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BOSTON -
- Adam Jones' breakthrough season officially ended Wednesday when the Orioles transferred the center fielder to the 60-day disabled list to open a spot on their 40-man roster for left-handed reliever Sean Henn, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins.
Jones severely sprained his left ankle Sept. 1 against the New York Yankees, when he landed awkwardly on first base.
"I'm never OK with going on the DL, but there's four weeks left in the season and I don't think I'm going to be ready in four weeks," Jones said in a phone interview with The Baltimore Sun. "There's nothing I can do but respect the decision. It's just sore. I have a bone bruise. It's just something that only time heals."
That Jones is done for the year is not terribly surprising considering that Orioles manager Dave Trembley said last week that the All-Star center fielder would be out at least two to three weeks if not the rest of the year.
"It's a medical decision, so I kind of take myself out of the equation because I'm not a doctor," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "You just have to go by what the reports are, and then you got to measure what's to be gained against what's to be lost, and the decision became pretty self-evident."
Jones, the club's lone All-Star, will finish the season with a .277 batting average, 19 home runs and 70 RBIs in 119 games. He struggled in the second half, batting just .222 after hitting .303 before the All-Star break. He drove in the winning run for the American League in the All-Star Game with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Felix Pie has started every game in center field since Jones' injury. Jeff Fiorentino will serve as Pie's backup.
"I made a lot of strides," said Jones, who doesn't feel that his left ankle will hinder his offseason workouts. "The first half was fun. The second half, I went through some struggles and didn't make the adjustments as quickly. That's part of baseball. I went out there every day and fought, and I just didn't finish the way I wanted to finish. But overall, I think I accomplished a lot and proved that I can play at this level."
"I just spoke to Rick and he would say that he's going to need one or two more sidelines," Trembley said. "I'd like to get him to possibly throw a simulated game and throw to some hitters. He relayed the information to us before he got here today that he doesn't feel as if he's ready to pitch in a game yet. When we go to New York, he'll probably throw a sideline again or throw to some hitters."
Asked about Uehara's return, MacPhail said, "It could definitely be a while."
Smith will oversee renovations of the organization's new spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., and upgrades at Camden Yards.
Smith served as senior vice president of planning and development for the Boston Red Sox from 2002 until this summer, overseeing improvements at Fenway Park and the surrounding neighborhood.
Jones severely sprained his left ankle Sept. 1 against the New York Yankees, when he landed awkwardly on first base.
"I'm never OK with going on the DL, but there's four weeks left in the season and I don't think I'm going to be ready in four weeks," Jones said in a phone interview with The Baltimore Sun. "There's nothing I can do but respect the decision. It's just sore. I have a bone bruise. It's just something that only time heals."
That Jones is done for the year is not terribly surprising considering that Orioles manager Dave Trembley said last week that the All-Star center fielder would be out at least two to three weeks if not the rest of the year.
"It's a medical decision, so I kind of take myself out of the equation because I'm not a doctor," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "You just have to go by what the reports are, and then you got to measure what's to be gained against what's to be lost, and the decision became pretty self-evident."
Jones, the club's lone All-Star, will finish the season with a .277 batting average, 19 home runs and 70 RBIs in 119 games. He struggled in the second half, batting just .222 after hitting .303 before the All-Star break. He drove in the winning run for the American League in the All-Star Game with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Felix Pie has started every game in center field since Jones' injury. Jeff Fiorentino will serve as Pie's backup.
"I made a lot of strides," said Jones, who doesn't feel that his left ankle will hinder his offseason workouts. "The first half was fun. The second half, I went through some struggles and didn't make the adjustments as quickly. That's part of baseball. I went out there every day and fought, and I just didn't finish the way I wanted to finish. But overall, I think I accomplished a lot and proved that I can play at this level."
Not all the way back
Koji Uehara rejoined the Orioles Wednesday, but it could be a while before he pitches in a game. Even before throwing a bullpen session in front of pitching coach Rick Kranitz on Wednesday, Uehara informed team officials he's not ready to be used in the game. The right-hander, who last pitched on June 23, is trying to make it back from a partially torn flexor tendon in his right elbow."I just spoke to Rick and he would say that he's going to need one or two more sidelines," Trembley said. "I'd like to get him to possibly throw a simulated game and throw to some hitters. He relayed the information to us before he got here today that he doesn't feel as if he's ready to pitch in a game yet. When we go to New York, he'll probably throw a sideline again or throw to some hitters."
Asked about Uehara's return, MacPhail said, "It could definitely be a while."
Welcome back
Janet Marie Smith, a renowned architect and urban planner who worked for the Orioles from 1989 to 1994 during the design and construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, has rejoined the organization as vice president of planning and development.Smith will oversee renovations of the organization's new spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., and upgrades at Camden Yards.
Smith served as senior vice president of planning and development for the Boston Red Sox from 2002 until this summer, overseeing improvements at Fenway Park and the surrounding neighborhood.
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It's a shame that Adam Jones got injured on a play where I don't believe he could have been tagged out even if he walked back to first base. (He made no move to go to second after overrunnning first base down the right field line.)
BreannaWhite (09/11/2009, 12:41 PM )