Roughly three hours before the first pitch of Tuesday?s series opener, Kevin Millar stood at the mound, barking at a handful of Yankees throwing in left field.
The Orioles were trying to take infield and outfield practice, but who could blame the Yankees for being in the way? Baltimore hadn?t gone through the seemingly tedious practice in years.
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“There won?t be two separate stretches anymore. ? This is the Baltimore Orioles, we?re a team and we?ll all stretch together,” interim manager Dave Trembley said before Tuesday?s game, outlining the team?s new pre-game routine.
On Tuesday, the team stretched as one at 4 p.m., before taking to the right field line to throw 10 minutes later. Infield practice came at 4:20 before activating the batting cage at 4:40.
Every day will be slightly different. On Wednesday, pitchers went through PFPs – the spring training-initiated pitchers fielding practice, where the club?s hurlers work on timing with infielders as they cover first base.
“I know one thing, one o?clock in the afternoon gets here a lot earlier than before, when I wasn?t the manager of this team,” Trembley said before Tuesday?s game. “Time goes by a lot quicker.”
Trembley?s hard work and attention to detail hasn?t gone unnoticed by his players.
“He communicates, he?s in a good mood, he?s positive,” Millar said.
The clubhouse atmosphere at Camden Yards seemed no different when the team returned Tuesday than it had for any other pre-game throughout the season?s first half. But the club does seem more relaxed.
“We forget sometimes that this is baseball,” Millar said. “We?re playing a game, we?re having fun, and its OK to smile and take the edge off at times.”
Trembley said that on the recent West Coast road trip, the team seemed to be “having fun playing baseball.”
“They?re playing with confidence, a lot more poise,” he said. “I think they?re relaxed. I don?t like to use the word loose because that [implies] apathy. I think the guys care. They just played as a team, and I think the guys are a whole lot more responsible, both for themselves and the direction of the club.”
Before he was fired last Monday, Sam Perlozzo strived to be a manager that his players could talk to. So far, Trembley is succeeding in being personable and demanding.
“He?s a great guy. He?s a good manager,” outfielder Nick Markakis said. “He can only do so much, we have to go out there and perform.”
While his players adjust to the new regime, Trembley is also adjusting to his new role after his understated position as bullpen coach.
Trembley?s prior managerial experience came in the minor leagues, where he went 1369-1413 in 20 seasons.
“For me, I?ve been doing it for years in little cubby-holes and on bus trips in little towns,” Trembley said. “The only thing that is different is that it feels like opening day. It feels like a new start.”
