Roberts: "June 9 might be pushing it at this point."

After a bout with pneumonia and two nights in a hospital, O's second baseman Brian Roberts has resumed light baseball activities. He will head to Sarasota, Florida on Friday to continue his rehab. He still fully intends to return this season but admits now that the date of June 9th, when he can return from the disabled list, might be a little optimistic for his return to the Orioles at this point. He said he cannot be certain when he will return to a Major League field, but remains confident it will happen at some point this season. "I don't see any reason why I wouldn't play this year. That's for sure. But, as honest as I can be at this point I'm just taking it one day at a time and we'll see where that gets us. Whether it's June 9th or any day after that, I just don't know at this point." The illness has cost him a few days on the rehab front. "Was it a big setback? Obviously I don't know when I'll get back on the field. If it's two weeks after the 60-day, then I'm sure it was a little bit of a setback. I'm not going to worry about how far it set me back and just get back on the program. "It's been a long couple of months. I've never been through anything like this. It's frustrating, sure. "The scariest part (with pneumonia) was when they start testing for stuff just to find out what it was. Sure, that scares you a little. I assumed I just had a pretty good case of the flu. The doctors were great and everything seems to be fine." But he still can't pinpoint a date to begin playing games again, on a possible rehab assignment or with the Orioles. "I have no idea, I really haven't looked at the dates. I'd say June 9th would probably be pushing it at this point. We're for real, just taking it one day at a time. I know that sounds like a cliché, but at this point we really are. I don't know what a week and a half ahead even has in store. "Everything has felt fine physically since I started doing stuff. At this point it's more the energy level than anything else. It's not necessarily pain or worried about my back or anything at this point. Just trying to build my stamina back up and get strength back. We'll test the back as we go along." Roberts, who has played in just four games this year, has been on the disabled list since April 10th.