Samuel faces challenge of igniting Orioles
Baltimore's interim manager intense with a positive approach...
More at MLB.COM
Juan Samuel, named the Orioles' interim manager on Friday, is faced with the most difficult test of his 12-year coaching career.
Baltimore dismissed Dave Trembley from his role as manager, handing former third base coach Samuel the reins to an under-performing and injury-plagued Orioles team that is a Major League-worst 15-39.
"The last time I played against the Orioles, I went to him and said, 'Hey, when are you finally going to be a big league manager?'," said Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez, who played under Samuel in the Minors. "I'm happy for him. He's a good man."
He's also a man who has been around the game, with a career in professional baseball spanning 27 years. The 49-year-old was a three-time National League All-Star and played 16 years in the Majors with Philadelphia (1983-89), the New York Mets (1989), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990-92), Kansas City (1992, 95), Cincinnati (1993), Detroit (1994-95) and Toronto (1996-98).
Following his retirement as a player, Samuel coached first base for the Tigers in 1999 and moved into the third-base role four games in the 2002 season. He spent a combined seven years coach in Detroit before moving to be a manager for Binghamton, where he led the Mets' Double-A squad to a 70-69 mark, good enough for second place in the Eastern League.
Samuel is known for his no-nonsense approach -- a coaching style the Orioles are undoubtedly hoping will kick-start some better baseball.
