J.J. Hardy signed a three-year contract extension with the Orioles last July when the team was struggling and says the team's recent surge proves it was the right decision.

Hardy felt then that the organization was going to be a winner down the road and that Baltimore's performance this year validates his decision to re-sign and not wait to become a free agent after last season.

"I always said I signed that deal because I saw that there was potential with this team and organization," he said. "To be honest, I didn't think it was going to happen this quick. I saw a process that was headed in the right direction.

"When I was with the Brewers, we had a ton of losing seasons and that was kind of the same thing. Next year we are going to shoot to be a .500 team, and the next year make the playoffs and then maybe go even further. It wasn't a jump from losing seasons to being where we are at right now, so this has been a lot of fun."

Hardy said the word that comes to mind when he thinks about how this season has gone for the club is "fun."