Injured second baseman Brian Roberts was in the Orioles clubhouse before Thursday's game, goofing around with interim manager Juan Samuel and first base coach John Shelby and making it known that he is ready to re-join his team.
"If it were my decision, I would have played Monday," Roberts said, laughing. "That's where you see how much decision-making [power] I have."
Because of a herniated disk in his back, Roberts last played for the Orioles in the club's home opener April 9. He is in the midst of a rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Bowie, where he has six hits in 14 at-bats over three games.
He was given the day off Thursday and originally was expected to return to Bowie for two more games, but it now appears the Orioles might be leaning toward activating him from the disabled list Friday.
"Yes, he's anxious to come off and join the club," Samuel said. "He is swinging the bat very well. Like he stated, he's ready to go. We just have to make that spot available for him."
The holdup is as much about whom the Orioles take off their roster as whether Roberts is physically ready to join the club. He said he has done everything but slide headfirst into a base or make a diving play at second, but he believes he could if needed. He has also played a day game after a night game without any adverse effect.
"There's nothing I don't think I can do at this point. Sure, there are things I haven't done necessarily, but that's not necessarily all that [important]," he said. "Sometimes in spring training, I don't dive headfirst before I leave camp. I don't foresee it being an issue."
There has been some hesitation on Samuel's part to have Roberts play his first few games on the turf at Toronto's Rogers Centre, where the Orioles will be from Monday to Wednesday. But Roberts said he's not worried about that either.
"I think there is more made of turf than there really is to it," Roberts said. "You ask me, I think it is softer than that dirt out there" in the Camden Yards infield.
Roberts, who has had just 14 at-bats this season, said his eagerness to return is peaking.
"You start playing the games, you walk in the clubhouse, you start seeing the guys, you go on the field," Roberts said. "Yeah, definitely, my eagerness picked up the day I got on the field and started playing catch again. It doesn't really matter where you are; when you start doing baseball stuff, you want to be on the field."
Wieters appears set to return
Second-year catcher Matt Wieters (hamstring), who has been on the 15-day DL since July 9, is confident he'll be in the starting lineup when he's eligible to return Sunday.
Wieters pulled his hamstring running the bases in a game at Texas. During batting practice before Thursday's game, Wieters was running the bases to gauge his progress.
"It went well," he said. "It was no feeling at all. The only difference is you've got to get used to getting the stride right to where you're not going to hit the base. But other than that, everything felt really good."
Before being sidelined, Wieters was batting .245 with six home runs and 29 RBIs in 77 games. While on the DL, he spent the first six days getting treatment on the hamstring and staying off it as much as possible before steadily getting his endurance back up. On Thursday, he said that he wasn't running at full speed, but at "80-90 percent pretty easy" and feeling no ill effects.
It is the first time Wieters has gone on the disabled list in the majors, but he did have a seven-game stint on the DL in the minors.
"It should definitely help with the break. It's not a break you want, but it's something that can help you," he said. "It's also something where [when] I first come back, you're going to have to try to slow yourself down. I haven't felt fresh since the beginning of the year, so it's going to be a different feeling."
Decision time for brass
With Roberts due back any day and Wieters set to return Sunday barring an unexpected setback, the Orioles have some tough decisions to make room for them.
With a taxed bullpen likely out of the mix, it's expected to come down to one of the reserve infielders — Julio Lugo or Scott Moore — departing when Roberts returns and catcher Craig Tatum or catcher-infielder Jake Fox leaving when Wieters comes back.
Tatum is batting .273 and has filled in well as Wieters' replacement, but he has an option remaining, while Fox, acquired June 22, would have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors.
"I don't know if we could carry three catchers, and we know how good of a job Tatum has done. And Fox gives you some flexibility," Samuel said. "He's also a guy you could use off the bench, throw him in the outfield if needed. So it's not going to be easy making those decisions."
As for the infield spot, Samuel hinted that Lugo's ability to play shortstop — spelling starter Cesar Izturis — could provide the answer as to who remains on the roster.
Around the horn
Samuel entered the pre-game news conference in a jovial manner, opening with an impressive impersonation of MASN play-by-play man Gary Thorne. "Yeah, I got it down," Samuel said, laughing. … The Orioles released minor league outfielder Joey Gathright, who was batting .185 for Triple-A Norfolk this season. Signed to a minor league contract in the spring, Gathright, 29, has played parts of six major league seasons for four clubs… Norfolk pitcher Zach Britton lasted just four innings, allowing four runs (two earned) in the team's 7-6 win over Syracuse on Thursday. Nolan Reimold, who played first base, went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.