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THE RUNDOWN: Jones’ Hot Start, Bullpen Settles, Schoop’s Injury

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The Orioles split the four-game series in Boston and now head to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays. Bud Norris takes the mound for his third start of the season and goes against Mark Buehrle in a rematch of the O’s home opener.

Adam Jones with an impressive start to the season

I have mentioned this before, but I still don’t think we have seen the best of Adam Jones. There is another level to his game and through the first two weeks of the season, we may be seeing the start of it. He is on another level right now and if it wasn’t for the start of a familiar name – Nelson Cruz – Adam Jones would be up for player of month in the American League. Jones is carrying the team on his back right now and until Steve Pearce and Manny Machado start to hit the ball and Chris Davis becomes more consistent, the Orioles will continue to lean on Jones.

[RELATED: Should Jones Bat Second?]

Bullpen finally starting to settle in

This is going to be a storyline to follow the entire season. The Oriole starters don’t pitch deep into games (never have) but what makes this year different is the lack of flexibility Buck Showalter has to keep the bullpen fresh. When you consider they only use Jason Garcia in blowouts, Showalter is really hamstrung on how to use the bullpen. In the end, the starters need to pitch six innings consistently, but until that happens, Showalter’s reputation of being a great handler of a bullpen is really going to be tested.

Jonathan Schoop out indefinitely

Injuries have become the norm the last couple of seasons for the Orioles, but it is a shame we won’t see the continued development of Jonathan Schoop. It appeared to start the season his work with new hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh was paying off, as his knowledge of the strike zone was better and the power still remained. Plus, his defense at second base is hard to replace.

It’s just amazing – and slightly depressing – to think that the starting catcher and middle infield are all on the disabled list and no one knows exactly when any of them will return.

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