Despite being in the midst of their worst losing skid of the season, the Orioles announced yesterday that manager Dave Trembley would lead the team again in 2009.
"I think I have a responsibility to be fairly objective about the level of talent the manager has, and the degree of difficulty," club president Andy MacPhail said. "And try to assess the areas the front office, and I, need to improve. The team record is not a 100 percent function of the manager."
Trembley, in turn, said he has invited his entire coaching staff back for 2009.
MacPhail said repeatedly over the past few months that Trembley's contract, which had an option for next year, wasn't an issue. But he made it official while adding a club option to Trembley's contract for the 2010 season.
"I always knew I was coming back," said Trembley, who took over June 18, 2007, after Sam Perlozzo was fired. "I never doubted one bit that I was going to come back because I'm dealing with people who it's important for them to [value] hard work, being fair, being honest - all those things we've always thought were important. ... It's never been about me."
Trembley, who managed nearly 1,800 games in the minors before becoming the Orioles' interim manager, is 103-130 with the Orioles. Under Trembley, though, the team has played hard and exceeded preseason expectations.
"He deserves it. He has done a lot for the organization in his year and a half," right fielder Nick Markakis said. "He's been a great manager. He knows his stuff."
Markakis said Trembley's intense but personable style fits the team well.
"It's relaxing to go out there and play and have fun and he's not down your throat every two minutes," he said.
Trembley sets the tone, but he can't play the games.
"I love Dave," second baseman Brian Roberts said. "But it's not the manager that's going to take us to the next level. We have to do it on the field. A manager can only do so much."
The club is hoping the announcement has the opposite effect as last year's, when MacPhail removed Trembley's "interim manager" tag Aug. 22. The Orioles dropped nine straight, including the franchise's worst defeat, 30-3, to the Texas Rangers, hours after the announcement was made.
"This is what I wanted to do my whole life," Trembley said. "And I'm doing it. That's what it means to me."
