If you expected Orioles left fielder Jay Payton to wax philosophic about getting his 1,000th hit in Wednesday?s 9-6 loss to the Nationals, you would have been partially right.
When asked what the achievement meant, Payton answered: “It means you?re old, I guess or young and really, really good. Since I?m not young and really, really good, I guess that means I?m old. I?ve been able to stick around long enough to get it, so I?m doing something right, I guess.”
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If Payton was playing it low key, manager Sam Perlozzo was in the mood to celebrate Payton?s achievement.
“For me, it?s someone who?s been able to stay in the game for a consistent basis,” Perlozzo said. “That?s pretty difficult to do, but really good players are able to make adjustments and do that. I think that?s a compliment for him.”
Baltimore signed the 34-year-old former Oakland Athletic in the offseason to shore up the outfield of the Orioles and to provide a regular bat in the bottom of the lineup. The career .285 hitter is now hitting .291 this season with 23 RBIs.
Payton has also played for the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox in his career.
Despite his solid 10-year career, Payton has spent most of it in relative obscurity. That seems to suit the occasionally fiery outfielder just fine. He said that he didn?t even know he was on the 1,000-hit barrier?s doorstep.
“I knew I had 900 and something hits entering the season, but as of late, I really hadn?t thought anything about it,” Payton said. “If [hitting coach Terry] Crow [ley] hadn?t mentioned it to me when I came back in the dugout, I wouldn?t have had any idea. I was more worried about us getting on the winning track than my 1,000th career hit.”
Payton?s four-hit, three RBI effort was not enough for the Orioles to win, but Perlozzo said his contributions couldn?t be overestimated.
“He?s been a great acquisition,” Perlozzo said. “He gives us some offense, gives us a little speed and he plays good defense for us. He?s an athletic player that we need. He?s been great.”
