SEATTLE -- It was a call by home plate umpire and crew chief Tom Hallion in the top of the first inning in the Orioles' eventual 12-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night that finally pushed manager Dave Trembley over the edge. It inspired a post-ejection, hat-throwing tirade and a scathing post-game interview with reporters.
While most of his ire was directed at Hallion, an emotional Trembley used the opportunity to respond to recent criticism that the Orioles don't play hard enough and that he doesn't demand enough accountability from his players. He also vented about recent calls from the Boston Red Sox series that did not go his team's way.
"I get all this innuendo about, 'Well, this team doesn't play hard; this team doesn't do that; Trembley's passive; this and that,' " the Orioles manager said as he sat on the edge of his desk, his face bright red, what was left of his voice raising. "People have no idea what I do when the doors are closed here. I don't call anybody out in front of the public. But one thing I will not tolerate is somebody telling me my team doesn't play hard. ..."Oh, I'm sure I will [get disciplined] because I threw my hat and I got it dirty," Trembley said. "So what, you know? They made a mistake. People need to be accountable when they make a mistake. All I want is for somebody to say, 'I made a mistake. I didn't get it right.' Don't cover for one another. We're big boys here, you know?"
