The latest news on Brian Roberts isn't very promising, but it's not like everyone isn't already prepared for the worst. BRob is eligible to come off the 60-day DL today, but he isn't close and he apparently isn't getting closer.
He was supposed to start playing in extended spring training games on Friday, but has been held back again and again with continuing back soreness. He's scheduled to see a doctor today before continuing his rehab program, but I'm starting to think the same thing as a lot of you. If 60 days isn't enough to relieve that discomfort -- and if it keeps cropping during non-competitive rehab -- how can the Orioles have any confidence that he can stay on the field once he gets back?
Roberts repeatedly insisted this spring that surgery had not been presented as not an option in this situation, but surgery generally is an option for disk herniations. If that is an option -- and I'm certainly not in any position to know that -- you would think everyone would be better served by him going ahead and having the thing fixed right now.
I don't know what the recovery time would be, but he looks like he's two or three weeks away as it is. And it's not like he's going to come right in here on a white horse in late June and lead the Orioles back into contention.