On the final weekend of one of the worst seasons in team history, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail announced Friday that manager Dave Trembley will return for the 2010 season, ending rampant speculation that Trembley's tenure was nearing an end.
The announcement that the Orioles had exercised Trembley's option came less than 24 hours after they broke a 13-game losing streak, the third-longest in club history, and hours before they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays to begin the season's final series. They still need to win one of two remaining games to avoid the third 100-loss season in team history.
Terms of Trembley's deal were not announced.
"I always felt that Dave Trembley did exactly what this franchise asked him to do," MacPhail said. "He was charged with nurturing and developing and bringing along a lot of what we think are young, talented players, and trying to introduce them in the proper environment where they can enjoy some success. In my view, he has accomplished that mission. He deserves the opportunity, he's earned the opportunity to go forward."
Trembley, who took over as Orioles manager on an interim basis June 19, 2007, when Sam Perlozzo was fired, has a 170-244 record in 21/2 seasons guiding the club. It is the third-worst winning percentage (.411) of any manager in Orioles history, better only than Jimmy Dykes (.351 in 1954) and Cal Ripken Sr. (.402 in 1987-1988).
But Trembley's tenure has never been just about wins and losses. The 57-year-old, who has an extensive player development background, having managed more than 2,500 games in the minor leagues, was asked to preside over the club during the early years of MacPhail's major rebuilding.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am and how happy I am," said Trembley, who added that he has had trouble sleeping for the past three weeks with all the losing and the uncertainty. "I'm happy for a lot of people, and I'm happy for the philosophy that's existed since I came on board. It is, 'Do things right, be honest, be fair, understand that the big picture is not yourself and it's the Baltimore Orioles.' To me, that makes it all worthwhile to get the opportunity to go forward."
The pressure will remain on Trembley, who did not get another team option added to his contract as he had the previous two years. In announcing that Trembley will be retained, MacPhail made it clear that a repeat of this season is unacceptable.
