Buck Showalter on Adam Jones: "He's like a caged lion"

ARLINGTON, Texas - With the weather warmer and more batting practice sessions behind him, Adam Jones has returned to the Orioles' lineup and a more comfortable element.

Leaning on a railing and watching games in a hooded sweatshirt isn't his idea of fun.

"He's ready," said manager Buck Showalter. "We're ready to get him out of the clubhouse and out of the dugout. Clubbies ask me all the time, 'When's Adam going to play again?' He's like a caged lion."

Jones has been limited to two games due to soreness in his rib area. He worked out again today and got the green light, his first start since April 6.

"We've gone over and beyond trying to make sure, but there's still some unknown," Showalter said. "I don't care. You could play five rehab games, but until you play at the intensity level that it takes to compete with a major league team and Cole Hamels, you never know. There's no other steps to take now except play.

"It's kind of like that first tackle in football. As soon as he takes a good, hard swing and sees how it feels ... but he was great in BP again today because we checked it again to see if there was any residue from yesterday. So far so good."

As badly as he wanted to play, Jones also understood that taking a week off was better than missing a month or two. He may not have been as accommodating earlier in his career.

"I think there's a lot of trust involved with he and us," Showalter said. "He would have tried to push it. We still wouldn't have let him do it.

"I think the maturity comes from knowing how long the season is and how challenging it is and how he's not doing us any good if he's not there, so we were fortunate that some guys picked up the slack while he was out and we hope this starts a good string of health for him. We'll see."

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard continues to demonstrate his value with the glove, replacing Jones in center field and moving to the outfielder corners where needed. He's in left tonight.

"When we were talking about him in the Rule 5 draft we felt like at the very worst he would be able to be that guy who could play all three and be a guy who can play defense for you late in the game if that's what you want him to do. But so far so good with that," Showalter said.

"We're still crossing bridges with him. He played his first day game at a crazy shadow sun day in Boston and with the fence he's never seen. He's never been in Texas before, you know? Just little things you've got to remind yourself that he hasn't done before. So, I'm very cautious. I know I don't let myself get too far ahead with him and keep in mind how many things are new to him. He's handled it well."