Andrew Stetka: A moment to appreciate Adam Jones

It's not all that uncommon these days to hear that a baseball player is dealing with an injury. That's never been truer when it comes to Adam Jones. This isn't a knock on the Orioles center fielder. Major league players get dinged up throughout a long 162-game season. This is a regular occurrence. The difference with Jones is that he rarely misses a game because of it. When he's out of the lineup, it's noticeable. You know it must be something more than just a bump or a bruise.

Jones has become my favorite Oriole to watch since his time in Charm City began (also not an uncommon theme among Baltimore baseball fans). It's not just that he is talented and a vocal leader for the Birds, it's that he's as consistent as ballplayers get when it comes to showing up every day and getting in the lineup. Jones may not have the talent of someone like Manny Machado, but he closes the gap with his effort.

Watching the Orioles without Jones over the last few days has changed the entire dynamic of the offense, and for that matter the team. No one expected Julio Borbon or Nolan Reimold to be making starts in center field in late August as part of a playoff race. That's how you know it's something serious with Jones. Word is he could be back soon, but there's no questioning what a mark his absence leaves.

I recognize that Jones frustrates many with his tendency to swing at bad pitches, or for that matter, every pitch. He's aggressive, and there are many out there that want to change that. Some have this desire to try to turn him into more of an on-base percentage type of player, but that's not who he is. He's gotten by on being a swing-first type of player, and it's worked out great. Every season, despite these calls, Jones ends up consistently producing the type of numbers that put him in consideration for All-Star Game appearances and other accolades. He isn't going to change, so fans might as well embrace what he is for the Orioles. He's their most complete and important leader.

The Orioles are currently down Chris Tillman in the rotation, a brutal sting for a team that is already weak in the starting pitching category. They've lost their most talented player in Machado in previous years during crucial spots, including playoff races. But perhaps no one will be more crucial to this September than Jones. Having him absent from the lineup would be a devastating blow to a team that can't afford one.

We'll never see another player as consistent as Cal Ripken Jr., but Jones is about as close as they come. No, Jones won't be playing 2,632 consecutive games at any point. No one will. But day in and day out, Jones is out there battling his tail off despite the fact that he may not be 100 percent. And Jones at less than 100 percent is still better than most.

Andrew Stetka blogs about the Orioles for Eutaw Street Report. Follow him on Twitter: @AStetka. His thoughts on the O's appear here as part of MASNsports.com's continuing commitment to welcome guest bloggers to our little corner of cyberspace. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.