It appears that Dave Trembley’s run as Manager of the Baltimore Orioles will officially end today.
You can find message board posts on Orioles Hangout saying Trembley’s wife has already publicized the firing via a Facebook message. ESPN’s Buster Olney is also stating at-least one source has told him the firing has occurred.
While I applaud that the move appears to have finally been made, I believe this move is coming too late. It became apparent some-time ago that Trembley was not going to be able to return for the 2011 season. Once you come to that conclusion, you have a dead man walking. When all of the players, and fellow coaches sense a move could be made at any time, that creates a further toxic situation for all involved.
I maintain that Trembley was not the real problem here. I think he was a very mediocre Manager, but he was not the problem either. What he did in the 2008, and 2009 seasons is fairly irrelevant to me. Clearly those teams lacked any talent at-all, and there were no real expectations of him immediately changing results in ’08, or significantly improving in ’09. 2010 was different though. Expectations were rightfully higher because there was a better core of talent existing. You can not blame him for the injuries to Roberts, Pie, Gonzalez, Uehara, Johnson etc. I’m also not sure you can hold him responsible for the lack of production/growth from Wieters, Jones, and Reimold.
However, even if you come to the conclusion that Trembley was not the problem – and you do not totally hold him responsible for this dismal 15-39 record, he still has to be accountable. It should be clear to everyone that even if he was not the problem, he was not going to be part of the solution either. Additionally, the old adage that you can not fire the players remains true.
When the move is announced today, it will be evident that MacPhail waited until the O’s arrived home from facing Toronto, and New York. That he did not want the new Manager (likely to be Juan Samuel on an interim basis) starting on the road vs. those division foes. I can rationally understand the reasoning, but I disagree with it. It points to the idea that the decision was made prior to the road-trip. If that was/is the case, giving Trembley additional time on the bench was wrong to all parties involved.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.