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An Interview with Brian Roberts
Dr. Shorebird talks One-on-One with Brian Roberts
-------- Orioles Second Baseman --------

Brian Roberts

Q: How will bringing back experienced players like B. J. Surhoff and Mark McLemore help?

Roberts: It’s great to have the veterans such as Surhoff and McLemore to lead by showing what needs to be done day in and day out in order to succeed at that level. It’s great to see the workout ethics of guys who are successful and have seen play-off experience. It’s invaluable. I remember when I came up in 2001 and saw Cal Ripken hitting off a tee four hours before the game, I was really taken aback. I was used to getting started about 5 minutes before batting practice and I thought that that was doing the job. You learn a lot from the veterans and they like to teach and take care of the younger guys.

Q: What have you done in the off-season to get ready for this year?

Roberts: I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona where there is a training facility that trains about 30 to 35 baseball players I have been going there for two years now and I really think that has helped me a lot to come into spring training in the best shape as best prepared as I can.

Q: You look as if you put on a little more muscle. You were about 170 pounds last year, what are you now?

Roberts: 180 pounds.

Q: Your BA keeps improving. Is it a matter of experience?

Roberts: I never had a full season in professional baseball until 2001 and I’m starting to benefit from experience. I’m a more patient hitter now. I came to Delmarva right out of College and didn’t join the team until after the all-star break. I played about 47 games here. After my stint here, I had surgery on my right elbow for bone chips.

Q: Do you remember anything about your experience here?

Roberts: Oh sure, I remember pulling up here and thinking that I must be at the wrong place. This can’t be an A-ball stadium. I had seen A-ball stadiums before and they didn’t look like this. I loved this place and I just told Doc Rodgers on the way here that the guys will be in for a treat when they get here to play and we are very, very spoiled to have this in our organization.

There are tremendous fans here. They are very baseball knowledgeable and they love having their team here. A lot of players here stay with local families and the fans are very supportive with the Fan Club as an example. They do an awful lot for the players and they are appreciated.