Dave Roberts Upbeat in Wake of Lymphoma Diagnosis

Filed under: Padres, Red SoxSAN DIEGO -- Dave Roberts probed a lump on his neck in March, leading to medical tests and word that he has Hodgkin's lymphoma. The former major league outfielder, 37, said on Monday that he's had two rounds of chemotherapy, and his outlook is sunny. "The prognosis is very positive," Roberts said by phone to several reporters. "We diagnosed this at an early stage. My spirits are high, and they'll continue to be, and I expect to beat this and be fully recovered." Best known for sparking the Red Sox to an elusive World Series title by stealing second base against the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Roberts has been teaching baserunning and bunting to Padres players and minor leaguers since joining San Diego's front office last offseason as a special assistant. He said he discovered the lump on his neck during spring training. "It was sore," he said. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic ...