Adam Jones, 2012 Topps Orioles Team Set #BALT1

Yesterday I witnessed an Orioles loss live and in person for the first time in 2014, as the team looked listless throughout a nondescript 5-2 loss to the Astros that snapped a five-game winning streak. But it takes a lot more than an 'L' to ruin my day...most of the time.

What's to complain about in this case? It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and the entire family was together for Mother's Day: my parents, my sister, and my wife Janet and me. We had a good view and plenty of shade in the left field lower box seats, and we even got to see Adam Jones' 500th and 501st career RBI. There were other highlights if you looked hard enough (Nick Markakis extending his hitting streak to 18 games, Chris Davis returning from the 15-day DL with a single and a double, David Lough making a great leaping catch in left field to save a couple runs), but everybody is a sucker for a round number.

It seems hard to believe, but Jonesy is already in his ninth big league season, and while 500 RBI might not seem so impressive when you consider that it doesn't even crack the top 1,000 of MLB's career leader board, especially if you take a gander at the Jay Paytons and Larry Bowas loitering at the bottom of that list. But he'll be there by season's end, and his career numbers mean more in the context of Orioles team history. Adam has collected 489 of his 501 career RBI in Baltimore orange and black, which leaves him 15th on the Birds' leader board. Up next is Gus Triandos with 517. His 141 homers are 12th among all O's, and his next big fly will tie Triandos for 11th on that account. With good health and fortune, he'll be top-ten and beyond.