Very telling stat, IMO.... SEASON RESULT & PAYROLL RANK 2015 NLDS - 1st 2014 NLDS - 1st 2013 NLCS - 2nd 2012 Missed playoffs - 14th 2011 Missed playoffs - 11th To me, this says that he is an average manager or slightly above average manager. Most any monkey could have this Dodgers team, with this amount of talent and payroll to the playoffs. Get real, we aren't losing anything of value here. A great manager inspires a team, gets them fired up and allows them to be loose. We need that back in the clubhouse. We also need an identity as a team and as an organization. Find it and we will be back at the top of the heap.
That's why being the only LAD manager to win 3 straight division titles never really impressed me. Shit, look at the payroll. Now, he's the 1st LAD manager to win 3 division titles in a row and not return. DBB's best quality was his handling of the clubhouse...however, most will tell you that the best teams have clubhouses that police themselves for the most part. That's the team we need. Not one that needs to be coddled by the manager.
I also wonder if the "clubhouse" thing becomes less important if the FO continues to seem to try and get players who create less drama. Pure speculation since I'm not in the clubhouse, but 2015 by all reports seemed to have less clubhouse tension, so if that's Mattingly's greatest asset, it won't matter as much
That's the direction we should all hope for. Get the right player personnel and a manager that doesn't mismanage the actual game and season and we'll be in better shape. That needs to happen anyway because I don't think any of us want Seager and Joc having to deal with assholes in the clubhouse. They got some of the cleaning done last off-season...now they need to bring in some more high character/productive guys like Howie.
So when does the other shoe drop? McGwire has got to be good as gone. Wallach is talking the Nats.....who else? Lopes? Everyone?
Let alone helping the rookies and younger players actually improve their games.....heaven forbid a manager and coaching staff do that on this team. Or prepare a team the right way to play shifts if you are gonna do that, understand your best BP options....you know, those things. :sarcasmalert: