As most fans know, Brian Roberts, the Orioles veteran second baseman, is testing his cranky back with a series of rehab games for the Double-A Bowie Baysox.

And I was impressed with his remarks to Sun Orioles beat writer Jeff Zrebiec -- you can read the story here -- about not wanting to shut it down, even though he could risk another injury with just  two months left in another lost season for the O's.

After all, Roberts hasn't played since April 9 when he aggravated the herniated disk in his back stealing second base.

But he left no doubt that he wants to get back on the field as soon as possible, even with his team cratering and on the verge of ringing up its 13th consecutive losing season.

"That's what I get paid to do and what (Orioles owner Peter Angelos) has signed me to do," Roberts told Zrebiec.

And he hinted that he needed to play again this season for his own peace of mind, to ensure himself that his back is healed and he can play all-out once again.

But as Zrebiec noted in the article, Roberts hasn't attempted one of his hard head-first slides into second base, like the one that landed him on the disabled list.

And until he does -- and pops up with no ill effects -- he probably won't fully believe that his back has healed.

If he doesn't attempt one with Bowie, Orioles fans will probably be holding their breath when he finally does his first head-first slide with the parent club.

But you can't tell Brian Roberts to take it easy and slide feet-first for the rest of the season.

That's not how the guy plays. He plays full-bore, with his foot stomping the accelerator, and the head-first slide is his signature move.

Asking him not to do it is like asking Kobe Bryant not to go so hard to the hole. It's like asking  Tiger Woods to lay up on a short par-4.

You just don't do it.

Good luck with that first slide, B-Rob.

 We'll all be watching. And keeping our fingers crossed.