DODGERS The MATTINGLY Thread

one guy's opinion...


Don Mattingly Should Be Fired
The Dodgers Have a Glaring Hole at Manager and Can Do Better Than Donnie Baseball
By Greg Zakwin | Yahoo Contributor Network – 1 hour 31 minutes ago

COMMENTARY | The Los Angeles Dodgers made a great run at a World Series berth in 2013 but fell short in six NLCS games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Dodgers played some excellent baseball in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves and had great pitching throughout the postseason, but they could not overcome a lack of offense and injuries in the NLCS. However, one obstacle they had to face throughout the postseason and regular season was poor managerial decisions by skipper Don Mattingly.

Donnie Baseball, who had a one-year contract option automatically vest with the NLDS victory, is looking for a long-term deal as he currently sits on a very hot seat.

While the club went on an historic 42-8 run during the season and came extremely close to its first World Series berth in a quarter-century, this past postseason is a perfect example of why Mattingly should not be extended past 2014, why the Dodgers can do better, and why they should have looked elsewhere for this upcoming campaign.

Dodgers/Braves, NLDS Game 2

Let's start with the most egregious action of this entire postseason, a lose-your-job-worthy offense in and of itself. Walking Reed Johnson to load the bases for Jason Heyward is perhaps the most insane and indefensible act imaginable, yet it is one Don Mattingly committed and defends.

It was the final nail in the coffin of poor managerial moves by Donnie Baseball in Game 2. He neglected to pinch-hit for Carl Crawford when CC was due up against a lefty. Scott Van Slyke is on the roster, and if it's not to hit against lefties -- which he does better than Crawford and can do for power -- then what his purpose is I do not know.

Dodgers/Braves, NLDS Game 4

Game 4, the clinching game, saw Don ask Juan Uribe to bunt with the super-fast Yasiel Puig already in scoring position and the Dodgers down just one run. Uribe not surprisingly failed at something he should have never been asked to do, and proceeded to hit a go-ahead and series-clinching two-run bomb to deep left after missing on the bunt attempt twice.

It was predicable that the bunt would be called for but no less disappointing that Donnie refused to let Juan swing away to begin with. It led to a great moment where Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis called out Mattingly for bunting in an interview on MLB Network and further emphasized how laughable Mattingly's bunting fetish is.

Dodgers/Cardinals, NLCS Game 1

Just as indefensible a move as electing to pitch to Jason Heyward over Reed Johnson was Mattingly's decision to remove Adrian Gonzalez for a pinch-runner late in a tied NLCS Game 1. Dee Gordon came on but wasn't given the full opportunity to do the one thing he does well: run fast and steal bases.

Removing AGon was followed up by Michael Young coming in to play first and bat in the heart of the order. Young would have a couple chances to do damage, but did nothing but make out after out as the game went into extra innings. Once he was in the game he should have been removed for Scott Van Slyke, who hits for more power, but SVS was nowhere to be found the entire postseason.

In fact, Young came up in one situation with multiple guys on base because Mattingly made yet another mistake in bunting a man from first to second in the 12th inning, thus making it even easier for the Cardinals to walk Hanley Ramirez with Young on deck. Predictably, a double-play from Michael followed.

As Paul Boye pointed out, Young's performance in Game 1 was one of the worst in postseason history.

Finally, Mattingly neglected to use Kenley Jansen, his ace reliever, early in the game because there wasn't a "save situation." Of course, you can't get to your classic save situation if you lose the game before taking the lead. Jansen was eventually brought in during the 13th inning in a very tough spot.

Dodgers/Cardinals NLCS Game 2

In Game 2, Mattingly again went back to the well with Young instead of using Van Slyke in a pinch-hitting spot against a southpaw. The results were yet again not favorable to the Dodgers and their chances of winning the game, as Young couldn't bring home a runner from third to tie the contest.

Final Thoughts on Don Mattingly

I think Mattingly is a great guy in terms of keeping a clubhouse together and would be a great hitting coach once again or a bench coach who is not there to give tactical advice.

Donnie's penchant for bunting, bullpen mismanagement, and inability to construct the best lineup possible needs to be addressed by letting him go. I was in favor of Tim Wallach getting the job when Joe Torre left, and I'd be in favor of him replacing Don. Manny Acta is another guy I would be more than happy to see in Dodger Blue calling the shots. Joe Maddon is my ultimate dream come true, as I wrote about recently.

I simply think it's beyond time for the Dodgers to look elsewhere for a skipper whose managerial decisions don't leave you scratching your head before they're even made, because they're so predictable you know he's going to bunt and waste an out before he calls for it or bat Mark Ellis second night after night.

