With a new spring training facility and a more talented roster, Orioles manager Dave Trembley has been all smiles for the first two weeks of spring training. Approaching his third full season at the helm of the club, Trembley sat down with The Sun on Thursday and spoke candidly about dealing with the difficulty of the 2009 season and the speculation that he would be dismissed, his vow to be tougher on his players and his early impressions of this year's club.
Question: We're talking essentially about bullpen sessions, batting practice and other basic drills, but can you talk about a couple of guys who have stood out in the first two weeks of camp?
Answer: I wanted to see what [Kam] Mickolio was going to look like, and he's been nothing short of impressive. I wanted to see [ Adam] Jones, [ Felix] Pie, [Nolan] Reimold, [Dennis] Sarfate, the guys who weren't healthy at the end of the season. They've all passed every test with flying colors, so we're very enthused about that. Adding [ Miguel] Tejada to the ballclub is an immeasurable [acquisition]. We did base-running drills this morning, and he was the first guy in every drill. The guy has been bouncing around from field to field with a smile on his face. [ Nick] Markakis looks like he has added strength. I see a demeanor that is very serious. He's going to have a big year.
Q: When president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail announced that you would return in 2010, he said you will be judged on wins and losses and the onus is on him to get you better players. Do you feel that has been accomplished and you have enough talent to make a significant improvement on last year's won-lost record?
A: Obviously, certain things need to happen. No. 1, we have to have a good spring, leave here healthy and continue the growth and development of our young players. The nucleus is in place to turn the corner. We needed to add guys on the corner, and Andy went out and did that. I'm fully confident that [Garrett] Atkins and Tejada will be offensive threats and will produce. We needed a legitimate No. 1 starter and Andy went out and got him in [Kevin] Millwood, and we needed a guy at the end of the game and he went out and got [Mike] Gonzalez. We don't need to be the best team in everyone's eyes. All we have to do is do the very best we can to grow as a club. I understand the other side of the coin. I think it's realistic and honest that we all should be held accountable for the wins and the losses.
Q: Looking back on last year, how difficult was it for you, personally, as the loss total mounted and the speculation about your job being in danger increased?
A: You learn from it. You understand very clearly what the job entails. If you let it, it can take its toll on you physically and mentally, and it probably did a little bit of both on my end. You can allow it to consume you, and you can go the other direction. You can try to handle it the best you can with class and dignity and not let the players see it. I went home this winter and knew that I had to do some things personally to be able to weather that a lot more. I think that's why we tried to get ourselves in a little bit better shape physically, and I also think you try to be more honest with yourself, look at the entire picture and look at what you can do to make it better.
Q: You talked late last year about maybe being a little tougher on the players and "dropping the hammer" for the coming season. What did you mean by that?
A: I don't think it's a thing where you're a yeller or a screamer. I don't think you get in people's faces. You just become more honest. You point things out a little bit quicker and put an emphasis on things that definitely were glaring weaknesses. You ask people for their help, but I think you try to put people in situations where this is the way things are going to be done, and you're not in a situation where you're going to compromise so much. I'm not so worried anymore about hurting people's feelings. ... I've seen what the players go through, and I know what I put myself through. I don't want to go back to that again. That's why maybe it is a little tougher, a little more demanding. I told the team, "I will ask you to do some things in spring training that maybe you feel, 'Why am I doing this? Why am I doing that?' It might not be a whole lot of fun, but the fun will come after, when those things that I'm asking you to do will lend itself to us winning and being a better ballclub. That's really what I meant by saying I want to be a little tougher.
Q: Does that mean you may be more likely to bench a player for not running a ball out or making a base-running gaffe?
A: I don't think you can lock yourself into the first time somebody doesn't run a ball out, you're going to put a blanket statement on it and embarrass a guy and pull him out of the game. Before camp is over, I'm going to have the opportunity to ask guys certain things, tell them what I expect. I know there were some things that I may have done last year that rubbed some guys the wrong way, and I'm willing to adjust and see if I can adapt and make it better for them. But there are certain things that players did that rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm held responsible for it. I have to get their help to make sure it's done better because I not only have to answer to myself, but I have to answer to Andy MacPhail and the fans. So I'm going to do what I can do to eliminate those things.
