" Brian Roberts, who hasn't played since Monday because of headaches, was held out of both ends of Friday's doubleheader.

The Orioles second baseman has missed four straight games and has played in just 59 this season because of various injuries and ailments, including a large chunk of the season because of a herniated disk in his back.

"[He's] about the same, not the improvement we had hoped to see," manager Buck Showalter said about Roberts. "A day-to-day thing with him."

Roberts ran before batting practice under the watchful eye of head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, but he wasn't at full strength.

"Right now, he's got some symptoms from headaches. He saw the doctor [Thursday], our guy, and Richie took him out [Friday] for some exertion and stuff, trying to get a feel how he would handle it, and it didn't go well enough for us to feel like he was a player in the first game," Showalter said. "I just don't see that improving enough all of the sudden between games to where he plays the second one. We'll see where he is [Saturday]."

Roberts was not available for comment before Friday's first game. Showalter wouldn't comment on what might have triggered Roberts' headaches.

"That'd be something I'd be a little more comfortable [with] if Robbie was comfortable addressing it," Showalter said.

Coaches will know fates soon

Two days after saying he likely wouldn't make any decisions on the coaching staff until after the World Series, Showalter said he will speak to his staff soon and doesn't want the situation to linger.

"We want to try to speed up that process before they all leave so they know what's going on a little bit, instead of waiting until after the World Series or something like that," Showalter said. "I'd like to stay away from that long of a timeframe. I don't think that is fair to them or their families. Whether it is positive or negative."

Showalter said he and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail will talk with team owner Peter Angelos after the season ends, and by then, he should have a better idea of what the plan is for next year — which will also allow him to better tailor his coaching staff.

"I think when we sit down with Peter here shortly and get a feel for what we are going to be about this offseason, I think we'll have a little better feel [about the coaching staff]," Showalter said. "But that's not something that I want to string along very long. In fairness to everybody concerned."

Showalter said he is not thinking about courting potential coaches from other organizations at this point.

"It's kind of like the players on our team right now. I'm focused on the six coaches we have here and what they potentially could bring," he said. "And I am not out there coveting other [coaches].""