Trembley isn't going to break out any pompoms, but he's enjoying the ride, too. He just has to act like an adult while some of his players rediscover the Little Leaguer inside.
"You see these guys walking off the field with their hats up," he said. "You know what I'm dealing with here."
Who knows where it all goes from here, but this is all gravy anyway. This is the team that opened the season with the 64 1/2 -win over/under line in Vegas. This is the team that was supposed to be marking time until the rebuilding program really takes hold in a couple of years.
"You guys said that," Brian Roberts replied when somebody brought the subject up again yesterday.
Indeed, the preseason prognosticators didn't give the Orioles a chance to be even mildly competitive this year, but they were not alone. The front office also sought to temper expectations and buy time for the rebuilding effort. The team just hasn't cooperated.
"The best part about the club after 40 games," Trembley said, "the guys are having fun playing. They are not intimidated. They don't think they should have to take a back seat to anybody. They have every right to feel that."
To emphasize the team's us-against-the-world mentality, Sherrill pastes up offending newspaper clippings next to his locker for additional motivation. He has 15 saves to rank second in the major leagues, so it's apparently working.
The turned-up hats, however, are more fun.
"We only do it when we win, so it's pretty good," said Sherrill, who started wearing his cap like that in 2003 because he couldn't bend the bill to fit his head. "It's pretty funny. It has taken on a life of its own. Maybe the fans will take it up."
Why not?
peter.schmuck@baltsun.com
Listen to Peter Schmuck on WBAL (1090 AM) at noon most Saturdays and Sundays.
