Sports Spectrum

If you are the parent of a young baseball player, make plans to take your youngster to see Brian Roberts play next summer. If you don’t know of Roberts, you should.

Roberts is one of the best players in the talent rich American League. He plays for the Baltimore Orioles and is one of the best second basemen in baseball. He has been a two time starter for the American League in the all star game. He is hitting over .280 this season and is leading the American League in doubles.

Roberts is also a strong follower of Christ and is one of the Orioles team leaders spiritually.

His Orioles team has struggled this season. It is tough for them to compete in the American League East with teams like the Yankees and Red Sox. They have been woefully out of the race since May. It is a team that has nothing to play for.

I had a chance to see Baltimore play in Cleveland on Sunday. They were out of this game early, falling behind 6-0 in the third inning and eventually losing 9-0.

But despite the circumstances Roberts plays full tilt. Every at bat is a good at bat. He is always legging out infield ground outs. He dives headlong for every ball near his grasp at second base. He plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. If I was a coach, I would show all of my player’s video of how Roberts plays the game.

How does he stay motivated? Much of it has to do with his relationship with Christ. In Colossians 3:23, Paul writes to “do our work heartily for the Lord, rather than for man.”

In the game of baseball, I am not sure anyone epitomizes that more than Brian Roberts. He is certainly worth the price of admission.

Frank Giardina

Categories: Major League Baseball