The importance of a J.J. Hardy bounce-back

[24fps]

I'm going to indulge my contrarian impulses in this bash Pedro Alvarez thread and say something about JJ Hardy. While I was watching one of the worst Orioles team performances I've seen in a very long time and idly sticking pins in my Buck Showalter doll, I was actively pining for the return of JJ Hardy.

That's all...

[El Gordo]

Janish v RHP .209 .276 .288 .564 Flash v RHP .217 .288 .357 .645

[sportsfan8703]

Janish v RHP .209 .276 .288 .564 Flash v RHP .217 .288 .357 .645

Alvarez has a .645 OPS on the year. Gotta go with flash all day.

[TheDeau52]

Any Hardy updates? When do you think he'll be back? Mid-June?

[weams]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Someone hit 25 baseballs at J.J. Hardy today, and he fielded them. Such things will continue to happen in Sarasota. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Orioles?src=hash">#Orioles</a></p>— Jon Meoli (@JonMeoli) <a href="

">June 6, 2016</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[LookitsPuck]

Please come back, Hardy. May Alvarez never see the field again.

[Frobby]

Good to hear Hardy is back to baseball activities. My guess is we're looking at the end of June before he's back.

I do realize that errors aren't the only measure of defense, but I miss Hardy's steadiness. He's averaged 9 errors per 162 games as an Oriole -- Manny's on a 30 error per 162 game pace. Give me Hardy's consistency at SS and Manny's range and arm at 3B, and I am a very happy camper.

[thezeroes]

Good to hear Hardy is back to baseball activities. My guess is we're looking at the end of June before he's back.

I do realize that errors aren't the only measure of defense, but I miss Hardy's steadiness. He's averaged 9 errors per 162 games as an Oriole -- Manny's on a 30 error per 162 game pace. Give me Hardy's consistency at SS and Manny's range and arm at 3B, and I am a very happy camper.

I might also add that he is a more steady type of hitter at the plate than is the tandem of Flaherty/Janish.

[Frobby]

J.J. is one of the most sure handed SS's I've ever seen. Cal Ripken had 25, 26, and 26 errors his first 3 years at SS.

BB-ref lists J.J. as having the 4th-highest career fielding percentage of all time at SS. Interestingly, 4 of the top 5 are active:

1. Tulowitzki

2. Vizquel

3. Rollins

4. Hardy

5. Simmons

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_ss_career.shtml

[Frobby]

Just a guess but I think the major league fields are better than they were back in the day. You hardly ever see a bad hop nowadays.

That's true, and IMO official scorers have become more generous over the years.

[Frobby]

Roch's blog reads as if Hardy's rehab assignment could be lengthy, but I'm betting it's 3 games of rehab and then back to the major league roster.

[Redskins Rick]

That's true, and IMO official scorers have become more generous over the years.

Not like Memorial stadium where Earl had the grass cut to different lengths, and watered down, depending on whom was playing against.

[sportsfan8703]

Roch's blog reads as if Hardy's rehab assignment could be lengthy, but I'm betting it's 3 games of rehab and then back to the major league roster.

I hope. Sets up perfectly for him to be back Friday for the start of the TOR series.

[Frobby]

2 for 3 in his first rehab game. Nice start.

[Machado13]

Can't wait to get him back as well as O'Day