The MATTINGLY Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by irish, Mar 23, 2013.

  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    no offense donnie
    but making the postseason exactly once in your entire 13-year career -- your last year -- isn't exactly dealing with pressure
    or am i confusing dealing with succeeding or overcoming?
    or maybe you mean your individual stats
    either way, it doesn't mean shit if your team doesn't win
    dealt with that

    Mattingly no stranger to great expectations
    Dodgers manager dealt with pressure of playing in Bronx for more than a decade
    By Tracy Ringolsby/MLB.com | March 23, 2013​

    [​IMG]

    GLENDALE, Ariz. -- So the new ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers went on an in-season spending spree to show their commitment last year, adding the high-priced contracts of the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett.

    So they continued their roster revamping during the offseason with the free-agent signing of right-handed Zack Greinke, the elite pitcher on the open market.

    So the expectations are growing that the Dodgers can dominate the National League West.

    So what.

    It's not what you do in the offseason; it's what you do on the field in-season.

    "Expectations are the noise created by all the moves we made, and there should be expectations at this point of the year," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "Every year you want to go into the season expecting to win. But you won't know until you play the 162 [games]."

    Expectations are welcomed by Mattingly.

    Mattingly, after all, knows all about great expectations. He spent his entire playing career with the New York Yankees of George Steinbrenner, and Mattingly began his coaching career in the Bronx, as well.

    "[Steinbrenner] was pretty tough," Mattingly said, "but you knew what you were in for. That is a good thing.

    "It doesn't make you do anything different. I asked a lot of myself as a player. Nobody could ask more. And I ask a lot of myself as a manager. I have a job to do, and because there are expectations that does not change what I do."

    As Whitey Herzog said so often during his managerial career, the best thing about expectations is it means the team has a chance to be good.

    Mattingly added, "Having a lot of good players is a good thing."

    The fact that the good players could hit bad times isn't taken into consideration. But it is a reality.

    Greinke has been bothered this spring by a cranky right elbow, although the Dodgers are optimistic he's going to be OK. Crawford, still rehabbing from left elbow surgery, had played DH but not left field until Saturday. Third baseman Hanley Ramirez underwent surgery Friday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, and he won't be ready to play until late May, at the earliest.

    Nobody wants to listen to that kind of talk, though.

    New ownership is looking to re-establish the Dodgers as an NL power. It only took over last April, but it still has to deal with the fact the Dodgers have not been to the World Series since 1988. That's a longer World Series drought than any other team in the division.

    Besides, there's too much money invested for L.A. to get sympathy.

    The Dodgers will break the $220 million payroll level this year, setting a Major League record that for so long has belonged to the New York Yankees. That is a Dodgers record for payroll by more than $100 million.

    It's close to $200 million more than what Houston will spend on its 25-man roster. But then while Bud Norris is the highest-paid Astro at $3 million, and only three of his teammates will even make $1 million, the Dodgers have six players who will make more than $15 million, led by Gonzalez at more than $21 million.

    "It's important to be out in the open," said Mattingly. "This is what we expect. These are our parameters. This is our road map.

    "For us, it's [about going] all the way. We'd like to talk about a parade along the way. That's the goal. That's where the map leads."

    Now it's up to the Dodgers to follow that map.

    But then that's how life was in the Bronx. Steinbrenner never skimped, and he expected performances to vindicate his expenditures.

    And when things didn't go well, Steinbrenner didn't sugarcoat his disappointment.

    Mattingly admits it wasn't always easy.

    Patience wasn't a Steinbrenner virtue. In 12 full seasons and the final month of 1982, Mattingly was around 11 managerial changes, involving eight managers. Lou Piniella had two tours of duty during the Mattingly era, and Billy Martin was hired three different times.

    Mattingly reached his boiling point following the 1988 season. Lou Piniella, who replaced Billy Martin in the middle of the '88 season, was replaced by Dallas Green for '89. The Yankees had gone seven years without advancing to the postseason and a decade without winning a World Series championship.

    Steinbrenner publicly lashed out at Mattingly. He called the first baseman selfish. He said Mattingly was just trying to pile up records. He fed speculation that Mattingly might be dealt.

    "Dallas called me and I told him I had had enough," said Mattingly. "He said if I wanted to play for the Yankees I better make a call."

    Mattingly did, and once Steinbrenner said hello, Mattingly said his piece.

    "I told him he had to respect me, and money is not respect, that I play hard every day, and I play hurt," remembered Mattingly. "We went back and forth and he said, `Good luck to you,' and hung up. I thought, 'Oh no. It's over in New York.'"

    It wasn't, though. Steinbrenner respected Mattingly for standing up for himself.

    "After that, he invited me to the [Kentucky] Derby, had me come to Tampa to speak to groups," said Mattingly. "I was like a son to him. He treated me great."

    But then, Mattingly embraced the challenge in New York, just like he has in Los Angeles.

    "You keep your head down and do your job," said Mattingly. "That's what you control."

    Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

    __
     
  2. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    Bunt less
     
  3. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    [​IMG]
    COMMENTARY
    What's with all these lame ducks?
    One-third of big league managers are in the last (or only) year of their contracts
    By Jayson Stark | ESPN.com
    Updated: April 25, 2013, 2:04 PM ET

    Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers: Another fascinating situation. It would be a stretch to say Mattingly is "in trouble." He and GM Ned Colletti have an excellent relationship. So unless something goes haywire, Mattingly is more likely to get an extension than a layoff notice. On the other hand, the manager told the Los Angeles Times last winter that he asked the team to pick up his 2014 option, just so he could avoid being a topic in pieces like this -- and "they said that wasn't the plan for me or my coaches." So this is a situation to watch carefully: We're talking about a team with a $217 million payroll. A team with an ownership icon (Magic Johnson) who already has said that anything less than a trip to the World Series would make this season a failure. And a team that hasn't played well early. So anything is possible. Mattingly's players clearly like him, and "they know he's on the last year of his deal," said one executive who has been following this saga. "So if they like the guy so much -- if they don't want anything to happen to him -- they can make that a non-issue by playing better. Can't they?"
     
  4. BlueMouse

    BlueMouse 2020 World Champions

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    Who do you want as our head coach?

    Possible options:
    Don Mattingly
    Tim Wallach
    Trey Hillman
    Mike Scioscia
    Joe Maddon
    John Madden
    Phil Jackson
    Other
     
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  5. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    i don't know who will replace him but baring a miracle turnaround dbb is gone. i actually like the guy but his decisions have been pretty bad lately. not that its all his fault but failure is not going to be accepted. i hope.
     
  6. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    this
    especially in lieu of magic's "anything less than the world series = failure" statement
     
  7. BlueMouse

    BlueMouse 2020 World Champions

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    FWIW there will be a "miracle" turnaround.

    Matt is regaining form. Hanley will be back soon. Andre hits if the rest of the lineup hits. Adrian and CC have shown that they aren't done. Greinke will return mid-season. And the Guggs will shock us with a monster 3B at the deadline. There are a million reasons this team will turn it around.
     
  8. bestlakersfan

    bestlakersfan DSP Legend

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    I am a huge DM fan and really like who he is as a manager. Hope he stays.
     
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  9. F YOUK

    F YOUK DSP Regular

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    Harsh criticism but its fair. Taking the point through to the end, can't this criticism be applied to the entire dodgers roster? What has any of the guys won besides personal accolades and big contracts? Beckett had it at one point but has mailed in his career since 2010. IMO, this how you were able to get so much big money onto your roster for virtually nothing in return. The guys just aren't winners.

    Maybe Big Mac should get the blame, he was the winner who was supposed to have your team crushing homers like no ones business.[/quote]
     
  10. IBleedBlue15

    IBleedBlue15 DSP Stud

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    I've thought about this before, but none have really had the opportunity to be. Kemp was in the postseason before he became an elite hitter, Andre has hit some big homers, A-Gon had arguably his best year of his career with the choking Red Sox team, Crawford made it to the world series in 2008, and Hanley played for the Marlins.

    IMO, you can't be paid that much money unless you are a winner or contribute to the cause.
     
  11. VRP

    VRP DSP Legend

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    "Miracle turnaround" is ridiculous, we're 20 games into the season and we're doing fine. A miracle turnaround would be the Marlins winning the World Series, we had two bad series'.
     
  12. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    yeah miracle turnaround may be a bit much but i sort of meant it in reference to his managing skills as much as the team. i like his general style but he seems to have some issues that lead to losses. we have a lot of issues as a team and with our inability to score the mistakes just get more glaring. still he needs win and make the playoffs with this years squad. probably more to keep his job imo.
     
  13. bestlakersfan

    bestlakersfan DSP Legend

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    I think if we have a very good record, win the NLW and get into the playoffs he is fine. Miss any of those and he may be out. I would not say that he needs to win a WS in order to keep his job.
     
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  14. IBleedBlue15

    IBleedBlue15 DSP Stud

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    Before we can say anything, it'd sure be nice if we had our full team back.
     
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  15. N.Z

    N.Z DSP Legend

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    *Bunt*
     
  16. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    Why is Crawford not running? I realize he is probably left alone and has a greenlight whenever he wants, but DBB needs to force the issue once in a while and call a steal.
     
  17. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    i think he recorded the first out at third on his first try. maybe dbb reconsidered the green light after that.
     
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  18. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    mattingly makes grady little look like jim tracy
     
  19. N.Z

    N.Z DSP Legend

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    *Bunt*
     
  20. doyerfan

    doyerfan MODERATOR Staff Member Moderator

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    The options behind him are not clearly better so I just hope the team turns it around. His in game decisions can suck but no manager is clearly better with that. No one in the clubhouse complains about him and there hasn't been any drama a manager could avoid, so unless somehing of that sort happens he should stay
     

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