Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has been named one of six finalists for the 2012 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, presented by the MLB Players Association to those who inspire others to higher levels of achievement by their on-field performances and contributions to their communities.
The players will vote on Sept. 19. Past recipients of the award include Michael Young, Curtis Granderson, Torii Hunter, Albert Pujols and current Oriole Jim Thome, who could rejoin the team in Boston after getting some at-bats this week in the instructional league.
With his next home run, Jones will become the fifth Orioles outfielder to hit 30 or more in a season, joining Brady Anderson (50 in 1996), Albert Belle (37 in 1999), Ken Singleton (32 in 1979) and Frank Robinson (49 in 1966, 30 in 1967 and 32 in 1969). His 29 homers are the second-most by a center fielder in Orioles history behind Anderson.
UPDATE: Jones will actually be the sixth outfielder. Boog Powell played left field when he hit 39 in 1964.
When Wei-Yin Chen takes the mound Tuesday night in Seattle, he will become the fourth Orioles rookie since 1954 to make 30 or more starts in his first major league season, joining Bob Milacki (36 in 1989), Tom Phoebus (33 in 1967) and Brian Matusz (32 in 2010).
Chen is 6-4 with a 4.17 ERA and seven quality starts on the road this season. In his only start against the Mariners on July 3 at Safeco Field, Chen allowed two runs and two hits, with no walks and nine strikeouts, in 7 1/3 innings to outduel Felix Hernandez. He left with a 4-1 lead, but the Mariners rallied to tie before the Orioles scored in the ninth for a 5-4 victory.
Chris Tillman will go for his eighth win tonight in his 12th start of the season. He registered seven wins in 36 career starts from 2009-11.
Matt Wieters' two-run shot on Sunday gave him 21 homers this season, allowing the Orioles to join the White Sox as the only teams in baseball to have five players with 20 or more. The 2011 Orioles had four players with 20 or more.
The Orioles haven't had five players with 20 or more homers since 2008.
The Orioles lead the season series with the Mariners, 5-1, including a 2-1 record in Seattle. They've won five straight against the Mariners dating back to July 3.
The Orioles are 38-31 in three Septembers under manager Buck Showalter. The 38 wins are third-most in the American League behind Texas (44) and Detroit (42).
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