The 40 Greatest Orioles of All-Time - No. 26 - Brian Roberts

by Stacey on Nov 8, 2010 5:00 PM EST in Commentary & Analysis

Brian Roberts has 39 less stolen bases than all-time O's leader Brady Anderson, but his 80.2% success rate is more impressive than Anderson's 75.8%.

After the 2008 season, SC ranked Brian Roberts as the 34th greatest Oriole, nestled between Tippy Martinez and Dick Hall. Since then, Brian had an above average 2009 season in which he hit .283/.356/.451 with an amazing 56 doubles. That total led the league (Brian's second time doing so in his career) and made him just the fourth player in major league history to have at least three seasons with fifty or more doubles. He stole just thirty bases, his lowest total since 2005, but he kept his success rate above 80% (his career average).

As we all know, 2010 was disappointing for Brian Roberts. It started with a back injury and ended with a possibly self-induced concussion. In between he played just 59 games, hitting .278/.354/.391. While his batting average and on-base percentage were nearly in line with his career averages, his slugging percentage was the lowest it has been since 2004. It's hard to know how much of that was due to his back, but it's safe to say that a healthy Brian Roberts at the top of the lineup is imperative to the success of the 2011 Orioles.

2010 was Brian's tenth season with the Orioles. He is the oldest tenured player on the team, and to give you an idea of just how long he's been with us, he's the only active Oriole who played with Cal Ripken. His 1194 career games is 12th most in Orioles history, and here are his ranks for other pertinent stats:

	Total	O's Rank
Hits	1338	9th
Doubles	332	4th
Home Runs	81	27th
Walks	538	8th
Stolen Bases	268	2nd
Runs	757	7th
Runs Batted In	458	15th
Batting Average*	.283	12th
On-Base Percentage*	.355	15th
Slugging Percentage*	.419	24th

*minimum 2000 plate appearances

Brian Roberts has never played for a winning baseball team in his major league career. The only winning baseball team he's played for in his professional career is the 2003 Ottawa Lynx, who went 79-65. Brian was called up to the Orioles on May 22nd that year, and while I know that I read somewhere that the Lynx had a losing record when he was called up, I googled my heart out and couldn't find proof. At any rate, he finished the year with the Orioles who finished 71-91. Brian is now 32 years old and is signed with the Orioles through 2013. I really hope he and I get to share a winning season before he's gone.

Brian's new rank on the list is 26, just ahead of Luis Aparicio and just behind Don Buford. Buford spent only five seasons with the Orioles, but his offensive numbers in the time that he played are enough to keep him ahead of Brian for at least another year.

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he's only 39 back

he needs 2 average seasons to pass the all time SB record. I highly doubt he won’t get it.

Straight cash homey
Pro Football South
"smoke weed, eat yogurt"

by danielreese05 on Nov 8, 2010 6:38 PM EST reply actions

also; over/under 120 homers for his career?

Straight cash homey
Pro Football South
"smoke weed, eat yogurt"

by danielreese05 on Nov 8, 2010 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

I think the safe bet is the under,

but it depends entirely on how he ages. 13 HR per year through 2013 gets him 120, so if he hits the usual 10-12 per year and can still play after 2013, he’s in good shape to get over 120.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." -- Earl Weaver

by Vuff on Nov 8, 2010 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

Is this where we tell Stacey her subjective list is absolutely wrong?

by kba26 on Nov 8, 2010 7:32 PM EST reply actions

its objectively wrong

I could dream it forever and still not do it, but when the time comes for it to be done, God, I want to be ready for it.

by Andrew_G on Nov 8, 2010 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

Your mom is objectively wrong.

You never know when someone is gonna sneak up on ya at the dolphin show! -wrb1990

by Stacey on Nov 9, 2010 8:08 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I like Brian and all

But I feel that people who cheated shouldn’t be ahead of markakis. Is that wrong of me? And I don’t just mean Roberts.

by GeoffreyA on Nov 9, 2010 12:48 AM EST via mobile reply actions

You mean people who were caught cheating?

There is no way to know the entire list of cheaters. I don’t care about that as much as some people.

You never know when someone is gonna sneak up on ya at the dolphin show! -wrb1990

by Stacey on Nov 9, 2010 8:07 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

How do you know Markakis didn't "cheat"?

I am eating you, motherfucker. You cannot hurt me. - PhilR8

by O'sFan21 on Nov 9, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Brian Roberts

A few thoughts

As we all know, 2010 was disappointing for Brian Roberts. It started with a back injury and ended with a possibly self-induced concussion.

Brian Roberts has never played for a winning baseball team in his major league career.

Good stuff Stacey!

I was looking for the info re: the 2003 year with the Lynx but was unable to find anything really. I did find this:

April
——-

  3 – W at Scranton-WB, 5-4
  4 – L at Scranton-WB, 1-2
  5 – W at Scranton-WB, 6-3
  6 – L at Scranton-WB, 0-6
  6 – L at Scranton-WB, 0-6
  7 – Postponed at Pawtucket
  8 – Postponed at Pawtucket
  9 – Postponed at Pawtucket
  9 – Postponed at Pawtucket
10 – L vs. Buffalo, 5-7
11 – L vs. Buffalo, 4-6
12 – W vs. Buffalo, 5-2
13 – W vs. Buffalo, 7-6 (11th)
14 – L vs. Pawtucket, 5-6
15 – L vs. Pawtucket, 2-4
15 – W vs. Pawtucket, 5-3
16 – L vs. Pawtucket, 4-6
17 – L vs. Pawtucket, 4-6
18 – L …

Link: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-107133274.html

Anyway, I didn’t realize he is so high on some of those lists. However, he gets penalized because none of his teams have mattered. I know that’s unfair and arbitrary.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Nov 9, 2010 2:08 AM EST reply actions

Thanks!

Too bad they don’t let us see the whole list :(

You never know when someone is gonna sneak up on ya at the dolphin show! -wrb1990

by Stacey on Nov 9, 2010 8:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

This is of course a guess, but I think Roberts will end up between 15-20 when he retires unless the Orioles have some postseason success to which he contributes.

by wickedwitch on Nov 9, 2010 10:31 AM EST reply actions