Comments on: Mattingly’s impact on the Dodgers

By: Housecleaner

Housecleaner — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:31:27 +0000

Peter, thanx for the article for all to see….

“It’s like night and day,” Mattingly said of where the hitters are now compared to what he saw from a distance in the first half, “but I don’t take the credit or worry about where I fit in. It’s satisfying to see the progress, but they hear it from all sides. Joe preaches it, Manny preaches it. They’ve grown into it.”

Joe, Manny and Donnie Baseball in lockstep,!!!! Not simply as to Manny in the box but advising, coaching, teaching….”how about that”!!!!! And a big q is whether “Manny can get along with Girardi?” If a deal is otherwise desireable and do-able, Girardi will fall into “lockstep” if he wants to remain in the dugout, however short his tenure might be.

By: michael in sd

michael in sd — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:02:37 +0000

the yanks karma changed when they chose the humorless, self righteous, rude girardi over the hardworking, classy legend in mattingly. what a shame. yanks sold out because baseball thought so much of girardi. i have a feeling donnie may be a better manager someday than girardi.

By: Rally Point

Rally Point — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:32:24 +0000

I wonder if Cashman’s decision had something to do with his off field issues and Girardi’s lack of them. I’m definitely sure the nasty divorce he went through would’ve played a part if he managed the Yankees this year. It might be better for both that he didn’t get the job, but that doesn’t mean he could never come back especially if Girardi doesn’t work out. Girardi comes off a bit uptight sometimes.

By: Rockin' Rich

Rockin' Rich — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:24:58 +0000

Well, if Joey G. flames out, it’s nice to know there’s an excellent Plan B.

By: Braintrust

Braintrust — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:15:50 +0000

After Girardi gets fired next year, the Yankees job will be available.

By: DubP Los Angeles

DubP Los Angeles — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:02:27 +0000

As a kid growing up in NY during the late 80′s and early 90′s, Donnie Baseball was always my favorite player. I still remember staying up late to see him tie the record for most consecutive games with a homer.

As great as it was to win the first WS of my lifetime in 1996, it was a little heartbreaking to know that Mattingly couldn’t be a part of it. I’ve lived in LA since 1992, but I’ve never rooted for the Dodgers until this October. Since the Yanks can’t win it this year, I’m rooting for the Cap to finally get a ring.

By: Irabu's Son

Irabu's Son — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:57:09 +0000

FWIW, Tony Pena was certainly the right man for the job. But he was passed over because he wasn’t a Yankee in his playing days.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:09:27 +0000

I don’t care about his impact with the Dodgers – let’s see what it’s like a couple of years from now. Why didn’t he have an impact on the Yankees? I used to idolize Donnie Baseball – he was my baseball god – but now? He’s just another in the increasing multitude who have jumped on the “I hate the Yankees – they did Joe Torre wrong” song. I’ve had enough of him. I hope he has a good life in LA, but that’s the extent of it. Enough with the 20/20 hindsight, if that’s what you can even call it. Who is to say that Mattingly would have been a good manager? Most people thought that Girardi was a better choice, so anyone saying otherwise now based on a few good months in LA is a hypocrite.

By: Hitman

Hitman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:57:11 +0000

I loved Mattingly as a player even in his decline, but I don’t think of him as a manager. I like guys who are a little unorthodox and fiery. Donnie comes off to me as someone who is more by the book and laid back.

By: G. Love

G. Love — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:59:33 +0000

Here’s the thing about Donnie.

I think he would have been the right choice for manager, but if he had gotten it, it would have been the wrong timing.

Donnie was going through all the divorce nonsense in the off season and the spring with incidents with his wife and taking over for Torre on top of that would have been disastrous.

I think Girardi is out by the All Star break, if not sooner, and I think there will be an interim type (Pena?) and then they’ll offer the keys to Donnie.