BALTIMORE -- Dave Trembley was certain he would be asked to return as manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009, an expectation that was fulfilled Friday.
The Orioles announced they will bring Trembley back next season, exercising an option that was in the contract he signed last year. The club also added a team option for 2010.
"I always knew that I was coming back. I had a lot of people asking me about it, and I said I wasn't worried about it," Trembley said. "I never doubted it one bit, because I'm dealing with people who think hard work, being fair and being honest is important."
Baltimore is in last place in the AL East and took a six-game losing streak into Friday night's game against the Oakland Athletics, but the team has been remarkably competitive for much of the season.
The Orioles were 44-41 on July 4 and 60-63 on Aug. 17, but injuries have contributed to a 1-11 slide that dropped their record to 63-76.
The rebuilding Orioles appear assured of an 11th consecutive losing season for the first time since 1946-56, which includes three years as the St. Louis Browns. But Trembley has received kudos for the no-nonsense manner in which he's run a team which placed only one player -- closer George Sherrill -- on the AL All-Star squad.
Club president Andy MacPhail, who made the decision to retain Trembley with the blessing of owner Peter Angelos, lauded the team's "energy, effort and enthusiasm" under its manager. Full story
Nats' Hill has successful surgery
ATLANTA -- Washington Nationals pitcher Shawn Hill is expected to be ready for spring training after having bone spurs and calcium deposits scraped from his right elbow.
The Nationals are also without Ronnie Belliard after MRI results confirmed that the infielder has a strained groin. Manager Manny Acta said it was too early to determine if Belliard, who is hitting .287 with 11 homers and a 46 RBI, will miss the rest of the season.
Hill underwent arthroscopic surgery in Pensacola, Fla., where Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure and told the team afterward that the right-hander can begin motion and strength exercises next week.
Team spokesman Mike Gazda said Hill had no evidence of arthritis or ligament damage.
Isringhausen's season over
ST. LOUIS -- Jason Isringhausen, twice demoted from the St. Louis Cardinals' closer role last month before landing on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain, will have season-ending surgery next week.
The move was announced on the team's medical report.
When Isringhausen was placed on the DL on Aug. 20 with a partially torn tendon and elbow tendinitis, the Cardinals said he likely would miss the rest of the year. The 35-year-old is scheduled for surgery next Friday.
Isringhausen has 293 career saves and has said he would like to play next season, although it might be for another team since he'll be a free agent. He has been with St. Louis for six seasons, and was 12-for-19 in save chances with a 1-5 record and 5.70 ERA this year.
Giants honor Cepeda
SAN FRANCISCO -- Orlando Cepeda sat through several other statue unveilings honoring his comrades and thought to himself he'd probably get his own one day.
"Someday mine will be there," he recalled with a grin of his thinking then. "I didn't tell anybody. I said it to myself."
Cepeda's likeness has now been cast in bronze, joining his fellow Giants Hall of Famers to be honored with 9-foot statues in San Francisco: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal.
Cepeda's statue will be dedicated Saturday afternoon following a Latin fiesta in front of the Giants' waterfront ballpark, before the team takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Giants will honor Cepeda's special day by wearing their "GIGANTES" jerseys for the game.
Lamb lands with Brewers
MILWAUKEE -- Third baseman Mike Lamb was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers, who hoped to bolster their roster for the final month of the season.
A nine-year veteran who has played for Texas, Houston and Minnesota, Lamb hit .233 with one homer and 32 RBI in 81 games with the Twins this year. He was released Thursday after being designated for assignment, and will not be eligible for Milwaukee's postseason roster if the Brewers advance to the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The 33-year-old gives the slumping Brewers another option for third along with Bill Hall, Craig Counsell, Joe Dillon, Mat Gamel and Vinny Rottino. Russell Branyan went on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 14 because of an oblique strain.
The left-handed hitting Lamb is batting .257 against righties this year, .067 (2-for-30) against lefties, while Hall is hitting .317 against lefties and has a .172 average against righties.
