Dave Trembley is still fighting the good fight.
In the era of spin rates, exit velocity and launch angles, he finds himself teaching ballplayers the most basic of basics, such as executing a rundown and lining up the cutoff man for a relay throw from the gap.
And these aren’t little-leaguers or even summer-league teens, but 20- and 21-year-old quality college players prepping for the MLB draft. Each of the past several summers, he’s repeated a familiar refrain, as he did Wednesday morning.
“I understand the balance of analytics and the computer, but I think young people need to learn how to play the game,” Trembley said by phone from Youngstown, Ohio, where his State College Spikes are opening the season against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
It’s called the MLB Draft League, where, primarily, collegians who recently completed their junior seasons play an 80-game summer schedule in hopes of improving their draft status and, along the way, learn what awaits them in the daily grind of minor-league pro ball — if they’re lucky enough to sign a contract.
Trembley, when back home in Daytona Beach Shores, does his own prep for these late-career summer chores. Six weeks before leaving home, he increases his cardio work and dusts off the batting-practice arm by finding a place to play a little pitch-and-catch.
This year, he’s done all that at age 74, and after a long baseball career that doesn’t need additional adornments. His long minor-league managing career included two stints with the Daytona Cubs (1995-96, 2001-02), but his career high point was his 2007-10 tenure as Baltimore Orioles manager.
His career appeared to wind down after stints in the Houston and Atlanta organizations, but since MLB realigned the lower minors earlier this decade, he’s managed in the Appalachian League and has now started his third season in State College, where home games are played at Penn State’s baseball facility in Happy Valley.
“I think you have to do what you’re called to do,” Trembley says. “I think my purpose has been to teach and help young people attain their goals. You know, I love our game and helping teach young people how to play the game and kind of give back.”
Right about here, you might be thinking: These are quality college players. Nearly all of them have been the best player on their team each step along the way, from tee-ball through high school. Surely you don’t have to teach them how to play the game.
Well …
“MLB has told me, with the direction of the game, most of the young players have never been exposed to fundamentals and how you play the game,” Trembley says. “It’s all velocity and launch angles. For a hitter, striking out is almost a badge of honor.
“Our first three days of practice, we teach team fundamentals. Cutoffs, relays, rundowns … It’s amazing, we get kids from major colleges, and they’ve never done them.”
He’s thankful to have a receptive audience.
“What I’ve found, the players love it. They want to learn the nuances of the game,” Trembley says. “The little things make the big things possible.”
Speaking of fundamentals, there’s a fundamental issue with managing one of these rosters made up of quality college players. The league’s rosters are pieced together by MLB, and not necessarily position by position.
“Our first day, I ask the hitters, ‘Where do you hit in the lineup?’ Ninety-percent of the guys bat in the 3-hole. We have five outfielders, all play center field. Six infielders, all play shortstop.”
He jokes about reminding a right-handed slugger with eyes set on the left-field bleachers, “Hey, right field is a fair ball!”
“I’ll tell a guy, ‘You might bat leadoff, do you know how to bunt? Do you know what a productive out is?’ They’ve never had anyone teach them that.”
As he’s done everywhere since first managing in the Carolina League 40 years ago, Trembley does all his managing, coaching and teaching with a smile on his face and the overall vibe of a guy half his age. When you not only still want to do it, but actually get the opportunity, what’s not to love about throwing batting practice, hitting fungoes and coaching third base?
“My health is good, I can still throw BP and run around with them a little bit,” he says. “I care about the game and the direction of the game. I like to support them and encourage them, and the players have been very receptive about the approach we take.
“I like it. It gives me a purpose in life. Makes me feel like I’m giving back to the game that has allowed me to live my dreams.”
— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Dave Trembley still ‘teaching’ baseball and glad to do it in Happy Valley
Reporting by Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
