Roberts still in holding pattern

Second baseman Brian Roberts didn't make a grand announcement on O's Xtra about his return to the lineup. Though encouraged by how his back is feeling, he still isn't sure when he'll get back on the field. "I don't know. Unfortunately, that's kind of the million dollar question that I've been asked a lot, certainly recently," he said. "The doctors have got me on a great physical therapy program. We are working and making progress. Unfortunately, I just don't have a final date right now. "My back is feeling a lot better, but unfortunately, the disk injury and the nerve injury is something that they say will really just heal over time, and there's really nothing that you can do to speed the process up. "Right now, we're just trying to be patient, trying to work hard, trying to keep my body in shape enough that when the time is right, I'll be ready to get back out there." Roberts said his dive into second base during the home opener is "the straw that broke the camel's back." Interesting choice of words. "I was already having a little bit of trouble coming out of spring training, wasn't playing great but was trying to play through it," he said. "I felt like I could get to the point where I could go out there and play every day." Maybe one of these days.