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Thursday Thoughts: Aren’t You Glad Adam is One Of “Our Guys?”

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This is a weekly column that dives into eight random thoughts about the Orioles/MLB. Why eight? It’s a nod to Cal Ripken Jr. of course. That, and doing 2,632 of these would be a little overboard. – A.S.

1. At this time last week, I was really unsure about what the return of Matt Wieters would mean to the Orioles. A week later, my answers aren’t really there, but I’m at least happy with what he’s done so far. Once Wieters is able to catch on a more regular basis, he’ll provide a more true indication of what his value will be going forward. That’s still the key for me. As much as I want Wieters to help the team right now, I want to know what he can provide in terms of value and I want to know quickly.

This could mean a better chance to trade him before the July 31 deadline, or keep him long term. I know many think that’s a pipe dream, especially with Scott Boras as his agent, but if Wieters can’t prove he’s an everyday catcher he loses a lot of his value on the open market. He really loses a lot of value in my eyes as well. That play he made to get a force out at third base in the eighth inning on Tuesday night was defensive brilliance. Anything with the bat should be considered a plus.

2. I won’t pretend to know a whole lot about the Orioles draft picks, even first-rounder D.J. Stewart. The Florida State outfielder seems to have a good plate presence as evidenced by his high on-base percentage. Some seem to be concerned about the crouch that Stewart has in his batting stance, but that’s apparently where his power stroke comes from and the Orioles don’t seem likely to change it.

If it becomes an issue down the road, I’m sure that mindset will change. We all know the Orioles have massively whiffed on multiple draft choices over the years. A few have panned out in recent memory, including Matt Wieters and Manny Machado.

The jury is still very much out on Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and Hunter Harvey. Not all of that is their fault, as injuries have played a role. I just hope it’s different this time around. Hopefully a college bat will provide a quicker track to the majors and someone who can actually fill a corner outfielder role.

3. When I heard about Brian Matusz‘s suspension being upheld last week, I wasn’t surprised. That was until I realized that the suspension of Brewers reliever Will Smith was reduced by two games. I don’t know the circumstances of why Smith’s suspension was reduced while Matusz’s was not. Did Brian use TOO MUCH sunscreen? Was Smith nicer to MLB officials during his appeal?

This is a perfect example of why there needs to be more uniform rules about pitchers using substances. This talk was fired up a few weeks back when both of these players were initially suspended. Since then it’s been crickets. It’s a story that really fell by the wayside and shouldn’t have. The only thing that is likely keeping me from going off the deep end on this conversation is the fact that losing Matusz from the Orioles bullpen right now probably isn’t a big deal. It might even improve it. Matusz has been fairly awful and perhaps some time off will help him.

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GulfBird Sports/Craig Landefeld

4. Miguel Gonzalez is heading to the disabled list with a groin injury. This is really disappointing news considering Gonzalez has pitched fairly well, along with the rest of the rotation. The blow is much better absorbed knowing the Orioles have Mike Wright to come up in his place.

That’s not something you would’ve expected to hear at the start of the season, but it’s true. Wright struggled in his last two big league outings, but there’s still a future for him with the O’s. What I’d really like to see is the ability to slip Kevin Gausman right into the rotation, but we aren’t quite there yet. In the immediate future, I assume Cesar Cabral will be recalled to work out of the bullpen until Sunday, when a starter is needed. Perhaps Wright can come back up and continue to impress the way he did during his first stint.

I’m looking forward to it.

5. Nolan Reimold is back with the Orioles and he’s not injured yet. That’s a story in itself. In all seriousness, I don’t think there’s one person not rooting for Reimold to contribute and stay healthy with the team. He’s obviously been given every opportunity to succeed not only with the Orioles, but a few other franchises as well. There’s a lot of animosity that fans hold toward him for being injured through most of his career, but that’s not his fault.

That said, there’s no way Nolan Reimold is fixing the Orioles’ issues in the corner outfield. That’s like putting a band-aid over a bullet hole in the long term. Perhaps he can provide a brief tourniquet until the Orioles are actually able to get the issue fixed. Reimold’s biggest plus is his batting eye. If he can draw some walks and get on base, he can help out the bottom part of the order.

Let’s see that happen, along with health, before we hope for much more.

6. The AL East may not be as bad as every national writer has been saying it is. We’ve seen some surges over the last weeks, especially from the Yankees and Blue Jays. These stretches of bad baseball for a division aren’t all that uncommon, just as the strong ones aren’t either. Even the Orioles have played better of late, winning three straight and five out of six.

In the end, unless a team goes on a long 15-20 game win streak, no one is going to run away with the division. That’s frankly the case throughout the entire American League. None of the teams are very good. There are major flaws with just about every team, but it’s especially so on the junior circuit.

In the National League, the Nationals, Cardinals and Dodgers all appear to be better than any team in the AL. This “slow start” the AL East has had to this point will work itself out. I still consider all the teams very competitive and dangerous. It may not be the “beast” it once was, but there’s still a lot of fire power.

The one important thing that the competitiveness of the division will provide is a chance for teams like the Orioles, and even Red Sox, who are at the bottom. It allows them to remain in the race for much longer.

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GulfBird Sports/Craig Landefeld

7. We could be seeing the beginning of the end for Jimmy Paredes. That statement would’ve seemed crazy a month ago, but Paredes simply hasn’t hit lately. He’s been relegated mostly to a bench role and now I’m starting to question why he’s getting at-bats at all. Last night he was in the lineup over Matt Wieters. Perhaps it’s just that Wieters needed a day as he continues to work his way back into full-time playing shape, but Paredes’ struggles at the dish are really apparent right now. That’s not good for a guy who is basically a designated hitter.

It’s important to remember that Paredes doesn’t have any minor league options, so it’s not like shipping him right down to Norfolk is in play. He still offers value to the team right now, but if he continues on this slippery slope, it could get ugly.

8. Adam Jones continues to prove why he’s one of the best players, not just center fielders, in all of baseball. I saw someone scoff last night on Twitter at a comment Mike Bordick apparently made on the MASN broadcast. Being out of state, I happened to be watching the game on ESPN, so I didn’t hear it. Apparently Bordick remarked that Jones is the best center fielder in the game.

A Twitter tough guy (and Orioles fan) obviously took offense and laughed it off, perhaps thinking Mike Trout is better. I don’t disagree, but there’s no reason why Jones shouldn’t or couldn’t be in the conversation. Maybe in the long run, Trout’s career will prove to be better, but “I like our guys” as Buck Showalter would say. There’s absolutely no reason why Jones shouldn’t earn a nod to start in the All-Star Game. What he did in center field last night was a joy to watch. They were the kind of defensive plays that get you out of your seat and excited. As I have been for some time, I’m overjoyed he’s an Oriole.

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