Adam Jones on his health, his struggles and all those O's home runs

Rare would be the day a reporter could hear Orioles center fielder Adam Jones say physically he doesn't feel right or that he can't play in that night's game. This afternoon, Jones said he's been healthy enough to play throughout this year, save for the few games he had to and did miss.

"I've felt comfortable since day one," Jones said. "It is just you guys want to talk about results. When I'm not hitting good or is something hurting? No, just sometimes you suck man, it happens. You suck sometimes in sports.

"I have felt great every game. If I didn't feel great, I wouldn't be playing. The five games I missed, I didn't feel good."

Jones began the series in Minnesota batting just .200 with a .274 slugging percentage and .543 OPS. Was it tough to struggle that badly?

"We were winning games," he said. "I'm a professional man. I'm not going to sit there and cry. I know how to handle adversity, that is why I'm a professional. Most people get mad and throw stuff. That is not how you handle adversity."

Jones has gone 6-for-10 the last two games with two homers, four runs and five RBIs. Even in a stretch before that when he wasn't seeing positive results he had hit some balls hard. That might have been encouraging to him, but he still didn't see the hits drop or the ball fly over the fence until this past two games.

"I take hits away from fielders all the time, so tip your cap and move on. I'm human man, sorry that I have spoiled you guys," Jones joked of his early-season struggles.

The Orioles have hit 12 homers the last three games. Jones was asked about the feeling in the dugout when they start bashing home runs.

"We've hit the most home runs in baseball since 2012, so we understand what our identity is. We have some guys that can drive the ball out of the park, so get some pitches up and try and do it. I think people enjoy home runs. Chicks dig the longball as the saying goes. Cool."

Any competition among the players to see who can hit the furthest blast?

"Not really," he said. "I'm 6-3, 230. You've got (Mark) Trumbo 6-4, 230. CD (Chris Davis) is 6-3 1/2, 230. You have (Nolan) Reimold at 6-4, 220. Flash (Ryan Flaherty) 6-3. (Manny) Machado is 6-3 and (Jonathan) Schoop is 6-4. That sounds like big guys, doesn't it? It is what it is. We're big guys."

Yes, but it still must feel pretty good to hit a tape-measure shot.

"It is only worth one run. But it's exciting," Jones said.