O's could return to five-man rotation and other pregame notes from Anaheim

ANAHEIM – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is pleased with the results for the club since they went to a six-man rotation. He said, “it’s been enormous for all our starters, so happy we did that.” But as the games begin to wind down and the playoffs approach, he said today the club could be returning at some point to a five-man rotation.

“Yeah. We’re still talking about all that," he said. "We’re mapping out some guys for certain teams and series. Might have a spot start here and there. Might just go straight five-man. Lot of different scenarios. We’re kind of getting through the weekend in Boston and then kind of reset a little bit. We’ve got Tampa and some big games coming up. All these are big games and trying to act accordingly."

Hyde is still not ready to announce how the Orioles will use lefty John Means who is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Norfolk tomorrow night. His 30-day rehab ends Friday, so his next game after this one should be for the Orioles.

“Things can happen on a daily basis. We have some plans in place, some different scenarios, but we’ll kind of wait and see where we are after his start. See how he throws and do what is the best thing for our team at that time,” Hyde said.

The skipper today was asked again about picking up his 300th O's win last night becoming the fifth Orioles manager to win 300. Did he get any hardware for a milestone win?

“No. I’m hoping that I will get some other hardware that is a little more important sometime. I didn’t even know until someone told me after the game. Like I said last night it took me long enough, but hope there is many more to come."

Hyde said with the games coming so fast right now he hasn't had much time to sit back and ponder how far his team has come the last two years.

“Honestly too much going on right now. In the offseason that is a lot easier. I am proud of how far we’ve come as an organization and how far this major league team has come. These last couple of years have been really, really gratifying and exciting. So happy for our players and pumped for the guys that helped us get to this spot. Going to be a really exciting time going forward in this organization. I love our brand of baseball. Think our fans should be proud of that as well," he said.

Webb’s Anaheim return: O’s bullpen right-hander Jacob Webb last night pitched against the team that designated him for assignment on Aug. 5, the Los Angeles Angels. Two days later the Orioles signed him and he’s pitched to an ERA of 1.46 in 14 games for Baltimore.

And it’s not like Webb had been terrible for the Angels. He had a 3.98 ERA in 29 games, but then suddenly found himself with the Orioles chasing a division title. Last night he threw a 1-2-3 last of the seventh on just six pitches versus the Angels.

“It’s a little interesting. Not really thinking about the other team right now, but the squad that I’m on and trying to stay locked in and helped get Ws,” he said in the Baltimore clubhouse this afternoon.

Webb said the DFA by Los Angeles did catch him a bit off guard. The Angels had signed him as a minor league free agent last November.

“I was a little surprised at first but that’s part of baseball. You can’t think too much into it. I know who I am and what I have. Just trying to make the best of my opportunity.

“I am throwing the ball pretty well. Just the comfortability here is great. Felt very at home and a lot of the guys in here have made me feel that way.”

Yep, a warm welcome to a new team can go a long way.

“Probably the culture. That’s a big thing in any clubhouse really. Culture,” Webb said which he added is very good with the Orioles and he feels that positive culture led to his warm welcome to this team.

Plus he’s had a skipper here in Hyde who quickly trusted him with the ball in high-leverage spots.

“That is great. Anytime a manger has trust in you that is a great feeling,” said Webb, who has not allowed a run in 13 of 14 appearances with the Orioles. Webb had pitched in 14 of 24 games since the Orioles activated him Aug. 9.

In other notes, Triple-A infielder Joey Ortiz was scratched from the Norfolk lineup tonight as a precaution due to left oblique tightness.

This morning, right-hander Austin Voth cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Norfolk.