ASSOCIATED PRESS

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 straight losing season for the first time since 1946-56, which includes three years as the St. Louis Browns. But Trembley, a native of Carthage, 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.

"There is a lot required of a major league manager, whether it be the tactical aspects of the game, communication with the players, communicating with the fans through the media, dealing with the front office. For lack of a better word, the motivation required to keep playing (hard), particularly when they're going through a tough stretch," MacPhail said. "I think David has excelled in those areas."

The Orioles were 103-129 under Trembley through Thursday, but his respect-the-game approach has earned him the devotion of the front office and his players.