make $2.6 million in bonuses based on plate appearances. Hell be

TAMPA, Fla. -- Brian Roberts remembered back a decade ago, when he was standing on second base and Derek Jeter approached. "He just said, "You can hit .300 in this league," Roberts recalled Monday. "To hear it from somebody like that, it kind of opened your eyes." Not that he took Jeters analysis too literally. "I dont think its just me. I think he does it to everybody," Roberts said. "But for some reason when he tells it to you, you think youre the most important person in the world." Now theyre teammates, and Roberts has a locker next to Jeters in the New York Yankees spring training clubhouse. With a void at second base following the departure of Robinson Cano, the Yankees have given the position to Roberts, a two-time All-Star who made five trips to the disabled list totalling 481 days over the past four seasons. His many maladies included a strained abdominal muscle, pneumonia, two concussions (one self-inflicted), a groin strain, hip tear and hamstring strain. "I know he hasnt played a full season in the last few years and hes obviously a guy that has some age on him, too, but my plan is to run him out there almost every day," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Now 36, Roberts had hoped to be a Baltimore Orioles lifer, just like Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer and Cal Ripken Jr. "Ive come to love the city, the fans," he said in February 2009 when the Orioles gave him a contract guaranteeing $48 million over five years. "This was the only place I wanted to be the rest of my career." It didnt work out that way. After hitting .283 in 2009 with 16 homers, 79 RBIs and a big league-high 56 doubles, he missed most of the following spring training with a herniated disk in his back. His first concussion was sustained on Sept. 27, 2010, when he knocked himself on the batting helmet with his bat after striking out in the ninth inning at Tampa Bay. His total of 77 games last season was his highest since the injuries began, and the switch-hitter batted .249 with eight homers and 39 RBIs. Baltimore made no effort to keep him after he hit .246 with 15 homers and 78 RBIs over the past four years. The offensive performance would have been decent but not spectacular had he compiled it over a single season. "I dont know that you can necessarily put great words on how frustrating it is to have to sit on the sidelines and watch," Roberts said. "Ive had numerous times over the last three or four years where I wondered if, for one, Id be able to play again, and I think certainly going into last season I had no idea what the next year would hold, whether I would have a job in 2014, whether I wouldnt, whether Id want a job." New York signed him for the bargain price of $2 million, plus the chance to make $2.6 million in bonuses based on plate appearances. Hell be counted on for offence, given that the Yankees had 114 RBIs from second base last year, tops in the majors, according to STATS. "Theres going to be people that will want to look out there and say, Well, hes not Robby. And Im not going to be Robby. Im not going to try to be," Roberts said. "Im going to be Brian Roberts and, hopefully, thats good enough most days." New Yorks infield is more Take A Chance than Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance. First baseman Mark Teixeira played just 15 games last year because of a hand injury, and Jeters broken ankle limited him to 17. With Alex Rodriguez serving a season-long drug suspension, Kelly Johnson figures to platoon at third with Brendan Ryan, Eduardo Nunez and possibly Scott Sizemore. "Its not the infield that we had in 2009," Girardi said. "But we believe that theres a lot of capable players in here to put up offensive and defensive numbers, and when you look at those numbers as a whole, theyre going to be pretty good." Roberts remains in touch with his former Orioles teammates. "A lot of my closest friends in the world are there. So sure. Ive talked to them all in the last couple days. Is it weird? Is it different? Do I miss them? Yeah," he said before recounting his friendships with Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeter and Brian McCann. After Roberts spent 13 seasons in Baltimores black and orange, the Yankees pinstripes will take getting used to. Like McCann, he heard many people tell him "anybody but the Yankees" when he was a free agent. "You either love them or you hate them, right? And thats OK," he said. "Now I love them." Jason Demers Jersey . The whole deflation of New England Patriots footballs is like a murder mystery without the violence or significance. On one side, this is a ridiculous issue. Christian Dvorak Jersey . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. http://www.authenticcoyotespro.com/Shane-doan-coyotes-jersey/ . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. Teppo Numminen Jersey . 4 jersey of former defenseman Rob Blake this coming season. The ceremony will take place prior to the Kings January 17 game against Anaheim. Derek Stepan Jersey . The Wizards announced Friday that Webster had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. The operation was performed Thursday in Los Angeles.(SportsNetwork.com) - One of the NBAs best rivalries will close the Christmas schedule on Thursday night when the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors and Clippers have engaged in several physical altercations in recent years, including one on Christmas night last season. There were no antics when the Warriors beat the Clippers at Oracle Arena on Nov. 5. Golden State walked away with a 17-point victory, but it could be staring in the face of a two-game losing streak for the second time this season. The Warriors laid an egg on Tuesday night in a 115-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. LA didnt even play Kobe Bryant, who took the night off for rest. They kicked our [butt], Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admitted. They were much better than we were tonight. We werent ready to play. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 22 and 18 points, respectively, but both sharpshooters were on the bench long before the final buzzer with the outcome never in question. The Warriors trailed by 15 at the half, then by 22 after three quarters. Only a 16-0 Warriors run in the fourth prevented an uglier outcome. The Clippers have dropped two in a row coming into this holiday tilt. They were swept on a two-game rroad trip, falling in San Antonio, then to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.dddddddddddd. LA had a 13-point lead in the second half, but the scorching-hot Hawks rallied for a 107-104 victory. Blake Griffin scored 21 points to lead Los Angeles, but missed an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired after the Clippers bumbled an inbounds pass with 6.4 seconds remaining. DeAndre Jordan had 15 points and 22 rebounds in the loss, the Clippers fifth in their last eight games. Chris Paul had 19 points and seven assists and J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford each scored 18 for LA . They played well. They came back, said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. We had to sub at some point. ... They made more plays. With Spencer Hawes sidelined with a knee injury, the Clippers got almost no production off the bench other than Crawford. Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, Reggie Bullock and Jordan Farmar combined for seven points. The Clippers begin a nine-game homestand against the Warriors and have won seven straight as the host. The Clippers defeated the Warriors in the first round of last seasons playoffs, but the Warriors have taken three of the last four regular-season matchups. Including the postseason, the Clippers have won six of the previous seven as the host. 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