Hernandez accepts the move to the bullpen

Just four days after picking up his first win of the season and ending a 16-start winless stretch, today David Hernandez found out the news he is heading to the Orioles bullpen. Hernandez certainly didn't seemed thrilled by the news but handled himself well when the reporters gathered around his locker. "I would rather be a starter, but right now our team needs some guys in the bullpen. We've got two guys down, so I'll be ready. "I think I can be successful either way, starting or relieving. But at this point, we are really short in the bullpen. Whatever the team needs, I'll handle it. "They told me they feel like my stuff plays much better out of the bullpen which I can't disagree with. I've had much success my first couple of innings compared to my last couple of innings," said Hernandez, who is 1-5, 5.31 in eight starts. "They did not tell me how long (this is for). They didn't say who will be the fifth starter. It's day by day at this point." The stat sheet does say Hernandez has had success early in games. Hernandez batting average against, 2010: Pitches 1-25: .231 Pitches 26-50: .175 Opponent batters have hit .231 against him this year the first time through the lineup, .207 the second time and .353 the third time through. The timing may not have been great for him to have this happen after finally ending that winless streak. "You finally do get a win and you get demoted to the bullpen. But you just take it how it is. "The biggest adjustment for me will probably be knowing how to be ready. I had one relief appearance in Oakland and it didn't seem too much of a difference. I'll probably get some answers from Berken, he made the adjustment quite well. "I kind of anticipated it. I knew there were some rumblings and that someone would have to go to the pen. I knew they'd call up some guys." Hernandez made just five relief appearances in 107 minor league games and has made just one in the Majors. Last June 6th at Oakland, he came on in relief and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless on four hits vs. the A's with no walks and four strikeouts.