Hyde making adjustments to bullpen approach

DENVER - The excessive bullpen usage by the Orioles in two months can be blamed on starters who don't get through the middle innings. On relievers who run up pitch counts and need to be bailed out. On game situations that prompt manager Brandon Hyde to pick up the phone.

Hyde has indicated that he's going to be more inclined to lay off certain guys and not allow the score to dictate his moves. It's a long season. He's slipping into more of a protective mode, though he's always preached the importance of keeping guys healthy.

As Hyde learns more about his club and the individuals who comprise it, he's flexible enough to make the necessary adjustments. He had Miguel Castro, Josh Lucas and Richard Bleier available last night. That's it.

"We just don't have a ton of experience in our bullpen, as well as our hitters, and there's a lot of guys that are being put in situations that they have never been in in the past or haven't had a ton of these types of opportunities," he said.

"Everybody's going to have high-leverage opportunities or game on the line appearances. Also, we're trying to showcase and see what we have and fortunately we've been in a ton of games and we're battling and we've come back. We did a great job (Friday) night getting the lead and just couldn't hold onto it. We did a great job against the Yankees in three of the four games, staying in the game and having their closer (Aroldis Chapman) pitch in three games as well as the two games in New York. So we're staying in games, we're just not finishing.

"We're not making enough pitches or a defensive play, whatever it may be to win games. But I really like how our guys compete and I give them a lot of credit for having a lot of really, really tough losses to be able to come out the next day and have the same type of energy."

Players like Hyde and want to win for him. He has their backs while also seeing the deficiencies that tend to make leads vanish. He isn't blind to them, but he keeps mining for the positives.

"What I've learned is we have a lot of high-character guys and guys that are trying to establish themselves as every day major league players. That's been a lot of fun," Hyde said.

"Wish we could win a little bit more to make it more rewarding and to have them feel what that feels like, but hopefully we're going to get there."

Hyde appreciates the feedback that he's getting from outside the organization.

"I couldn't be happier with how our guys prepare and compete and I think we play hard. And that's what I hear around the league is, 'Your guys play hard.' And that feels good," he said.

"That's the whole point of going through what we're going through right now is giving guys opportunity but also creating the right culture in our clubhouse, creating a great place to play, creating a great environment, which I think we've done. And showing teams that we're going to compete and we're going to play hard. And for the majority of games I feel like we've done that and I feel really, really good about that.

"Are we short some nights? Yeah. It's not easy. We're in the American League East with inexperienced guys and I just want our guys to be ready and compete and they have."

* Renato Núñez is expected in the lineup again today for the series finale after homering in his last four games and five of six.

Remember when he was striking out a lot and unable to get on base? Now he can't stop rounding them.

"It's got to be the work I'm putting in in the cage," he said, "getting ready for the games, getting in the video room to watch pitchers and see how they're going to work to me, and stick with the plan."

The Orioles weren't muted in their celebrating last night. They're going to enjoy every win to the fullest.

"Of course," Núñez said. "We come to the field every day ready to win. We give it all over there and sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Today we got a W and tomorrow, hopefully, we'll get it again."

* Joey Rickard still hasn't been placed on Triple-A Norfolk's roster after the Orioles optioned him Thursday afternoon. Once he reports, Hyde knows exactly what he needs to do.

Get his name in the box score on a regular basis. That's a good start.

"I think Joey needs to play," Hyde said. "He hasn't had consistent playing time up here the last few weeks. Joe's a good player. He can play three outfield spots. I'd like to see continue to work at all three spots.

"I don't think he's swinging the bat the way he would like, but he's not getting the everyday opportunity, so he's going to go down there and get a lot of at-bats and hopefully find his groove and find his swing and continue to play defense."

Rickard was batting .203/.304/.347 in 42 games. He made the club out of spring training by hitting .333/.364/.510 in 18 games and providing an option at all three outfield spots.