Sorry for the lack of posts the past two days, but I have had deal with a lot of personal stuff. After a decisive victory on Thursday and a loss to Zack Grienke — right now, the absolute best pitcher in baseball — on Friday, the Orioles will try to hit pay dirt on Saturday as Rich Hill returns to the majors.
We need all the pitching help we can get, and if Hill can be good in Kansas City as he’s been in the minors, the Orioles would have done well.
Most fans know we are in a rebuilding process, and one member of the team gave his thoughts — Adam Jones. The center fielder spoke to ESPN’s Buster Olney not only on the rebuilding, but also his injury, and the state of the team.
Adam Jones‘ frustration seeped over the phone from Kansas City the other day. The Orioles center fielder is batting .370 with eight homers and a .426 on-base percentage, and his hamstring pulled at him earlier this week. “I looked at it more like a charley horse or a cramp,” Jones said, sounding disgusted. “I’m seeing the ball good, this team [the Royals] is playing good and I want to be able to play against them.”
Of course, when you’re crushing everything … “I’m not missing as many pitches as I did last year,” Jones said. “Even when they’re throwing good pitches, I’m squaring them up — I’m not trying to do too much, not trying to hit everything 500 feet. Just put it on the barrel and run. That’s been my mindset.”
Jones has seen the Orioles’ young arms in the minors, like Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz, and he is excited about the future. “You incorporate four or five good young arms, and you start to think about the potential for this team in a couple of years,” he said. “But I want to win now. … We have to wait.”
Adam, relax. The Orioles will probably be a lot better in two years than they currently are now and you’re a huge part of the plan. Just keep playing to the best of your ability, and your time will come.
Also, I know he’s anxious to come back, play and tear up the league; however, Jones should rest up and hope the injury goes away quick. If it doesn’t, then he’ll just have to go on the DL, but there’s no point putting yourself at even further risk of injury to just play in a series, rather than at 100% down the road.
