we didn’t want it to turn into a bigger issue down the road.

“The left-handed swing is feeling much better than it was two weeks ago and that’s encouraging.”

Roberts, who had 30 steals last year, 10 fewer than in 2008, did say during the interview that he’d like to steal more bases this season.

“I really do want to ramp that up more again. Maybe get back into the 40’s this year and really put some pressure on the other team and make some things happen at the top or the order.”