JUPITER, Fla. -Dave Trembley was a no-nonsense minor league manager who preached respect and responsibility and tolerated nothing less. Lou Montanez was a hot-shot prospect with high expectations but not the maturity to handle them.
It was a volatile mix for the Single-A Daytona Cubs in 2002, and it didn't end well. Trembley was fired by the Chicago Cubs' organization after the season because he was seen as too much of a taskmaster. Montanez was ticketed for another season in the Florida State League, far away from Wrigley Field, where he was supposed to man the shortstop position for years to come.
"There are a lot of people that lost sleep over this kid. There are a lot of people that were held accountable for this kid," Trembley said this week. "He didn't meet his obligation back to the Chicago Cubs because, quite honestly, he wasn't mature enough. He admits that. I wish him well. I'm glad the lights have gone on. I feel real good for him."
Trembley and Montanez are back together under far different circumstances. Entering his second full season as Orioles manager, Trembley is trying to leave his imprint on the organization by stressing dedication and discipline. Montanez is hitting .354 this spring while trying to crack the Orioles' crowded outfield picture and establish himself as a major leaguer. The two, who have a fine relationship now, have come too far to dwell on the past.
"It's kind of like a parent that wants your child to do well and he's not doing well, so it becomes frustrating. That's the way the relationship with Dave was at that point," Montanez said. "I was real immature. I'm 18, 19 years old; I have a relaxed personality. Dave's a little more tense and wanted me to get after it a little more. There was a little bit of frustration, like, 'Why doesn't this kid really care?' That's probably the perception I gave off. It's not that I didn't want to do well. I cared a lot."
Last year, Montanez, now 27 and free of the burden of massive expectations, hit .335 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs for Double-A Bowie, becoming the fifth player to win the Eastern League Triple Crown.
His contract was selected in August after center fielder Adam Jones fractured his foot, and Montanez became just the second player in team history to hit a homer in his first major league at-bat (the other was Les "Buster" Narum in 1963). Montanez's homer off Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ervin Santana was part of a solid major league debut during which Montanez hit .295 with three homers and 14 RBIs.
