Snot

In case you missed manager Dave Trembley’s quote in today’s Sun about the two fans running onto the field in the ninth inning of Thursday night’s game, here it is:

"That's embarrassing to baseball," Trembley said. "I'm a big proponent of respect, and that's probably the epitome of disrespect when two idiots run out on the field like that. And what really bothered me is that they come up from behind two of my players, which ought to tell you a little about their backbone. Weak. Very weak. ... I wish I could have taken them in the back room. I would have kicked the snot out of both of them."

Going in the right direction

Forget .500. Why think about .500? Who said anything about .500? We don't need no stinkin' .500.
Nice little comeback at the Yard tonight, and it was full of interesting sub-plots.
How about the bench being emptied and Melvin Mora having to play shortstop, Aubrey Huff replacing him at third base and the Orioles losing their designated hitter?
As they mounted another rally in the 10th inning, the pitcher's spot was approaching. But closer George Sherrill wouldn't have batted. Manager Dave Trembley was getting Steve Trachsel and Adam Loewen ready in the indoor cage. He wanted experience in that situation, and Trachsel has done plenty of hitting in the National League. Loewen, meanwhile, would have been drafted as a hitter by some other organizations if the Orioles hadn't taken him with the fourth pick in 2002.
We never got that far. Adam Jones lined a single to left to score Kevin Millar for a thrilling 6-5 victory.
"We might be outmanned from the standpoint of position players," Trembley said, "but we certainly are not going to back down."
We shouldn't forget that nine-pitch at-bat for Luke Scott that ended with a walk, after Millar had led off with a walk of his own. Aubrey Huff almost ended the game, but his line drive to left field didn't quite carry enough.
No matter. The Orioles weren't going to be denied. They already rallied from 5-2 down in the eighth, scoring once in the bottom half after Kevin Millar struck out and reached first base on catcher A.J. Pierzynski's error. He scored on Scott's double, which gave you the feeling that something special was going to happen.
Millar should have been the final out, but not on this night.
Not for a team that had no interest in .500.

Oops!

"Trembley took most of the responsibility for the shoddy outfield play in Wednesday's loss, which include two dropped fly balls. "That's my fault, because I had the wrong guys out there," he said. "I won't have the wrong guys out there the next time. You have to be able to make the routine plays. If you can't make the routine plays, it's the big leagues, you shouldn't be out there. I don't mean to be disrespectful to anybody, but come on, it's late in the spring, and when things like that happen, that's not acceptable."

Opening Day starter

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles manager Dave Trembley named Jeremy Guthrie his Opening Day starter today, ending weeks of speculation

Ontmoeting

Orioles manager Dave Trembley meets with former Orioles manager, turned Mets broadcaster, Lee Mazzilli before the O's spring training game against the Mets. (Sun photo by Doug Kapustin / March 20, 2008)

Peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches

"How can life be any better for me? I spent 20 years riding buses and eating peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches in the minor leagues. Now I'm a major-league manager.''

Dave Trembley

George Sherrill

"Team ready to close deal on Sherrill's bullpen duty

JUPITER, Fla. - Orioles manager Dave Trembley said several decisions will be made after Monday's open date, and one of them likely will be the identity of the Orioles' closer -- not that there's much drama left in that decision.
The Orioles wanted George Sherrill from the Seattle Mariners for Erik Bedard because they had visions he would be their closer this season, and nothing he has done this spring has changed their mind.
Sherrill, who had a career 10.48 ERA in spring training entering this year, has allowed just one earned run, two hits and no walks in five innings."

Gone?

With Cubs scouts on hand, Roberts stands out

O's second baseman goes 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI double, run scored and two stolen bases

By Jeff Zrebiec and Roch Kubatko
Sun reporters
7:15 PM EST, February 28, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.

On a day when two Chicago Cubs scouts were on hand to watch him play, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts stood out in the Orioles' otherwise dreary exhibition season debut today. Roberts went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI double, a run scored and two stolen bases in the Orioles' 16-3 loss to the Florida Marlins at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

"That's how Brian Roberts plays the game," said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. "That's what he's going to have to do to make our offense go."

Roberts, who hit .290 last season with 12 homers, 57 RBIs and 50 steals, led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second and third and then scored on Melvin Mora's chopper to the left side that was booted by third baseman Jorge Cantu.

The sequence, which was taken in by Cubs special assistant to the general manager Ken Kravec along with another Cubs scout, is an example of what makes Roberts so attractive to Chicago.

Looking for a leadoff hitter to jumpstart their offense and get on base ahead of sluggers Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee, the Cubs have targeted Roberts for months and there is a sense in the industry that the uncertainty with second baseman Mark DeRosa could accelerate the trade talks. DeRosa underwent a procedure today to correct an irregular heartbeat.

The Orioles are believed to be looking for a package that includes pitcher Sean Gallagher, shortstop Ronny Cedeno, pitching prospects Jose Ceda and¸or Donald Veal and perhaps one other player.

The Orioles will dispatch a scout to Arizona to look at some of the players being discussed next week. While both sides still feel confident that a deal could get done, talks are expected to continue for a couple more weeks.

"I don't think about those things that I don't control," said Trembley. "I've talked to Brian many times and the way he played today says a lot about him as a professional."

Trembley

'We're not conceding anything to anybody'

Dave Trembley O's manager aan de vooravond van Springtraining.