masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSecond baseman Brian Roberts met with team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens today and said he could begin “small baseball-related activities” later this week.

Roberts didn’t get into specifics, but he said the activities would be more closely associated with the kind that will get him ready to play. He won’t be hitting live pitching, but he’ll do more than jog in a pool and perform core and leg exercises.

“I’m feeling OK,” he said. “It’s still slow. slower than I’d like and was hoping…Second baseman Brian Roberts met with team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens today and said he could begin “small baseball-related activities” later this week.

Roberts didn’t get into specifics, but he said the activities would be more closely associated with the kind that will get him ready to play. He won’t be hitting live pitching, but he’ll do more than jog in a pool and perform core and leg exercises.

“I’m feeling OK,” he said. “It’s still slow. slower than I’d like and was hoping for, but we’re hoping to start making some progress this week.”

Roberts spoke yesterday with Johns Hopkins back specialist Dr. Lee Riley before consulting today with Wilckens.

“There’s a big circle of connections going on. We’re just trying to put everybody’s heads together,” he said.

“I haven’t been discouraged. I just haven’t been as encouraged as I’d like. I’m not discouraged, minus the fact that I’m not playing and rehab is never fun and you don’t feel like part of the team. But physically, I haven’t really had any setbacks or anything like that. It’s just one of those things where time is the only thing that’s the key factor.”

Roberts is trying to maintain a positive outlook, and he remains convinced that he’ll avoid surgery and play again this season, but the inactivity has become a grind for him.

“I get paid to play games, not to sit on the side,” he said. “It stinks.”