Major League Baseball’s mid-summer classic is just a few short weeks away and fans in Baltimore are surely wondering which Oriole will represent their team in Arizona for the All-Star game. While Baltimore has seen hot and cold streaks from a number of players on their roster, it’s my belief that centerfielder Adam Jones will receive the honor of the Orioles All-Star.
Since the voting is always dominated by the bandwagon fans of New York and Boston, we know that the Orioles representative will be selected by the American League’s manager Ron Washington. This season, Adam Jones has hit a consistent .295 at the dish with ten home runs and 38 RBI. His average has reached and broken the .300 mark four times in June and hasn’t dipped below the .270 mark since May 10.
Thus far, in June Jones is hitting .323 with a .565 slugging percentage and .903 OPS.
But more than the numbers, Adam Jones will bring the intangible things to Arizona when he represents the O’s for the All-Star game for the second time in his young career. Jones’ personality is probably the largest on this Orioles team, his defense has made highlight reels for several seasons and he’s a face that people recognize nation wide in association with the Orioles. Just yesterday, Jones hit a homer and fish bumped a guy in the crowd after crossing home.
I’d say that even if Jones struggles over the next couple weeks, he’s a lock to represent Baltimore based on the intangibles listed above alone. Does Adam Jones get your vote for Baltimore’s All-Star representative?
Its Jones, Wieters or Hardy. Jones has the best cumulative offensive numbers, Hardy the best per plate appearance offensive numbers, and Wieters has been other worldly defensively (enough to make up for his average offensive numbers). They are all sitting around 1.5 WAR for the season, just getting there in different ways. I’d probably vote for Hardy in a vacuum (his numbers are fairly absurd considering the amount of time he hass missed), but I imagine it Jones will get the nod. Its a little bit of a popularity contest, where offense is king and defense is measured in web gems not uzr, Of the three Jones fits that description the best but its important not to overlook how good Wieters and Hardy have been.
I agree with Zach. Jones it is. Although Britton should also be in the conversation with Jones, Wieters, and Hardy. If Russell Martin is voted out the top 3 AL catchers are Avila, VMart, Wieters so the O’s should have two allstars. Yeah, I said it.
@The Fantasy God – I stand corrected. I somehow forgot to even do the most cursory checks on the O’s pitching staff. The Fantasy God is correct, Britton and his 1.3 WAR definitely deserve to be in the conversation with Hardy, Jones and Wieters.
WHat if Jake has 11 wins at the break, isn’t he in the conversation. Not saying he is deserving, but win totals tend to attract all-star attention.