Putting Jones' audition on hold takes him out of infield rotation

BOSTON - The decision late Thursday night to option Orioles infielder Jahmai Jones to Triple-A Norfolk apparently was made to provide consistent at-bats to a player who had migrated to the bench. His last start on Sept. 11 prompting a reporter to ask manager Brandon Hyde whether Jones was injured.

That's one reason why Jones is gone.

He would have stayed in the lineup if swinging a hotter bat and playing better in the field. And opportunities at second base were drying up, with Hyde preferring to keep Ramón Urías' sore leg away from shortstop.

The Orioles don't want to sit Urías, no matter which infielders hop onto the roster. They're committed to playing him because he's unexpectedly become one of their most productive hitters, especially with runners in scoring position.

Attempts are made to win games despite the present circumstances and convenient excuses. The losses gnaw at Hyde, all 100 of them. The players don't want to be embarrassed.

Jones didn't hang around on the taxi squad in case of an injury. He's going back to the Tides, with the possibility of returning later.

It could be much sooner with Urías' leg keeping his status day-to-day. He was limping after ranging past second base last night to backhand Alex Verdugo's grounder, but singled in the seventh inning and extended his on-base streak to 12 games.

The infield is incapable of staying set, but Hyde likes the current crop, which also includes Richie Martin and Pat Valaika for the middle in whatever rotation suits him on a given night.

Kelvin Gutiérrez started at third base again last night and has flashed a plus arm and the occasional dazzling stop.

"I feel like we've been fairly steady defensively," Hyde said. "I think that we've caught the ball pretty well, I think our infield range has improved.

"I think Gutiérrez has done a really good job at third base since he's gotten here. He's done an outstanding job of catching the ball and making some really nice plays. And Richie adds some athleticism there to the middle of our infield. Urías has been solid almost all year. And Val when he's been here has been extremely steady."

Ryan Mountcastle has been getting the bulk of the starts at first base. He was charged with a fielding error last night on J.D. Martinez's ground ball.

"Mountcastle's improving at first base," Hyde said. "He's going to make some mistakes, but he's improving. I'm happy with the progress that we've made defensively in the infield."

Taking all of this into account, removing Jones from the active roster still came as a bit of a surprise.

The Orioles stalled his promotion until he grew more comfortable at second base, wishing to avoid an option later in the summer.

Eighteen games later, he's back in the minors.

Valaika was designated for assignment after the Orioles claimed Jorge Mateo, who's now on the 60-day injured list with right lumbar inflammation. They selected his contract Tuesday.

He's re-entered a picture that seemed too crowded.

Mateo and Jones have stepped aside, one of them given a gentle shove.