Former Diamond Heel Brian Roberts Sees Another Season Fall Short

Former UNC Diamond Heel Brian Roberts has opted to have hip surgery, ending his season with the Baltimore Orioles. The bad luck continues for what once was the Orioles rock in the lineup at second base.

Before the 2010 season one of the few bright spots on the team was for Diamond Heels 2b Brian Roberts. Roberts had become an All-Star and one of the game’s best lead off hitters. When he broke into the majors Roberts was known for his solid glove work at 2b and his skills on the base paths. The switch hitter worked tirelessly and developed into a dynamic hitter at the plate. The 5’9′ / 175 pound Roberts even found a way to add some power to his game hitting a career high 18 home runs in his career year of 2005.

Brian Roberts averaged 146 games played from 2003-2009 the club rewarded him with a four year, $40 million dollar contract following the 09 season. Ever since then, it’s been all downhill for Roberts who has played in just 98 total games over the past two seasons.

The story of how all this came about is both sad and stupid. It makes me feel for Roberts but at the same time I sort of want to punch him and say what were you thinking man!?!? While it hasn’t been proven, the speculation during the 2010 season, which was also injur riddled for Roberts who sustained a back injury, earlier that season, was that Roberts had caused the concussion when, out of sheer frustration from a bad plate appearance, he struck himself in the helmet with his bat on the return to the dugout. The team hoped last season Roberts could put the injuries behind him after he his season was derailed by a number of injuries the previous season (back, strained abdominal muscle and of course the concussion).

But in May of the 2011 season, O’s manager Buck Showalter had to take Roberts out of the game after he complained of headaches. After testing revealed he had suffered a concussion, sliding into first base trying to beat out a potential infield single. It took until mid June of this season before Roberts finally returned to the Orioles lineup.

His bad luck continued when he suffered a labral tear in his right hip. Roberts tried to stick it out and return during the O’s surprising playoff push, but after a rehab stint in Aberdeen with the Iron Birds, Roberts decided to shut it down.

"“After playing last night and giving it a go with my hip, we’re going to proceed with surgery. It just hasn’t responded the way we were hoping it would. I kind of knew this was a possibility going in, but we wanted to give it the best possible shot we could to get back out there and try and help for the last two months of the season. But it just is not going to put me in a position to play the way I want to play and the way I think is necessary to help.What convinced you after last night to go this route?“I think, deep down in my gut, I probably knew before last night. Some of the things working out leading up to it had definitely given me some concern that it wasn’t going to get a whole lot better. With the cortisone shot in there now already and still having symptoms and pain, and not being to move to the ability with movements that I am used to be able to, it really just didn’t provide a great avenue to go out and there succeed. MASN"

Aside from the Tar Heel connection, Roberts is great for the organization. He’s the type of guy you see at the ball park and he’ll stop and talk with you, pose for a picture and sign anything you put in front of him and thank you for being a loyal fan before you part ways. He plays hard, maybe too hard honestly. I just hope that one day Roberts can get back on the field safely and contribute before it’s too late.

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