Report: O's Will Keep Dave Trembley in 2008

When the Orioles fired Sam Perlozzo, the first thing they did was offer Joe Girardi the job. He declined, which may have been a blessing in disguise. Dave Trembley, who had been Perlozzo's bench coach, has gone 29-25 as the O's interim manager, and according to the Baltimore Sun, he's earned the chance to stay on board next season:

The Orioles will hold a news conference tomorrow to announce that Trembley's contract will be extended through the 2008 season, according to several team sources.

[Andy] MacPhail declined tonight to confirm that a decision has been reached, but said: "I don't think that anyone makes a secret of the good job that Dave is doing. I think the results speak for themselves."

[...] Trembley declined to comment about his status before tonight's game. However, team sources confirmed that Trembley has been notified that he'll return next season. [...] The news that Trembley will return was greeted enthusiastically in the Orioles clubhouse, which has been vocal in its support of the manager, who is just the seventh man in modern baseball history to manage in the big leagues without having played professionally.

To be honest, that last line really surprises me. I know working in baseball is all about having the right connections, but I never quite realized to what extent that was true. Congrats to Trembley for bucking the trend -- he's certainly paid his dues by managing over 2,700 minor league games before getting his break this year.