"This year we had hoped for 140 to 150 (games) and we got 120 again. I think we're going to have to start assuming that's probably the number; 120 to 125 games is what we can expect."

Jones himself expects the same thing he always expects: 150 games. That's his annual target.

But if it's one thing we all know about the 162-game baseball season, it's this: Every player is going to suffer an injury at some point. Some injuries can be played through; many more cannot.

Jones is not a martyr and he isn't a dope. He will play every game he can. Pain doesn't stop him -- he can suck it up with the best of them -- but if anything hampers his ability to perform, he isn't too egotistical or pig-headed to take a place on the bench in favor of someone who can dive for a ball, throw across the infield, or swing through with full extension at the plate.

"We're fortunate," Wren added, "to have (Martin) Prado and (Omar) Infante who can go over and play third base and fill in and still give you pretty good offense."

That's "pretty good," nothing more.

"We have to add additional offense," Wren said, "because that's a pretty big hole when he's not out there."

Infante's bat suffered fits and starts because he was moved all over the place to sub for injured starters. Prado really blossomed when he had to play first base on an emergency basis after Mark Teixeira was traded and utility man Greg Norton was hurt.

Neither has yet shown he can be the big bat Jones has been, which is why Wren will be looking for one this offseason.