This, that and the other

Adam Jones played on Orioles teams that reached the postseason in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and stayed in contention in ’17 until the final month. He became an executive and community ambassador for the organization earlier this week, attaching him to a club that’s made back-to-back playoff appearances, including a division title in 2023.

He seems qualified to offer comparisons.

The 2025 edition will try to make it three in a row for the first time since 1969-71, when the Orioles went 1-2 in the World Series.

The teams with Jones were eliminated in the Division Series in ’12, Championship Series in ’14 and Wild Card in ’16. The outcomes left a bitter taste but were much easier to digest than the streak of 14 straight losing seasons that began in 1998.

“When I look at this team and I compare them to the teams I played on, I mean, they’re more athletic. They run the bases better,” Jones said during Tuesday’s video call.

“My best friend, Quintin Berry, was the first base coach in Milwaukee and now he’s the third base coach in Chicago, so I understand a little bit of the metrics and the baserunning. They’re very good at baserunning. Very athletic. Taking the base, stealing bases. We were the big, hairy guys, the Earl Weaver-style. We were trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark, and you guys have that, also.”

Morale officer isn’t in Jones’ new title, but he can handle that task, as well. He was the guy on the roster who always preached the importance of grinding, whether during the season or in winter workouts. He was a leader, doing so by example and with his words.

Being out of uniform doesn’t completely change the man. Those traits never left him.

“It’s not really trying to come around and say, ‘Hey, this is how you do it.’ These are major league guys. They know exactly what they’re doing,” he said.

“Me, I think my energy, being around the guys, just there pumping up the guys. If I’m in a suite or in the stands with a hot dog, pumping them up from the front row, anywhere I’m at. It doesn’t matter. The guys feed off that energy. If I go in the clubhouse, it’s a little jolt of energy. And I remember, when I was playing, and it sucked Cal (Ripken Jr.) wasn’t around as much because just whatever was going on, but whenever he was around, and you see him in there, you wanted to do something for him. You wanted to get that man to stand up and clap. You wanted get Brady (Anderson) to stand up and clap. You wanted to get the former players who come around, you want them to stand up and clap for you, because that’s just how it goes in the game.

“If I can add an extra jolt of energy there, if I can add an extra jolt of energy to a minor league guy, that’s all I’m there for. My career is over with. I just want to now be that resource and energy source for some of these guys, whoever wants it. I’m an open book to all these guys. I don’t know it all. You guys have seen my career, but one thing I did, I posted. And I knew how to get a base hit, so I can help these guys figure it out.”

* The three-day Birdland Caravan begins this afternoon with a pop-up photo opportunity in Frederick County. And the players and location have been identified.

The Orioles announced yesterday that first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and pitcher Chayce McDermott will appear at Urbana Regional Library on Amelung Street in Frederick from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

The event is open to all fans and no ticket is required. It’s first come, first serve. And no autographs.

* Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez made another appearance yesterday on the digital baseball show “Foul Territory” and fed into the intrigue over his bobblehead giveaway on May 31 at Camden Yards.

The uniform is the all-orange alternate model, including the pants, worn in 1971 and 1972.

Did the Orioles drop a hint that they’re bringing back the look? Are they wearing it only when he pitches

Rodriguez just shrugged and wouldn’t give into the prodding from the program’s hosts.

“I don’t know,” he said, failing to confirm or deny.

The first 20,000 fans attending the May 31 game against the White Sox will receive the bobblehead.

“A lot of my buddies like to joke and say that I have a ‘grande cabeza,’ so they’ll tell you that the head is proportionate on the bobbleheads, but it’s cool with a bobblehead,” Rodriguez said.

“Talking with the Orioles folks who do the giveaways and stuff, I love retro uniforms, I love retro looks, so that was kind of a look that we wanted to go for. Obviously, Jim Palmer and the boys way back then wearing the all-orange uniforms I thought was pretty cool. So yeah. We’ll go with that.”

* Another top prospects list was published yesterday, this one from ESPN. Coby Mayo is eighth, Samuel Basallo 17^th and Enrique Bradfield Jr. 82^nd.

The Athletic put Basallo third, Mayo 18^th and Bradfield 82^nd.  Baseball Prospectus ranked Basallo at No. 11, Mayo No. 14 and Bradfield No. 46. Baseball America ranked Basallo 14^th, Mayo 29^th and Heston Kjerstad 81^st.

FanGraphs must update its list, but Basallo was No. 1 in the final 2024 rankings. MLB Pipeline’s final 2024 rankings had Basallo 13^th and Mayo 14^th.

* Prince George’s Stadium, home of the rebranded Double-A Chesapeake Baysox, is undergoing a significant facelift.  

Yesterday’s announcement revealed plans for $50 million in renovations via state funds - a quarter of the Maryland Stadium Authority’s budget established in 2022 for construction on sports entertainment facilities. The project at P.G. Stadium should begin in March and extend into 2026, and the work won’t disrupt the upcoming season.

Two new state-of-the-art videoboards will be built in time for the 2025 season.

The ballpark opened in 1994, 27 years before Attain Sports acquired the Baysox. The group holds a lease through 2032 with options to play through 2042.

“We are thrilled to partner with M-NCPPC (Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission) and MSA to deliver these much-needed improvements to Prince George’s Stadium,” Greg Baroni, CEO and managing partner of Attain Sports, said in a statement.

“This investment not only ensures that the Chesapeake Baysox have a world-class ballpark to call home, but also strengthens the stadium’s role as a centerpiece of family entertainment and economic growth in Bowie and the greater Chesapeake Bay region. With these planned upgrades, Prince George’s Stadium is poised to continue its legacy as a premiere destination for fans and a cornerstone of the community.”