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Receiving his usual lack of fanfare on the lowly Orioles, Roberts still put together arguably one of his best seasons yet, proving once again why he's among the game's most underrated players at a thin position. The 32-year-old is approaching the age when speedsters slow down, but remember that Roberts has made a living of proving doubters wrong.
Roberts became one of two second baseman to end the season with 30 or more stolen bases. The base swipe also ensured Roberts of his fourth straight year with at least 30 steals, although his 37 attempts were his fewest since he attempted the same number in 2005. The 31-year-old might be slowing down ever so slightly, but owners have to feel good about his steal total to go with his .283 batting average, 16 home runs, career-high 79 RBIs and 110 runs.
Doubles are the name of the game for Roberts, whose lone hit of the night moved him ahead of Lance Berkman on the all-time list of switch-hitters while matching a career high of 107 runs scored. Overall, the scrappy second baseman went 1-for-4.
The double marked No. 55 on the season for Roberts, tying him with Lance Berkman for the all-time record by a switch-hitter. Another five two-baggers would tie Roberts for the all-time lead among second basemen.
With his next double, Roberts will tie Lance Berkman for the most (55) by a switch-hitter.
Roberts set a franchise record with the double, his 52nd of the season. The switch-hitting second baseman is enjoying one of his finest all-around campaigns to date. He's already set a career high with his 74 RBIs, and he's closing in on his personal bests in homers (18) and runs (107).
You know it's going to be a good day when you have a grand slam and a stolen base under your belt before the end of the second inning, as was the case with Roberts' day against the Yanks on Sunday. Known primarily for his base-swiping skills, the dynamic keystone has made himself even more valuable to owners this year after raising his level of attack in the batter's box. Roberts' 73 RBIs tie a career mark that he set in '05 and his 15 homers are just three behind his career-best of 18 that he also blasted that same year.
Roberts becomes the fourth player in Major League history to record three seasons of 50 or more doubles. Tris Speaker did so five times, and Paul Waner and Stan Musial did so three times each. It also marks Roberts' second consecutive 50-double season after hitting 51 in 2008. He joins Craig Biggio (1998-99) and Billy Herman (1935-36) as the only second basemen in Major League history to record 50 or more doubles in back-to-back seasons.
Since Aug. 25, a span of 11 games, Roberts has been embroiled in a 6-for-41 slump with a microscopic .371 OPS, so Sunday's multi-hit outburst couldn't have come at a better time for the scuffling keystone. Slumps like this one have been more the exception to the rule this year for Roberts, who despite his recent struggles is putting the finishing touches on another great year, during which he's hitting .284 with 14 homers, 27 steals and 96 runs scored.
Roberts, who hadn't batted in a slot other than leadoff since August 2004, moved down to the three-spot to help fill the void left by injured outfielder Adam Jones and to protect cleanup man Nick Markakis. While Roberts was caught stealing for the seventh time of 2009, he did up his average to .285 while lifting his RBI total to 63.
Roberts got back to business after suffering through a 1-for-20 slump that was his worst since the end of June. Even with the poor stretch, he’s still enjoyed a fabulous month, hitting .310 with six homers, 20 RBIs, 31 runs and nine steals.
It seems all but certain that Roberts, who is in the midst of his best month of 2009, will wind up surpassing his career high of 51 doubles. When you add that to his already impressive line of 93 runs scored, 14 homers, 61 RBIs and 27 stolen bases, it's difficult to overlook him among the top tier of fantasy second basemen.
Just another day on the job for the searing Roberts, who’s hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games. He’s 23-for-59 (.390 AVG) with nine doubles, five dingers, 13 RBIs, 12 runs and six steals during the surge, which has kicked his average up to .295, the highest it’s been since mid-June. The veteran speedster has again been one of the top second basemen in the game this year, scoring 93 runs to complement 27 thefts.
Roberts is on a homer tear not often seen by smallish second basemen. He's batting .396 with eight doubles and five homers in his last 10 games, including four long balls in his last three contests. Needless to say, he should be a starter in every format.
Roberts' fourth career slam helped him extend his hitting streak to 10 games. During that stretch, the scrappy veteran is batting .383 with three homers and 10 RBIs, including two long balls in the last two days. Roberts remains one of the most talented yet unheralded second baseman around, providing a quality blend of on-base skills, speed and pop.
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