Orioles on Jones’ WBC catch: ‘Gave me goosebumps’ ‘Gangster on the field’ ‘Cold-blooded on Manny’ ‘Seen him do way better’ ‘It was kind of expected’

View Comments

• The statistics that have denigrated Jones' play in center are not trustworthy.
  Jones, he's trustworthy.

• This. This is what I was looking for. Thanks for getting these great quotes! I remember Paul Blair first made me realize that yeah, when you're diving all the time to get on the highlight reels, it's because you're having to make up for a bad jump or a bad route or a lack of speed. Statcast is going to start showing who the real gold-glovers are!

  • So very true. I think even then, the stats on defense are years away from telling the story.

  • I'm a believer in some advance metrics. But I'm not a fan of most defensive metrics. Too many variables.

• I'm now wondering what America's collective attitude towards the WBC will be if the USA team is able to actually bring home gold for the 1st time? The players on the field obviously think this tournament is worthwhile. I remember our own Mr. Moustache touting the WBC a couple of weeks back on this site, while the rest of the us were bemoaning the fact that they (the players) were missing precious time in Florida. I know after watching the few WBC games that I have so far, my own attitude is changing.

  What I've most enjoyed so far, is that the players seem to play with a joy, which up 'til now, I've only ever witnessed during the month of August in South Williamsport. It's been fun to say the least.

  • I think the WBC absolutely has to have a team USA finals run, preferably against Puerto Rico (Netherlands are good team but they just don't move the needle), for the long term viability of the tournament. We can talk all that "global citizen" crap all we want, fact is if the Americans don't spend money on it, it's dead in the water.

  • Americans love winners. That certainly helps.

• This is why I'm such an unashamed cheerleader of the WBC. It's awesome. Tell me that wasn't better than watching Pedro Alvarez play right field against the Pirates B-team in a meaningless ST game? The WBC is great baseball, and who doesn't want more of that? No only did Mr Jones go all Willie Mays for the stars and stripes and take our resident superstar hot-head down a peg, but he also sent Castillo back to get his precious face-time in with the O's rotation ahead of schedule. Nicely done Adam! Man, let's hope Jonesey can keep this momentum up in the black in orange, because he's looked like a Hall of Famer in this tournament.
  Also Dan, I don't know if you know the guy or not, but a tip of the cap to whoever Gregory Bull is who is credited with taking that photo. That's a masterpiece and would look great framed and hanging over the Tap Room bar, if it was, you know, an actual place.

  • I don't know him but it was a great shot. Definitely could use it behind the bar. By the way, the iconic Trout shot from Camden that was in Sports Illustrated? That one was our Photog Joy. Just a little bragging.

• Maybe now Adam Jones will receive the credit he deserves as one of the best defensive centerfielders of all-time. I'll never forget his catch and throw against Tampa Bay a few years ago when he raced to the wall in LC field, robbed the hitter of a home run and threw a bullet to second base to catch the runner trying to tag up. He turned a two-run HR into a double plays. In my opinion, the best defensive centerfielders of all-time have been Willie Mays, Fred Lynn, Andruw Jones, Ken Griffey Junior, Curt Flood and Paul Blair. Adam Jones belongs in that class.

  • Unfortunately the defensive metrics aren't kind to him. And so he'll never be put in that class.