Dave Trembley's audition lasted a little more than two months, long enough for Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail to decide that Trembley is the right man to lead the organization next season.
The Orioles will hold a news conference today to announce that Trembley's contract will be extended through the 2008 season, according to several team sources.
MacPhail declined last night to confirm that a decision has been reached, but said: "I don't think that anyone makes a secret of the good job that Dave is doing. I think the results speak for themselves."
With last night's 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in the first game of a 10-game homestand, the Orioles improved to 29-25 under Trembley, who took over for the dismissed Sam Perlozzo on June 18 and has dealt with injuries to several of his top players. MacPhail made it clear that Trembley would be judged more on preparation and the effort and energy of the team than results, and he's gotten high marks in all the categories.
MacPhail announced July 31 that Trembley would manage the club through the end of the season, at which time the manager situation would be re-evaluated. However, MacPhail apparently has seen enough to determine that Trembley, who started the season as Perlozzo's bullpen coach, deserves to have his contract extended through 2008. Terms of the contract are unknown.
Trembley declined to comment about his status before last night's game. However, team sources confirmed that Trembley has been notified that he'll return next season. MacPhail and Trembley have had several discussions already about next year, including one on Saturday when the two dined together in Toronto.
The news that Trembley will return was greeted enthusiastically in the Orioles clubhouse, which has been vocal in its support of the manager, who is just the seventh man in modern baseball history to manage in the big leagues without having played professionally.
"People forget about what this guy has done to get there. That's what I admire and respect about Dave Trembley," first baseman Kevin Millar said. "There's no, `I was a player for 10 years, and then I was a first base coach in the big leagues for three, and I was a bench for three, and then I got a job.' Dave Trembley came out of nowhere. He appreciates managing at this level. He appreciates where he's been. He's done a phenomenal job, just with the respect that he's getting from this club. When he speaks, everybody listens."