Q:You've said you expect your starters to get deeper into games. How much does that fall on you as well?
A: I might be a little bit more understanding in terms of taking the reins off some of these guys and letting them go deeper in the games. But, obviously, I'm going to do what I think is in the best interest in trying to win the game.
Q: What are some of the things that you will do to try to improve the baserunning?
A:This morning was the first step in that. We ran the bases today. We didn't do that last year. You can put it at the front of your priorities and not at the back. You have to make those things that you have seen on a repetitive basis that haven't been done up to your standards a point of emphasis. And we have to do that here in camp on a regular basis and emphasize the importance of it to the players. A lot of it will be up to them. You make it a priority, and you also instruct and correct on a regular basis.
Q: What are the main factors that you are going to consider in determining the lineup?
A: I want to see some of the younger guys, how they continue to progress in the spring. We had guys end up on an upswing. [Matt] Wieters ended the season on a big upswing, so did Pie. You want to see from the young position players what you want to see from your young pitchers. Are they going to pick right up where they left off, and if you see that and you feel that, then it makes the picture much clearer and you're able to slot some guys in some situations. I'm not afraid to push the young guys. I have confidence in the young guys, but I also want to do what's right and I don't want to give guys too much, too soon. I've never seen Atkins. I want to see some guys in different slots.
Q: So are you saying that you haven't ruled out a young guy, like Wieters and Reimold, hitting in the cleanup spot?
A: I'm not so sure at the beginning of the year that I would do that, but to rule it out completely, no. But I would say right now I would err on the side of a veteran guy at the beginning of the year doing that.
Q: When Andy first brought up the idea of signing Tejada, what was your reaction?
A: Go get him. When I was first asked about Miggi, a lot of other possibilities had already gone by the board. I wasn't asked about Miggi in October. I was asked about Miggi late in the offseason. ... At that time, I said, 'You're going to make some guys happy if you get him. You're going to make your hitting coach happy.' Markakis and [ Brian] Roberts love him. I never had a problem with Miggi because Miggi likes to win. That's what you need here, guys that like to win, want to win. I think Miggi is at the point and time in his career where he will do whatever he can to help the team. From that standpoint, I embraced it.
Q: What is the criticism of you that you feel is most unfair?
A: Probably what is most unfair is they think I don't handle the starting pitching and the bullpen well. The time that I have been here has not been a win-at-all-costs situation. I don't think a lot of people totally understand that. People want you to win at all costs, and that wasn't ever the criteria presented to me when I had the young arms that I had. I had no problem at that time accepting the responsibility for that. I think you'll see we have moved away from that now, but believe it or not, I don't really let that stuff bother me as much. ... People are entitled to their opinion. I want to win as bad or more than anybody. I've tried to interact with the fans and get their side. I've tried to interact with the media. So in some ways, maybe I've overcompensated. I don't want to win for myself. I want to win for them. I want to win for these players. It's not all about me. It's not all about Dave Trembley. Let's be honest here. It's about ability and talent.
Q: On the day you were preparing to manage your first big league game in 2007, team officials were in a Chicago hotel suite offering the Orioles managerial job to Joe Girardi. Here you are 2 1/2 years later, and you are still the manager.
A: It's like you tell everybody in every walk of life: Never sell yourself short, don't let anybody tell you that you can't, never stop believing in yourself, but don't get so wrapped up thinking that you are bigger than the game or life itself. You have to be humble and appreciative. I know how fortunate I am. I appreciate this opportunity more than I could explain. I also know there is a very, very big responsibility that goes along with it. We've endured the battles and the rough times, and I'm appreciative that Andy MacPhail and the ownership have given me the opportunity to be part of the next phase. When you go through the bad, you certainly like to be around when it gets good. There should be no excuses from the players. There should be no excuses for me or for the coaches. We have a nice spring training facility, we've gotten better players, people have been patient with us. Now, it's time to step up.