Greg Zakwin is the founder of Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle, a Dodgers' and sports card blog. He writes with an analytical tilt about The Blue Crew at ChadMoriyama.com. You can find and follow him on Twitter @ArgyledPlaschke. A graduate of UCLA in 2011 with a Bachelor's in History, he's been a follower of the Dodgers since birth and still mourns the loss of both Mike Piazza and Carlos Santana.

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replacing Ned would be much more beneficial than this.

 

• Don Mattingly is a finalist for NL Manager of the Year...

 

Don Mattingly and Dodgers talk contract extension
By David Brown | Big League Stew – 5 hours ago



Manager Don Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti appeared awfully frosty at an end-of-the-season news conference for the Los Angeles Dodgers staged a little over two weeks ago. During the conversation with reporters, Mattingly even made comments indicating he was frustrated because his contract ran only through the 2014 season. Around that time, the Dodgers announced that bench coach Trey Hillman, also one of Mattingly's closest friends, would not return to his post. The world was left wondering: After reaching the National League Championship Series, were Donnie Baseball and the Dodgers heading for splitsville?

Not yet, ESPN Los Angeles reports. The Dodgers are discussing a new multiyear contract with Mattingly and, sources say, there's optimism on both sides an agreement will be reached. Team president Stan Kasten and Mattingly's agent (yes, managers have them sometimes) would not comment. That must mean they're talking, right?

While Mattingly's comments initially caught the organization off guard, support for him remained strong, Dodgers sources have indicated. Mattingly had been so low key about his situation during the season, it was unclear how frustrated he had become, according to sources.

Mattingly has maintained a good relationship with Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, sources indicated. And while Kasten generally deferred questions about Mattingly's contract to the offseason, he publicly praised him several times throughout the season, even as the Dodgers stumbled out of the gates and fell 9½ games out of first place on June 21.​

Kasten praises Mattingly. Walter and Mattingly maintain "a good relationship." It might not mean anything, but one guy omitted from those equations is Colletti. If he'd rather have someone else running the team, as the GM, he should be allowed to make a change. Despite the success the Dodgers had in 2013, and though it's obvious most of the players get along great with Mattingly, there have been questionable tactics used on Mattingly's part. Ultimately, Colletti's job security depends (at least in part) on how well the field manager performs. If things go awry for himself, Colletti might look upon this moment as when it all started to slip away. Then again, when it comes to Mattingly, perhaps Kasten and Walter are saving Colletti from himself.

David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him atrdbrown@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @AnswerDave

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this part made me laugh

 

Dodgers, Mattingly Discussing Multiyear Deal
By Steve Adams [10 minutes ago]

The Dodgers are discussing a new multiyear deal with manager Don Mattingly, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Mattingly is under contract through the 2014 season thanks to a $1.4MM option that vested when his Dodgers defeated the Braves in the NLDS. However, Mattingly made his desire for a multiyear contract known shortly after the season in a surprisingly candid press conference.

Mattingly has enjoyed a winning season in each of his three years as the Dodgers' manager, and the team's record has improved each year under his leadership. After wining 82 games in 2011, the Dodgers won 86 in 2012 and 92 in 2013 after a remarkable midseason turnaround that saw the team win 54 of its final 81 games (including a ridiculous 42-8 stretch).

According to Shelburne, no deal is imminent, but both sides are confident that a deal can be worked out. Even after the organization was surprised by Mattingly's comments, writes Shelburne, he remained a good relationship with chairman Mark Walter.

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Cool

 

Some people just hanged themselves

 

update

Dodgers, Mattingly Update
By Steve Adams [January 6 at 2:24am PDT]

The Dodgers have apparently changed their minds after speaking with Mattingly in person. The meeting did not go well, and Ken Rosenthal spoke with Dodgers' president Stan Kasten about it:

"The guy's a fucken idiot," said Kasten. "I asked him what his goal was for the 2014 season and he said he would have to consult with [former Dodgers' manager] Joe Torre before responding. What a stupid, fucken, useless, hayseed, piece of fuck, inbred, dumbfuck, white trash, cunt, hillbilly, fucken asshole motherfucker!" To quote the great philosopher THINKBLUE of DSP, I hope he gets aids and fucken dies!"​

No reports on who the Dodgers plan on replacing Mattingly with, but Matt Kemp's agent Dave Stewart told Buster Olney ESPN that he was the only one qualified for the job.

"I know more about baseball than all of those other [presumably, other potential candidates] motherfuckers combined! But there ain't no way Whitey gonna give the job to a black man," said the perpetually bitter and cantankerous Stewart. "Last time I was on an interview, all these fucken white dudes in suits told me I didn't have the experience for the job. What a bunch of racist bullshit. And these [Dodgers'] motherfuckers but [Matt] Kemp on the trading block, when that Special Ed white boy [Andre] Ethier couldn't carry his fucken jock! Just once, I wish these bitches would just back the fuck up and let a playa play! Just another case of the man keeping my people down."​

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