Dave Trembley is the answer to the Orioles managerial situation, but for how long remains to be seen.
Trembly, the team?s former bullpen/bench coach will fill out the lineup card for tonight’s game in San Diego in the Orioles first game after firing Sam Perlozzo Monday.
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“Dave has been hired as the interim manager, and I can’t predict for how long that will be,” Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Mike Flanagan said.
Many names ? both inside and outside of the organization ? had been tied to the position. Most recently ? Monday, to be exact ? the 2006 National League manager of the year, Joe Girardi, appeared in the conversation. But the club refused to comment any further on the situation.
“We’re not going to comment on anything down the road, we think this day belongs to Sam and the changes we made here,” Flanagan said.
Noticeably absent from Monday’s press conference in the warehouse at Camden Yards was the club’s new manager.
“Dave certainly has a lot of experience,” Flanagan said. “[Twenty] years as a manager, 2,800 games, five years in our organization. We’re going to head in that direction.”
Trembley managed Double-A Bowie in 2003 and 2004, and headed-up the former Triple-A club in Ottawa in 2005 and 2006. He was an even 285-285 in that span, and holds a 1369-1413 (.492) mark in 2,782 games in 20 seasons.
Trembley is in his first full season as a member of a Major League staff. He began the season as the bullpen coach, and also served as the part-time bench coach while Tom Trebelhorn spent some personal time away from the club.
Trembley was also given the added duty of field coordinator, setting up the club’s pre-game and batting practice workouts.
In the past 15 seasons, the Orioles have employed eight managers ? including Trembley.
Only Johnny Oates (1991-94) and Mike Hargrove (2000-03) lasted more than two full seasons.
“I think it happens more today, you see managers not staying for long periods in one place. ? Its more rare than it is the norm,” Flanagan said. “We’re just trying to get it right, make it work and get back on top where we feel we belong.”
Entering today’s game, the Orioles’ 29-40 record is the fifth-worst in baseball, leaving the club 15.5 games behind first-place Boston.
THE TREMBLEY FILE
» Age: 55
» Birthplace: Carthage, N.Y.
» Residence: Daytona Beach, Fla.
» Did you know? Among his 20 seasons as a minor league manager, Trembley led Harrisburg to an Eastern League title in 1987, and Daytona to a Florida State league crown in 1995. ? Trembley and his wife, Patti, have a son named Kevin.
