O's All-Star sidelined until spring

By wire services
Published September 22, 2005

NEW YORK - Brian Roberts has ligament and tendon damage in his left arm and will need surgery that usually calls for a recovery time of about six months.

Baltimore's All-Star second baseman and leadoff hitter remained hospitalized at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center on Wednesday, a day after a collision with the Yankees' Bubba Crosby. Roberts was being given painkillers and will return to Baltimore today, Orioles trainer Richie Bancells said.

A tendon in Roberts' arm was torn off the bone when the elbow was dislocated, and he tore his ulnar collateral ligament, according to Bancells.

Roberts' pronator flexor tendon has to be sewn to the bone, Bancells said, and doctors will decide whether the ligament also needs to be repaired. Swelling must subside before Roberts can be operated on, and surgery is likely in about 10 days.

"Whether he just gets the tendon taken care of and not the ligament, or both, the rehab time is exactly the same," Bancells said. "His healing time with all of that is probably somewhere in the three-month period. Before we get him all back to completely rehab and full function, we're probably looking at around a six-month period.

"He'll be behind the rest of the group in spring training," Bancells said. "I don't have right now, after talking to the doctors and all that, any reason in the world to not expect a full recovery and a good outcome for Brian."

Interim manager Sam Perlozzo said he expects Roberts back during spring training.

"Whether it's late spring or early spring, we certainly don't know yet," Perlozzo said.

BRAVES: Shortstop Rafael Furcal set an Atlanta record with his 187th career stolen base, a mark he shared with Otis Nixon. Furcal stole his 44th base of the season, extending his personal best, in the fifth.

MARLINS: Outfielder/third baseman Miguel Cabrera left the game against the Mets in the first inning after fouling a ball off his knee. Cabrera completed his at-bat, striking out before leaving with a bruised left knee. He was replaced by rookie Joe Dillon, a September callup.

PHILLIES: Shortstop Jimmy Rollins singled in the fourth inning against the Braves to extend his hitting streak to 26 games, tying the franchise record since 1900. Chuck Klein had two 26-game streaks in 1930.

RANGERS: Starting pitcher Kameron Loe left the game against the Angels in the fourth after being struck in the head by Vladimir Guerrero's line drive. The right-hander stood right away and walked off on his own.

TIGERS: Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman will miss the rest of the season with a sore elbow. Bonderman missed two September outings before starting Monday at Kansas City. He gave up seven runs on 11 hits in 42/3 innings.

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 01:04:14]