ESPN's Tim Kurkjian: "The Orioles are for real in every way"

Let's face it, some Orioles fans really get excited when they see or hear national reporters speaking well about their team. This year, they are finally getting to see and read some of that. Earlier this week, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian was a guest with Bob Haynie and Mark Zinno on 105.7 FM the Fan in Baltimore and had some glowing things to say about the Orioles. Kurkjian on Buck Showalter: "He has rescued this franchise in a lot of ways and made them relevant. He has changed the culture in a bunch of ways here. We'll see if they can keep it up, but he is clearly the Manager of the Year now in the major leagues, not just in the American League." Kurkjian believes the O's can continue to win: "I think the Orioles are for real in every way and I think they are going to be in this thing, if not for the whole year, a really long time. When you have pitching this good and lead the league in homers, I am not saying this is the Giants of two years ago, but that is how the Giants won- with great starting pitching, certainly better than the Orioles have now, a good bullpen and basically nine guys in the order that can beat you with a home run. It looks like staying power to me." Kurkjian said Adam Jones is among the best players in the AL right now: "I just had to send in our MVPs at the quarter pole and I think Josh Hamilton is the MVP of the American League and Adam Jones is No. 2. It is impressive what he is doing. Buck Showalter went to him early on and said, 'Adam, not only are you our best player, but guys are listening to what you have to say.' So you have to play the game the right way and he has." Kurkjian believes the O's will sign Jones to a new contract: "I think, one way or another, this is going to have to happen. Free agents are not coming to Baltimore anytime soon, so the Orioles have to re-sign their own as much as any team out there. Who knows whether it's six years, seven years, $15 or $17 million a year? I think they are going to have to pay. "They may have to overpay to keep him. I think that is what has to happen with Adam Jones and I think it will happen with Adam Jones because they need him more than anyone else needs him." Click below to listen to the interview with Kurkjian on Baltimore's 105.7 FM the Fan this week. Tim Kurkjian interview on 105.7 FM the Fan by smelewski