More of what we know about Orioles

We never stop learning.

This is what I've been told as I advance through middle age. My problem is that I keep forgetting.

The Orioles made it out of Florida without any weather issues. Hurricane Dorian posed an enormous threat, raising discussions about moving the series to a neutral site before the teams settled on a Tuesday doubleheader to allow for an earlier departure.

There wasn't a drop of rain. Only the Orioles' record fell, a nightcap loss leaving them 46-93 and still one win shy of their 2018 total.

What did we learn in St. Petersburg, Fla. besides how Tommy Pham is a tough out and a bit of a nut?

The bullpen will be handled in a different manner through the final month, especially with Mychal Givens relegated to one-inning stints as long as circumstances allow it.

An expanded roster should make it easier, with manager Brandon Hyde having more options at his disposal.

This isn't some sort of punishment for Givens. It's getting the best out of him.

Givens' streak of scoreless appearances reached eight in the opener of the doubleheader as he recorded two strikeouts - including Pham - and a fly ball after inheriting a runner from Paul Fry with no outs in the eighth inning. A six-out save wasn't a consideration, however, and Richard Bleier retired the side in order in the ninth.

That's eight scoreless appearances for Givens totaling eight innings since a blown save against the Astros on Aug. 11, when he replaced Miguel Castro with two outs in the eighth, struck out Josh Reddick and didn't retire a batter in the ninth.

Single, single, triple, hit-by-pitch and Givens was gone.

Hyde knows that Givens is more effective working one inning, but he hasn't always been able to follow the script. The bullpen has been a weakness for much of the season and Hyde is searching for outs.

Givens has whittled his ERA to 4.02 and his WHIP to 1.099. He's struck out 74 batters in 53 2/3 innings, including 12 with no walks during his scoreless streak.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will get calls on Givens during the offseason. A trade chip is increasing in value before our eyes, whether or not teams view him as closer material.

We also know that anyone can be called up to get a save, with Bleier notching his third Tuesday afternoon. Givens won't be held back for the ninth.

We know that Hyde will use rookies Hunter Harvey and Dillon Tate in high-leverage situations. He trusts them. He doesn't have much choice.

Hyde isn't going to use Harvey on back-to-back nights, so you'll know when the former first-round pick is available. Opponents will, too, if they're paying attention.

We've learned, or been reminded, that Anthony Santander is a piece moving forward in the rebuild. He's been worth the wait - through growing pains as a Rule 5 pick out of the Carolina League and actual injuries.

Santander is a corner outfielder and the Orioles can decide if he should play left or right, the latter occupied by Trey Mancini because first base isn't available to him. Santander has eye-popping power, his home run at Tropicana Field leaving the bat at 112.9 mph. He's hitting from both sides of the plate - .291/.329/.513 with nine homers from the left and .292/.325/.540 with eight homers from the right - and to all fields.

An impressive physical specimen who backs it up at the plate.

Why wouldn't you pencil him into the 2020 lineup?

We've learned that a decision on Jonathan Villar after the season grows much harder.

A non-tender candidate entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, Villar slashed .333/.424/.629 with seven home runs in August and is 5-for-16 this month. He has 20 home runs and 33 stolen bases. He also has a 3.8 WAR per Baseball-Reference.com.

And maybe I'm crazy, but I swear his defense is getting better. He made sensational plays at shortstop and second base in St. Pete.

Villar also could have teams reaching out to Elias after passing on him at the deadline. But he's going to be a rental, which tends to influence the return.

We learned that Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays and Keegan Akin aren't joining the Orioles as part of the expanded roster and walks are at least part of the reasoning. Not enough from Mountcastle and Hays, too many from Akin.

There are other factors, including how Mountcastle has been learning to play two new positions and Hays needs the at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. The Orioles might be considering team control with Mountcastle. They definitely want Hays to be their starting center fielder on opening day, but he's got to stay healthy and put up the numbers in spring training, as he did earlier this year.

Mountcastle finally cracked Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list at 92.

Yusniel Diaz won't make the opening day roster. The Orioles would like to bump him to Triple-A after he had two stints on the injured list with Double-A Bowie. I've heard he might play winter ball to get more at-bats, since the Orioles chose Hays as their last outfielder in the AFL.

We've learned that Hanser Alberto won't stop hitting left-handed pitching. At least for as long as the schedule still holds games.

He might have to send out for a few southpaws while on vacation.

Alberto leads the majors with a .418 average against lefties, and he hasn't been an automatic out against right-handers, slashing .251/.277/.363 with 10 of his 20 doubles and six of his 11 home runs.

We learned that teammates value Mark Trumbo's presence in the clubhouse and are thrilled that he made it back onto the active roster.

There's a lot of respect for the way Trumbo went about his rehab and kept pushing to return for the final month. Shutting down would have been easy. Trumbo wouldn't quit.

The guy can still hit. He delivered a two-run double Monday and came off the bench in Tuesday's opener to produce an RBI double.

We've learned that the Orioles weren't ignoring Mason Williams. They just waited until rosters expanded to select his contract from Norfolk, where he batted .309/.372/.481 with 15 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 67 RBIs in 489 plate appearances.

Couldn't get a sniff until Tuesday.

Williams became the 57th player used this season, which set a club record. So he had that going for him. And he collected two hits in his debut.

His defense in center field is pretty much average, from what I've heard. But he isn't an infielder or corner outfielder playing center. Definitely worth a look, especially as the Orioles decide whether to re-sign him for depth purposes.

We learned that Alan Mills can manage. He isn't just an accomplished reliever, coach and enforcer.

Mills was named Gulf Coast League Manager of the Year, a sweet accomplishment for someone who hadn't handled the role before this summer.

The GCL Orioles posted the best record at 38-15, but their season was cut short due to Hurricane Dorian.

Bowie's Buck Britton was named Eastern League Manager of the Year and Single-A Delmarva's Kyle Moore was chosen as South Atlantic League Manager of the Year.

We learned that Tom Eshelman and Jace Peterson were deemed expendable with their removals from the 40-man roster.

Others will follow. There's going to be a major restructuring over the winter.

Here are the probable starters for the series against the Rangers at Camden Yards:

Tonight: John Means vs. Kolby Allard

Friday: Dylan Bundy vs. Brock Burke

Saturday: Aaron Brooks vs. TBD (bullpen game)

Sunday: Asher Wojciechowski vs. Mike Minor