"Orioles manager Buck Showalter touched on a number of subjects during his sit-down with the national media on Monday, including the status of second baseman Brian Roberts and the likely composition of the infield next season.

Showalter said the reports he is getting in his periodic conversations with Roberts are encouraging, but he can't predict whether his veteran second baseman will be ready to play full-time next spring.

"We don't have any reason to think one way or the other,'' Showalter said. "It's an inexact science. I'm not going to sit here and say I'm an expert on concussions. So far, so good.""